After achieving an A* in 2017, I am sharing my quality revision notes, essays, templates and tactics to help ambitious students reach their goals. These resources have proven a hit across the globe with students and teachers alike - download yourself to see why!
Chat with me on twitter @astarlevels or just drop me an email... happy revising!
After achieving an A* in 2017, I am sharing my quality revision notes, essays, templates and tactics to help ambitious students reach their goals. These resources have proven a hit across the globe with students and teachers alike - download yourself to see why!
Chat with me on twitter @astarlevels or just drop me an email... happy revising!
6 top band, model articles and a worksheet helping students create engaging headlines, straplines and openings. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
* Shows how to assess ideas from the texts within your own article
* Demonstrates how to balance engaging writing with linguistic content
* Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
* Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) articles
Includes:
- 4 example articles (gender, occupation, sociolect, accent & dialect)
- 1 article on language diversity that draws on ideas in Text A & B
- 1 article on world English & non std varieties
- 1 article revision sheet helping students plan engaging openings
Top band, student written model opinion article for A Level English Language. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
This model article demonstrates how to convey understanding of linguistic ideas by evaluating and challenging the views presented in the text and by other linguists. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective article writing which they can emulate in their own work.
Why it works:
Shows how to assess ideas from the texts within your own article
Demonstrates how to balance engaging writing with linguistic content
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) articles
Easily turned into an assessment because text A & B are included. The model article can be used for reflection afterwards
I have also included a powerpoint that encourages students to look at each text in detail, make meaningful comments on it & then use these ideas to plan an opinion article answer. Would work well as the premise of a lesson but is not a full lesson powerpoint.
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Write an opinion article about language diversity and variation in which you assess the ideas and issues raised in Text A and Text B and argue your own views.
Top band, student written model answer for A Level English Language.
This essay demonstrates how to convey understanding of linguistic ideas by evaluating and challenging the views presented in the question and by other linguists. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work. There is also an opportunity for students to plan their own answer to the question.
Why it works:
Shows how to select, arrange & argue the most important ideas in essays
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
Useful as a concise summary of key theories in essay format
Marking activity for student reflection
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Check out my shop for more essays and revision resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
Written by an a student who got an A* in 2017 and download, used and loved by countless students and teachers across the country. Download to get the full essay PDF. Small sample section deliberately shown in preview
A fun lesson starter for A Level students introducing some 'new words' that they will definitely want to remember as examples in their essays and articles. Great way to show the basic idea that the language is not static (in an entertaining way).
Example student written model article on world & nonstandard English
Why they work:
* Top band article shows how to balance engaging style with linguistic theories
* Idea of headlines, straplines & openings
* Use as a style model for your future (brilliant!) articles!
I also made a resource with a headline, strapline & engaging opening for every topic that you could be required to write an article on. This is a great tool for students to avoid wasting time starting articles and getting straight on with it. Find it here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/opinion-article-revision-a-level-english-language-11683007
Examples of the stages of children’s writing.
Starter idea: ask students to note:
progression in the writing
any mistakes they notice
can they apply nay theories
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
4 top band model answers for A Level English Language.
* Shows how to select, arrange & argue the most important ideas in essays
* Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
* Can be reworked as a template for *your* future (brilliant!) essays
You may also be interested in 17 model answers for £22.99 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/english-language-exemplar-responses-aqa-a-level-new-spec-11874400
3 student written model answer for A Level English Language. Includes both sources/ texts so can be set as a mock too.
This essay demonstrates how to apply linguistic methods & terminology to texts in order to explore how language is used to create meaning. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work.
Why it works:
Shows how to select and analyse a range of language features, as well as how to demonstrate awareness of context and how meaning was created
Includes text A & B so can be set as a practice paper
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
Example student written model articles on gender, accent & dialect, social group/ sociolect & occupation.
Why they work:
Top band articles show how to balance engaging style with linguistic theories
Ideas of headlines, straplines & openings
Use as a style model for your future (brilliant!) articles!
I also made a resource with a headline, strapline & engaging opening for every topic that you could be required to write an article on. This is a great tool for students to avoid wasting time starting articles and getting straight on with it. Find it here
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. There are 9 pages full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
introduction as to why english is a world language
how English spread - inner, outer and explanding circle (kachru’s model)
English and India case study
English and the Caribbean case study
English and Australia case study
American English case study
Advantages and disadvantges of a world language
Singlish
Chinglish
Hinglish
the rise of outer circle english speaking countries and the impact this will have on English in the future
MLE
pidgins and creoles
Tok Pisin
Pitcairnese
and more…
Possible essay questions
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Have you seen this? https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/world-english-revision-and-example-essay-a-level-english-language-new-spec-11873520
Includes this summary sheet, an example world english essay, an example student article, a revision checklist and a bank of loads of practice essay questions for you to try.
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. There are 9 pages here full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
theories and models of change i.e. S curve, semantic reclamation, descriptivism/ prescriptivism, damp spoon/ crumbling castle/ infectious disease, substratum theory, wave model, functional theory
metaphors for change and language discourses
a table of linguists and their studies, findings, opinions (really useful to refer to)
detailed breakdown of debate over whether language change is a process of evolution or decay
texting and change
how new words cause change
politcal corrrectness and change
technology and language change
outline of answer to essay question ‘discuss how new words enter the language’
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Check out my shop for more: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
This original writing and commentary was submitted to AQA in summer 2017 and awarded an A*. This makes it the perfect example to show students what is required of them in the NEA. Includes full original writing & corresponding commentary.
The original writing was based on Power of Persuasion.
Why it works:
* Shows how to use current A Level study to produce & analyse their own writing
* Demonstrates how to organise & structure the commentary by drawing on own work & the style model
* Can be reworked as a template for *your* future (brilliant!) NEA
I also have an example of the language investigation: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-level-english-language-nea-a-example-language-investigation-11721765
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Check out my shop for more essays and revision resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
This language investigation was submitted to AQA in summer 2017 and awarded an A*. This makes it the perfect example to show students what is required of them in the NEA. Includes full 5 page write up & data used.
Title: An investigation into the language used by politicians in resignation speeches
Why it works:
* Shows how to use current A Level study as a toolkit to study language
* Demonstrates how to organise & structure the write-up
* Example of the level of analysis & interpretation needed for highest grades
* Can be reworked as a template for *your* future (brilliant!) NEA
I also have an example of the directed writing & commentary: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/original-writing-and-commentary-example-nea-11721778
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Check out my shop for more essays and revision resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
Complete revision notes including a range of exciting studies, concepts and theories. I achieved an A* in 2017 using these notes alongside practice questions
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Show different lines of arguments that can be used to ‘evaluate’ an idea which is crucial to enter the top bands
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
It includes information on:
Early writing
Stages of writing development
Spelling
Types of spelling mistake
Overcoming these challenges
The effects of accent and dialect on spelling
Hand writing development
Socio economic issues surrounding child language development
The ways parents can support children
Scaffolding
The influence of technology
Phonics
Genre
Practice essay questions
Notes on Spoken CLA
Model essay for CLA
Check out my shop for more
25 practice essay questions for A Level English Language covering gender, accent & dialect, sociolect, world English & ethnicity and language change.
Neat & tidy table checklist design so takes up little space and easy to keep track of how many answers have been planned/ written.
You may also be interested in an essay question workbook with space to plan each answer. Find it here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/english-language-practice-essay-question-workbook-11877669
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. There are 3 pages full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Includes:
Petytt H dropping test
Trudgill ing/in’ test
Watson on young people & the scouse dialect - reference to language and identity
Cheshire playground use of non std variants
Slang
Slang in the past i.e. Dickens and HG Wells
Snell on sociolingusitics
Halliday on slang
2013 election
Eckert
Swales
Stormzy & grime
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Check out my shop for more: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. They are full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
Fairclough on bosses
Covert power
Small talk (Holmes, Levine)
Face theory
Swales on discourse communities
Nelson, business language
Kim & Elder
Doctor slang!
Leidner on styling
Examples of jargon i.e. paramedics
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. There are five pages full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
Dominance: Zimmerman & West, Beattie, Spender, Fishman
Deficit: Lakoff, Jepersen
Difference: Tannen, Trudgill, Coates
Diversity: Cameron
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Check out my shop for more: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
Top band, student written model answer for A Level English Language Paper 2 Question 3 on Language Discourses. Includes full essay & marker annotations with overall feedback.
This essay demonstrates how to analyse the way two texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions in similar and different ways. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work.
Why it works:
Shows how to structure an answer to this question that addresses all 3 AOs
Examiner commentary highlights successful elements
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
This particular response was awarded 34/40
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
To find the texts used to write this essay download my free mock exam
Top band, student written model answer for A Level English Language Paper 2 Question 3 on Language Discourses.
This essay demonstrates how to analyse the way that two texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions in similar and different ways. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work.
Why it works:
Shows how to structure an answer to this question that addresses all 3 AOs
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
This particular response was awarded 33/40
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
To find the texts used to write this essay download my free mock exam
I have another example marked with examiner commentary essay for this question on my shop, check it out!