This resource was developed when I was teaching 'The Handmaid's Tale' in Year 12 on the OCR spec for comparative c/work but could be used/adapated for any study of a prose text. The idea is to get the students 'asking the right questions' of texts, with a solid focus on assessment objectives (in this case A03/4). Hopefully the powerpoint explains it but essentially, each student (or in pairs) is a that allow the best possible answer. . . The 'steps' outlined in the powerpoint give them guidance.

Inspired by a Teachit activity on the opening to ‘A Christmas Carol’, this activity is intended for y7/8 when introducing them to Dickens. There are four different extracts from Dickens’ novels and two group tasks associated with each - analysing how he ‘hooks’ the reader in, then preparing a dramatic reading for the rest of the class, intended to inspire them to read more. Lots of fun… and gives them ownership over their text.

Powerpoint providing background to Milton's Paradise Lost. Taught on OCR F663 in year 13 as comparative text with Doctor Faustus... see other resources! (only Book I) could be adapted though

Understand the ways in which texts target particular individuals or organisations Identify the ways writers use language to try and influence readers you know the routine

I really recommend teaching this wonderful text - currently on OCR AS English Literature spec, I taught it for a comparative coursework task instead (comparing with The God of Small Things). Students loved it... yes lots of swearing but all in context, and you will see I made the swearing into a learning activity about language prestige! Includes scheme of work, lesson PowerPoints and resources. More importantly, all my teacher notes are also included with the slides. Also, really recommend purchasing David Ian Rabey's critical guide to Jez Butterworth, published 2015.

Focusing on chapters 7 and 8, powerpoint talks through lesson. Focus in gap between Jem and Scout's understanding, but has a focus on narrative perspective/theory in order to challenge the more able.

A glossary of useful terms for English and English literature - good for years 9, 10 and 11. perhaps even y12/13. Students to fill in throughout year or a good hmwk task.

Two introductory resources I used for a y12 group about to start studying Austen's 'Persuasion' for c/work/ Pre-reading activity gets them thinking about openings to a selection of Austen novels (so could be used for any Austen novel). We focused on style and applied critical ideas about entry strategies. Then there is a female character adjective match focusing on chapters 1-3. They have to find supporting quote/evidence to justify their ideas.

Printable handouts for Macbeth: decision tree and conversation analysis. First on is a checklist of conversation techniques (eg turn taking/ adjacency pairs), which you can use to analyse the Lady M and Macbeth scenes pre the murder of Duncan. Gets them thinking about the language of power, as well as the nature of spoken language. Resource two is a decision tree for students to fill in, exploring all the possibities and consequences facing Macbeth at the end of Act 1.

Scenes from Macbeth on a printable handout annotated with questions to make guided reading/ note taking a little easier, particularly at early stages of play. Focus mostly on presentation of character.

Copies of the poems, 'pike' by Ted Hughes and 'trout' by Seamus Heaney and a few charts/venns that allow them to compare these two. The powerpoint has pics of a pike - can be used a starter. Once we studied these, they wrote an essay, then a poem describing an animal of their own.

Lesson aim: Develop a methodology for tackling questions on the novel as a whole. Focusing on appearance v reality in Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde, these potential sequence of lessons aims to help students tackling a bigger thematic idea as well as helping them approach bigger essay questions. Designed for AQA GCSE English Literature but would work well for any ... Also includes a layered writing mat, starter activity and worksheet to help plan an essay on the conflict between appearance and reality.

Essay instruction sheet for essay on To Kill A Mockingbird with hints and tips - good half term hmwk or could be prepared in class as an exercise in essay planning.Question is: 'Explore the ways in which Harper Lee presents the development of Scout and Jem in the first section of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’.'

Inspired by the fab tension chart on Teachit for 'An Inspector Calls', I created one for the novel 'Jekyll and Hyde'. Helps students to consider structure/ pace/ ordering of events/ linear v actual etc etc.

An oldie but goodie - powerpoint talks students through what lonely hearts are, with examples, then provides instructions on how to write their own. Provides some amusing results and I really push mine to write in the style of character and try to apply some of Austen's irony.

Find a quotation activity for chapters 4-6 on the main aspects of the chapters.

A scheme of work for Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, including powerpoints, handouts and some activities. Mostly structured around questions, key quotations and mastery of analysis skills. The document labelled SOW provides overview... Edition used was the standard Faber and Faber and all page references refer to that one.

A full scheme of work for Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire'... Packed full of activities, critical material, challenging activities and a few essay titles. I taught this for OCR comparative coursework alongside 'A Bell Jar' but, this will fit to any A-level spec. Scheme of work also attached so you can get an idea of whole picture and edit as required... Page references refer to Penguin Modern Classics edition.

A whole range of useful resources to support student writing - mostly A-level but some could work for more able at GCSE: - WHALE analysis; my own approach for getting students to analyse texts in detail by thinking like a whale. Includes modelled example using 'A Streetcar..' and blank template. - Analysis framework for any play; in table format so can be laminated/ cut up and allocated to students/groups, depending on AO but could also be used as is. - Discourse markers - simple list of connecting words - I challenge students to use them whilst writing shorter pieces in class. -Comparative writing frame to help students compare two texts; blank templates and modelled example using The Bell Jar and A Streetcar Named Desire - Information sheets on the approach required for different kinds of A-level writing e.g. critical analysis, interpretive, using secondary critical material - Two writing mats which are totally based on an example of a writer's palette in David Didau's wonderful book, 'The Secret of Literacy- making the implicit, explicit' - a must for all teachers, in my opinion. One focuses on deep language analysis, the other on interpretive writing. I laminate at A3 size and keep copies in classroom at all times - can be used for slow writing activity or to support students during timed writing. - Powerpoint with general activities on classic mistakes students make whilst writing. Use as a starter OR for some directed practice/ mastery after they have written an essay.

Chart to fill in on courage - includes quotes from Martin Luther King jr to start thinking, an overview of courage in the novel and a chart to fill in.