This A Christmas Carol resource offers 3 levels of differentiation to help guide students on how to structure a full length response on the following 4 themes/topics: children, materialism, ghosts, Christmas.
Tier 1 difficulty (I do): Big idea, topic sentences and quotations are provided. Students add the analysis of the quotations.
Tier 2 difficulty (We do): Students must choose 2 quotations to support each topic sentence and analyse the quotations.
Tier 3 difficulty (You do): Students have to generate the big idea, the topic sentences, 2 quotations a paragraph and the quotation analysis.
Also contains a worksheet looking at how to construct thesis statements.
‘A thesis-style introduction that demonstrates your understanding of the question can be a really helpful way of starting your answer. It shows that you are ‘in charge’ of your essay and that you know what you think. It can provide a strong foundation for the rest of the essay. Keep referring back to the introduction to create a coherent response.’ AQA examiner’s report 2022
Creating a thesis-style introduction is a challenge for many students but is essential in helping students to reach levels 4-6 in the mark scheme. I have produced a simple 3 point structure to help students quickly generate a thesis statement in timed exam conditions. There is an example of the 3 point structure being used and then students attempt to imitate the structure for 4 other exam-style questions.
A grade 9 response exploring how Macbeth is presented in the play.
Also includes a planning grid for students to follow
It would comfortably fit into the top band of the mark scheme 26-30 marks due to the perceptive debate with judicious quotations and assured analysis of methods and exploration of wider ideas.
Also includes a grade 8 version that does not quite meet the grade 9 requirements for a comparison.
Also includes a differentiated writing frame for students working towards a grade 4 at the other end of the ability spectrum.
The question is freely available here:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2019/june/AQA-87021-QP-JUN19.PDF
Macbeth exam-style response at a Grade 9 standard to the May 2019 Aqa question.
Offers perceptive debate with judicious use of quotations and assured analysis of methods and wider ideas.
Please note that due to copyright restrictions, the actual question is not included in this resource, but it is available from the website of the relevant exam board.
Task 1: List the best quotes for each character.
Task 2: Analyse the best quotes.
Task 3: Compare explanations to the teacher answer sheet.
Extension: Use the key character quotes to complete the 25 mark b) question on different characters.
Useful for a final revision lesson.
A handy worksheet to revise 50 carefully selected key quotations from Macbeth.
Task 1: Write a brief summary of each quotation.
Task 2: Colour code it by linking it to one of the 4 main themes.
Task 3: Identify a language feature in each quotation.
Worksheet 2: Match the quotations to the explanations.
Also contains an alternative version covering 100 quotations for students who think would benefit from having a bigger choice to revise from.
I have carefully selected what I consider the 50 most important quotations from Lord of the Flies and included a brief explanation about why each quotation is important.
They have been put into 10 categories covering characters and themes. Of course, some quotations can apply to more than category.
The resource has an accompanying PowerPoint.
There are lots of ways of using this resource to help with revision:
convert into revision cards
peer testing/quizzing
use to plan and write exam responses on characters and themes
My top 50 Macbeth quotations on one sheet with some analysis about why each quotation is important in the play as well as the scene each quotation has been taken from. Also now updated to contain the top 100 quotations too.
Also includes a blank version with space to add the explanations in to test yourself.
A good way to use the sheet to revise is to group the quotations into themes to help prepare for the possible exam questions that might come up.
a) ambition
b) appearance versus reality
c) guilt
d) animal imagery
e) supernatural
Also includes an additional sheet matching the 50 quotations to 50 brief explanations.
Also contains a Macbeth quotation random generator quiz and a sheet to revise 6 motifs in Macbeth.
I have collated what I consider to be the most important 80+ quotations onto one document. There are lots of ways students and teachers can use this resource.
One is to pick a certain number to really focus on and build on developing inferences for them in the same way as the two examples I have provided.
Students may also want to find different ways of grouping the quotations together such as by different themes to help prepare for any question that might come up in the exam.
I have also included a version with key words missing so students can add the key word. This works well as a starter.
Also contains a random generator powerpoint that works well as a bell activity.
Check out my shop for other A Christmas Carol resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-theme-revision-cards-poverty-isolation-ghosts-christmas-family-11869145
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-gcse-differentiated-revision-sheets-on-themes-and-context-11387723
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/stave-1-and-stave-5-scrooge-s-transformation-in-a-christmas-carol-11503154
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-grade-9-lesson-and-essays-on-ghosts-11552659
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-100-comprehension-questions-with-answer-sheet-12450748
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/revise-themes-in-a-christmas-carol-family-isolation-poverty-charity-christmas-supernatural-11577227
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/grade-9-a-christmas-carol-exam-responses-12220340
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-top-50-quotations-11901568
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-3-grade-9-model-answers-for-eduqas-gcse-exam-style-11797550
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/grade-9-response-on-poverty-in-a-christmas-carol-12512988
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/6-grade-9-model-essays-on-a-christmas-carol-for-aqa-or-eduqas-11896608
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-aqa-1-9-super-bundle-11532059#
Simple but effective revision lesson.
Starter: Ask students to try and remember quotations for the main characters using the A4 worksheet.
10 Romeo, 10 Juliet, 5 Capulet, 5 Tybalt, 5 Friar, 5 Mercutio.
Main: Give out the list of the 40 best quotations on the A3 sheet and ask students to analyse the quotations.
Review: Go through answers which appear on the PowerPoint one by one on each mouse click.
There is also a worksheet with more detailed answers on.
4 differentiated writing frames to 4 actual AQA power and conflict past exam questions. Each writing frame has 3 tiers of difficulty to allow for the fact different students in the class require different levels of support and guidance in the run up to the examinations.
Tier 1: Students add the analysis of the quotations. The topic sentences and recommended quotations are already filled in for them.
Tier 2: Students must pick their own 3 quotations from each poem and analyse the quotations.
Tier 3: Students must pick their own topic sentences, quotations and then analsyse the quotations.
The questions covered are as follows:
2021 question: Compare how poets present ideas about power and control in ‘London’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
Nov 2020 question: Compare how poets present the ways people are affected by difficult experiences in ‘Remains’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
May 2019 question: Compare how poets present the ways that people are affected by war in ‘War Photographer’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
May 2018 question: Compare how poets present ideas about power in ‘Ozymandias’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
A lesson that revises 16 key quotations each linked to 4 big ideas from the Power and Conflict collection: nature, identity, abuse of power and memory.
Students then move on to complete revision on two further concepts linked to war.
Also contains ‘because, but, so’ summaries of every poem.
This resource contains high level analysis of what I consider to be the 10 most important words to zoom in on in the novella. Zooming in to these 10 words will also pave the way for zooming out to explore Dickens’ authorial message for various themes such as poverty, family, redemption.
Through analysing these 10 key words in detail it can negate the need to memorise a list of longer quotations.
This can be a revision resource or a lesson. For the lesson, give students the blank template and ask them to think about why each word is vital in communicating Dickens’ authorial purpose. For the second part of the lesson, go over the high level sample answers.
There are a limited number of topics that are recycled for Paper 2 Question 5. Use this worksheet to anticipate some of the topics that could come up. Typical topics include the environment, school uniform, school trips, voting, internet-related issues.
3 Power and Conflict revision quizzes.
A 50 question revision quiz to complete once you have taught all 15 poems from the Power and Conflict section of the anthology. Includes the answers at the end.Can be repeated to help measure progress and identify which poems you need to go over again.
Also contains a second paper-based 6 round revision quiz.
Also contains a quiz with 75 questions (5 questions on every poem_ with answer sheet.
An A3 revision sheet containing what I consider to be the 100 most important quotations in A Christmas Carol alongside a brief explanation of the quotation to help contextualise it. There are many ways students and teachers can use the revision sheet. Below are four recommended ways.
TASK 1: Read through the 100 quotations and RAG rate them in terms of
how confident you would be including each quotation in an exam-style
response.
TASK 2: Add letters to link quotations to the following themes:
C = Christmas, F = Family, G = Greed, I = Isolation.
P = Poverty, R = Responsibility, S = Settings T = Transformation.
TASK 3: Work in pairs to test each other on the quotation explanations.
TASK 4: Choose 5-10 quotations to develop with further inferences into full
analytical paragraphs which explore Dickens’ meaning, methods and
motives in depth.
Also includes analysis of the top 10 single words to analyse in the novella with high level explanations of how to zoom in and then how to zoom out to explore Dickens’ authorial purpose.
Also includes:
A timeline revision activity for A Christmas Carol that asks students to offer 3 layers of analysis for 13 key Scrooge quotations to help track his transformation in the novel from a solitary miser to a redeemed philanthropist.
A01: What is the meaning of the quotation?
A02: What is the impact of words/methods?
A03: What is Dickens’ message in this quotation?
Comprehensive answer sheet is included. I give this out at the end of the lesson so students can compare their answers to it.
Ideal revision activity in the run up to the May examinations.
This revision sheet contains 100 key quotations in chronological order alongside a brief explanation of the quotation which covers meanings, methods and message. This can be used by students to revise in many ways.
4 Ways to use this revision sheet.
RAG rate your understanding of each quotation/explanation using 3 coloured highlighters. This will help find areas of strength and gaps in knowledge.
Apply a code to link each quotation to a theme e.g. C = Christmas, F = Family, P = poverty S = Supernatural, G = Greed. This will help will planning exam questions.
Find pairs of contrasting quotations to help show changes in how a character or theme is presented at different points in the text.
Pick 10 quotations and develop your inferences of them by focusing on the effect of methods and how these methods help communicate Dickens’ authorial intentions.
100 Key Quotations from Lord of the Flies (with brief explanation) arranged in chronological order, by chapter, through the novel.
This can be used for revision in many ways.
I have included a range of exam questions so students can select 6 numbered quotations (from the 100) to help answer each question.
For example:
Narrow down the list to the top 10/20 most important quotations.
Find 5 quotations for each of the main characters.
Find 5 quotations for each of the main themes.
Alternatively look at exam questions and ask students to select 5 quotations they would use to help answer each question.