‘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.
7 Lessons covering each scene from Act 1 of Macbeth.
All lessons include a starter, scene summary, questions, detailed annotations and extension activities.
6 sets of revision cards on the following 6 themes in Macbeth:
Kingship
Macbeth’s fears
Supernatural
Blood and violence
Guilt
Ambition
Each set has 6 key quotations analysed in detail to meet the requirements for A01, A02 and A03.
A term’s worth of ready-to-teach resources created for the 2021 examination on A Christmas Carol.
Includes:
Revision sheets containing key quotes and context points and differentiated revision tasks
Context match up sheet
9 grade 9 model answers
Writing frames
5, Sample AQA-style questions
Partially completed essay plans to finish
Difficult vocabulary glossary activity
Carousel activity on key extracts
Differentiated questions on stave 2
Differentiated questions on Marley’s ghost
Which vision in Stave 2 affects Scrooge the most worksheet
Activities with model responses on how Dickens presents ideas about Christmas in Stave 3
Comprehension questions on all staves
Top 50 quotations revision sheets
Fred lesson
Fezziwig lesson
Lesson on more obscure extracts
Lesson on women in the novella
Plus lots more
A revision lesson on key quotations from Blood Brothers.
Start by giving out the revision grid with only the quotations so students can analyse the top 6 quotations for each character.
Then give out the answer sheet so students can compare their answers to the model.
There is also a larger revision grid which contains quotations for each character linked to theme in case a theme question comes up.
Three writing frames to help low-ability students structure exam-style response to questions based on the themes of ambition and deception.
Students are provided with a very short extract and an exam-style question. I made the extracts shorter than normal to make it more accessible for the students.
The writing frame starts off each paragraph for the student. There is then space for the students to use their knowledge of the play to add further analysis of each quotation.
It has been designed to fit onto A4 sheets for ease of printing. For some students it may be necessary to enlarge the sheet to A3.
These resources help build student confidence and is an important step for helping them structure their answers independently.
Also contains guidance on thesis-style introductions.
‘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.
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)
100 question knowledge quiz on Macbeth. 20 questions on each Act. Ideal to fill a whole lesson or a homework. Includes the answer sheet. It is repeatable at different points of the year to help with knowledge retention.
NEW: Also included in the form of a board game. You just need dice and counters.
Also contains a random generator quotation revision game.
Newly updated 46 page revision booklet for Lord of the Flies which my best selling resources into one easy to print/download document to aid with revision.
The booklet includes:
Plot recap questions
Cloze plot summary activity
Chapter questions
Storyboard plot summary
Theme quotation revision cards
Knowledge organisers
Top 10 quotations for each character posters
Blank templates to test understanding of key points
High grade model responses on Ralph, Piggy, Jack and Roger
Sample GCSE questions
Contextual revision notes
Writing frames (differentiated)
Notes on topic sentences
Extension links to Freudian analysis
Also now includes 6 extra character pages with more detailed quotation analysis on the 5 main characters and the island setting.
3 A3 revision sheets, 1 A4 revision sheet and a set of revision cards.
Sheet 1 has carefully selected key quotations for all 6 characters and carefully selected points about context for A03.
Sheet 2 has quotations for 5 themes and exam questions based on each theme.
Sheet 3 is a summary and brief explanation of 10 key quotations for each character.
Sheet 4 contains a summary of key stage directions across the play.
Sheet 1 contains suggested differentiated revision activities:
Bronze:
Apply a word from the word bank to each quotation.
Silver:
Link each quotation to a theme (age, gender, class, responsibility).
Gold:
Use the revision sheet to write essays on all 6 characters.
A bundle of resources to use in the final few weeks after you have taught all 18 poems.
The resources encourage students to learn quotations, explore comparisons and write up comparative paragraphs.
Links to other Eduqas poetry resources:
Revision Cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/eduqas-wjec-poetry-revision-cards-gcse-12107545
Lessons on all poems
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-anthology-bundle-2-lesson-on-each-poem-11896591
Revision resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-revising-all-poems-11894072
Bundle:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-bundle-gcse-9-1-11815065
Links to other Eduqas poetry resources:
Revision Cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/eduqas-wjec-poetry-revision-cards-gcse-12107545
Lessons on all poems
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-anthology-bundle-2-lesson-on-each-poem-11896591
Revision resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-revising-all-poems-11894072
Bundle:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-bundle-gcse-9-1-11815065
This lesson is perfect for a lesson in a school library to get students to think about opening their minds to new genres.
To prepare for the lesson you need 7 tables.
Each table must include 4-7 books in the following genres:
fantasy
crime
realistic
historical
fantasy
action and adventure
horror
In a carousel, students visit each table and make a note of the best opening, blurb and cover.
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
I have selected 6 themes from Lord of the Flies and included 5 key quotations for the theme along with detailed analysis of each quotation that tries to both zoom in to the writer’s methods (A02) while also zooming out to discuss Golding’s wider intentions (A03). A revision tool aimed at students working towards grades 7-9.
A simple but effective and ready to go worksheet to promote a group activity exploring who is responsible for the death of Eva Smith.
After splitting your class into 5 groups, ask students to create their argument for their character by finding further quotations to support their point and adding them to the structured grid.
Students can then share their ideas in a carousel style.