This is a resource for teachers of KS3 who need a bit of extra help getting pupils to write PEE paragraphs at this level. It deals with the elements of a good PEE paragraph, breaking down what a point is, looking at how to select appropriate evidence and finally how to explore and analyse the quote in detail. It is based on the novel Wonder by RJ Palacio, but could be adapted to suit another text as necessary. I have used this format with my KS3 classes and the results have been fantastic!

These slides include the poet’s bio, key vocab, key ideas and some analysis to assist with AS analysis. Hopefully this will save teachers some time looking up definitions and the like.

This fun 1 hour 30 minute lesson includes 2 worksheets and can be spread over one or two lessons depending on the level of detail you want in the interview. Great for revision session, or for pupils who are approaching the end of the play and need a recap. The lesson focuses on AO2 in the drama question: Comment on their actions in the play, words they might say, values and attitudes using the text to help you gather ideas. My experience is that pupils get very involved and even those who are more reticent about acting can take part. Some of the questions they ask can be quite advanced and it really gets them thinking about the character’s different points of view. Weaker pupils benefit from the opportunity to review events in the play up until this point.

This worksheet allows pupils to explore the allegorical elements of the story in their reading, preparing them for exam questions for GCSE and A Level Literature Exams.

Powerpoint x 20 hours. Explores Twelfth Night looking at various aspects which coincide with the AS Level Scheme of Work: Context and interpretations; Language and conventions; Characterisation; Essay writing skills (which includes a recap on PEE paragraphs): and Form and Structure. It provides support for the entire work and covers about 20 or so hours of lessons, depending on how long you dedicate to discussions.

This Powerpoint presentation offers a plot summary, historical background/context, a discussion of key themes and symbols, some alternative interpretations (as per assessment objective 5) - including a discussion of the play’s tragic elements, comparisons of the characters of Richard and Henry Bullingbrook, a consideration of the use of verse, and scene by scene questions.

This resource is designed for students preparing Americanah as a text for A Level. The material focuses largely on the first half of the story and provides up to 10 hours of lessons and discusssion (27 slides). It is designed to cover various discussions around themes of race, identity, and the concept of hair. It also provides links to other resources that can help towards AO5 part of the assessment. A number of essay titles are planned and developed to help critical thinking. The resource includes an example essay that could be used as a class marking activity. The chapter summary grid should be used at home while pupils read the novel so that they have an easy reference to the different sections.

This resource is to help teach pupils correct punctuation rules for punctuating dialogue correctly. It includes a short activity at the end which is based on the book Wonder by RJ Palacio. It can be adapted to any class reader.

This 1h30 minute lesson can be used to introduce or revise AO2 Writing & persuasive techniques for directed writing at IGCSE for the paper 3 (writing) paper for Cambridge. A great subject for getting pupils engaged but you’ll need a strong stomach! It looks at a recent news article regarding the Fatberg in London. It could equally be used to explore important themes about the negative impacts of modern society in a PSHE lesson. A full set of teacher notes is included, as well as answers.

This resource would be suitable for one or two hours of lesson time (or alternatively, the essay writing task could be given as a homework activity). It breaks down the aspects of essay writing, through identifying key terms in the essay title, brainstorming ideas using technical terms and helping pupils draft analytical points, supported by evidence. The final activity is a peer assessment task so pupils can explore what was successful in their partner’s work.

This worksheet engages pupils to explore the main ideas expressed in the poem using a step by step approach. The final activity practices essay writing and research skills, with pupils using the essay to check and expand on the ideas they have come up with. Any new ideas they have identified using the worksheet could also be added to the detail of the essay.

A worksheet to help pupils prepare for a diary entry based on the events leading up to and during Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet. Worksheet can be completed in class and the diary entry finished for homework. Helpful introduction to Shakespearean English with a simple matching exercise which can be used as a starter to the lesson. Suitable for KS3 or KS4 pupils.

This resource is designed to help students create insightful and analytical PEE (or APE) paragraphs in preparation for writing either a passage based or essay style question at GCSE. It can easily be adapted to suit another text besides A View from the Bridge

This lesson, based on an article by Peter Bradshaw which reviews the film 127 is designed as a way to engage pupils with the Response Writing task for the Extended paper at IGCSE, but could also be used for directed writing. The lesson deliverable is a Newspaper report based on the contents of the article.

This lesson is based on an article that discusses addictions to social media. It is designed to mimic the Cambridge extended Language paper for Reading (papers 1 & 2: Core and Extended) and the Writing (paper 3). It uses one source text (as opposed to two for the reading and 1 for the writing paper). Initial activities are meant to help pupils access and understand the meaning of the text, whilst enhancing their vocabulary, whereas the later activities are replicas of the questions they would be asked in the Reading and then Writing exam. It could equally be used as the basis for a PSHE discussion regarding sensible use of social media.

This resource is designed for teachers who want to ensure that the pupils are making analytical comments in PEE paragraphs, rather than falling into the trap of simply summarising the narrative or explaning the action occuring on stage or in the story. It is based on Macbeth but could easily be adapted to another text.

This resource is designed as a group activity for students to practise close reading of a passage in preparation for the GCSE passage based questions. After a brief run through of what is required in the exam, pupils work in groups to analyse a passage from the play, which advice on what to look for. This then feeds into an essay planning process (again in groups) and finishes with peer assessment. I've had some really positive results and the essay plans students produced as a result were A* standard! They can be asked to write up the essay as homework, or explore another passage, depending on how confident they felt at the end. This resource also works well if used in conjunction with my other resource on PEE paragraphs on A View from the Bridge.

1.5 hour lesson is aimed at KS3, GCSE and possibly A Level pupils who need a bit of an extra helping hand constructing PEE paragraphs based on poetry. It was inspired by the fact that I had read one too many poems where pupils simply ‘translate’ the surface meaning of poem into simple English without really analysing the poem in any way. It could be adapted to another poem relatively easily.

This resource is for pupils whose first language is not English who are preparing for the GCSE English Literature exam. It includes typical slip-ups (e.g. confusing “this” and “these”) and asks pupils to reflect on accuracy at the end of the exam, by practising proof-reading skills. If you download, please leave comments so I can keep improving my materials! Thank you! Jenny

This lesson plan uses a mix of scaffolding and SOLO taxonomy methods to support an essay on Macbeth. It starts with the wider question then works back to help pupils identify how best to approach the question, ensuring points are tightly linked to the question and avoiding repetitive structures. I have used with both my year 10 and 11 classes with great success! Please do feedback - your comments are much appreciated!