A marking grid which attempts to describe each Literature grade, filling in the gaps between the published grade descriptors from inference from AQA examiner’s reports and course materials.
Can use in conjunction with my model essay resource for a solid and successful essay preparation lesson.
A whoosh is a narrative technique which allows you to get through the ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ story quickly and in an accessible fun way! Students take the role of players for ‘chunks’ of the story, ready to change roles at each of the ‘whoosh’ points.
Read the guidance sheet for more details and support.
A resource to help students to consider the themes present in the CONFLICT anthology for AQA so they can select 7 poems to learn inside out. Pages included to collect and analyse quotations for revision.
Complete lesson looking at extended metaphors and semantic fields. Designed to improve question 5 for AQA paper 1. Several famous examples from literature for students to analyse before attempting their own. Then HW to improve previous creative writing.
A narrative technique where the play is broken down into short narrative chunks. Students can sit in a circle and are invited by the teacher to both ‘become’ characters but also settings and props. It is a fun and easy way to get through the narrative.
Follow on activities can include giving the students a copy of the Whoosh for them to then create a storyboard or news article in order to familiarise themselves with the story; or they can colour code the writing for themes or tension.
Detailed guidance given in additional support sheet.
Text: Noah’s Gold, Frank Cottrell- Boyce
Three introductory lessons to enable Year 7 class of mixed ability to demonstrate range of skills to a new teacher. The book should have already been read but alternative activities are provided for those students who have not read the text.
Key Aims of SOL:
Comprehend an extended narrative, with knowledge of plot structure and characters. More advanced students will understand the concept of a framed narrative.
Use evidence from the text to support opinions about the characters and plot. These may include close references or precise quotations
Make links between fictional texts
Write a creative description using a stimulus. The creative description should include a range of figurative language and clear organisational techniques.
Contribute orally to a debate regarding the impact of the internet on imagination and learning. More advanced students may additionally consider the impact of AI, linking to current debates in the media.
Assessment opportunities:
As this is a short, introductory scheme, there is no formal assessment but the three lessons should provide clear examples of ability within the class.
Huge saving
Worksheets to help students revise chapters and also prepare for numerous popular essay titles.
Also included, teacher and student friendly assessment sheets.
This is a revision power point which guides students through the AQA English GCSE paper one exam question by question. There are top tips to suggest to students how to get the marks. Also, it includes some sentence starters to avoid the ‘panic’! It also supplies clear topics for further revision.
This works best when used in conjunction with an actual paper.
This presentation goes through the key elements of punctuation and grammar for the GCSE with ROUGH estimates of what they could cost the student in terms of grade. I have been deliberately harsh in order to emphasise the importance to students - you may want to to adapt according to your class.
Following some short activities, there are some wider creative writing tasks with photo stimuli.
Close focus on question 4 for AQA English paper 1. This revision lesson should be taught with a copy of the sample paper with the extract from ‘Brighton Rock’. Students should follow guidance to attempt a response and then use the examples of assessed work to peer or self assess. Includes slides from AQA guidance.
Complete lesson looking at extended metaphors and semantic fields. Designed to improve question 5 for AQA paper 1. Several famous examples from literature for students to analyse before attempting their own. Then HW to improve previous creative writing.
A series of lessons (5) designed to help students revisit ‘Macbeth’ having studied it previously. The opening slides look at how to get the most out of quotations, choosing which ones to learn carefully. Following ‘lessons’ include ‘Lady Macbeth’, ‘Power and Ambition’, selecting lesser known quotations or scenes to impress the examiner, mindmapping, and ‘Kingship’
I’ve also included an additional lesson I did using two reviews of Macbeth as a way of revising the story but also to tackle English Language Paper 2, question 4. It is lighthearted and supposed to be a bit of a mental break from the grind of revision.
Designed for students who have already studied the play, this resource includes direction for how to break down quotations and explicit consideration of stage directions.
Using exam level descriptors from AQA (1-4) which can be converted to grades using grade percentage boundaries, this resource will be applicable every year. I have used this successfully with my GCSE AQA students for self/peer/teacher assessment and it allows them to set their own targets.
Levels 4-6 also available as separate resource.
Designed for students in Year 12 making leap to A Level. The assessment sheets are phrased as questions students should ask themselves before submitting work. There is also the option for them to provide examples from their essays where they have provided evidence of the criteria to enable the teacher to check their understanding of the assessment objective.
Comparative and non comparative assessment sheets included.
For exam levels 4-6, uses AQA descriptors to create student friendly language. I have used this successfully through the year for self/peer/teacher assessments and to enable students to create their own targets.
Levels 1 -4 also available in separate resource.
Short unit of work for creative writing - four lessons but could easily be extended into six or seven. Good to set for cover if necessary. Includes extracts from classic literature. Genre sorting table has proven to be a great starter for every key stage and gets students thinking about what they already know about genre.
Summaries of Paper 1 and 2 for GCSE . Individual presentations focusing on the more challenging questions of the exams, included guided writing revision lesson for Paper 2, question 5.
Concentrated notes for key aspects of the poem, using: Expectations; Narrative; Form and Structure; Language; Transformation. Taught with ‘Love through the Ages’ module for AQA A Level Literature A in order to compare with The Great Gatsby.