Three straightforward writing starters planned to improve student approaches to the paper 2 writing task for AQA English Language. Each is intended to take 15 minutes although of course you could then allow more time for students to develop their initial ideas into a developed piece of writing. The first slide is merely about generating a range of ideas to support a clear viewpoint. The second and third slides extend this by reminding students to use a range of sentence types and varied punctuation.

This is a straightforward multiple-choice quiz (answers provided) on Sara Teasdale's "There Will Come Soft Rains". There are 14 straightforward questions. Could be set for homework either after having studied the poem or as a pre-reading activity to identify any gaps that need particular focus in the lesson. Could also be used to structure a guided reading activity, in which case you will find that several of the questions invite follow-up questioning.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity using an excerpt from George Gissing’s letter in which he airs his views about bank holidays. There are 12 questions, answering which will ensure that the student thinks about Gissing’s viewpoint and the effects of the methods used to express this viewpoint. Could be used for homework or set as cover. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading or a revision session. Straightforward enough to be set for home learning.

This could be used as a walking/talking mock exam. It’s a very straightforward powerpoint with example questions 1, 2, 3 and 4 from paper 1 of the AQA English Language exam. The powerpoint presents the questions and little more - there is some guidance to remind students how to approach question 2 and the Word document containing the extract has space on the right for students to make notes to help them answer question 3. The text used is pre-1914 so no worries about copyright infringement.

Created for students to build confidence in reading texts written prior to 1914, this is an account from Henry Mayhew’s “London Labour and the London Poor” of an interview with a child working as a mudlark. Useful alongside the study of “A Christmas Carol” as another insight into poverty in the 19th century. There are 11 multiple-choice questions here (answers provided). The questions are intended to be straightforward but the Word document is easily editable for you to add or remove questions or change the level of difficulty to suit your own class. This could be used as a homework or a pre-reading activity so that students are already familiar with the text before you use it in class. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading activity. Some questions lend themselves to being developed in order to deepen understanding.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity that could be used for homework or cover. Alternatively, it could be used as a pre-reading activity to identify any gaps in knowledge or understanding before the characters of Oliver or Mrs Sowerberry are explored in greater detail. There’s a vocabulary task and then seven comprehension questions. The Word document is editable so if you wish to add challenge you can remove the glossary at the end of the passage.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity that uses only one paragraph from “The Canterville Ghost” in which the Otis family approach Canterville Chase and there is a discernible change of mood. There are 14 questions that could be used for homework, as a cover activity or to structure a guided reading session. Works for remote learning. Suggested answers are provided although some questions will elicit a range of responses, of course.

This is an editable powerpoint which I created for my KS4 classes to use as settlers/starters and to build the skills they will need for the writing task on paper 2. The slides can be used for the first 5-15 minutes of the lesson (depending on whether you want your students to work independently or generate ideas through discussion). Of course, you may then wish to extend the ideas into a longer piece of writing - there’s scope for flexibility depending on the needs of your class. The first four slides are simply about the generation of ideas to support a viewpoint. The next three are focused more on varying the expression of ideas and the final four are slightly more developed again, using examples from existing media.

Here, you will find 18 exam-style questions using the format and wording of the AQA English Literature GCSE exam, paper 1. The extracts used are shorter than the students will meet in the exam - slightly shorter in some cases and much shorter in others. Created for revision sessions but useful for homework, classwork or remote learning.

This is a straightforward powerpoint focusing on two short pre-twentieth century extracts. One is from “My Struggle with a Tiger” by Charles Jamrach and the other is from a story by Conan Doyle. This was planned for a less confident GCSE class but could also be used at KS3. It focuses on analysis - talking about the effect of the writer’s language choices on the reader. The last four slides are printables of the extracts.

This is a multiple-choice quiz with 26 questions on “The Farmer’s Bride” by Charlotte Mew. Could be used for homework or revision. Alternatively, this could be used to check students’ understanding of the poem prior to teaching so that the subsequent lesson can be more precisely focused on gaps. Answers are provided.

This is a grid of activities for students who are studying Shelagh Delaney’s “A Taste of Honey”. Originally planned as a cover activity, it could also be used as half a term’s homework or for revision if the students are studying the play for GCSE.

This is a straightforward multiple-choice quiz (answers provided) focusing on the description of Fred from Stave 1 and how his characterisation contrasts that of Scrooge. Useful for homework or could be used as a starter to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge so that subsequent teaching can be more sharply focused.

This is a simple and straightforward comprehension activity using a brief excerpt from “Carmilla” by Sheridan le Fanu. Questions test basic comprehension and developing analysis. Suggested answers are provided. This would sit well within a unit on gothic horror. It could be used as a homework activity or set for cover. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a session of guided reading.

This is an excerpt from a speech given by Dickens on 5th November 1857. There are ten questions with suggested answers provided. This could be used in class, for cover or as homework. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading session. Competing this activity will give students a sound understanding of Dickens’ viewpoint and so this activity could usefully be used alongside the Ghost of Christmas Past and the description of Scrooge’s schooldays.

This quiz was created as a revision resource for less confident readers in year 11. However, it could also be used at KS3 or with a GCSE resit class. The quiz could be used for homework or independent revision. Alternatively, the questions could form the basis for a guided reading session or the quiz could be used in a flipped learning context to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding so that subsequent teaching can be more precisely focused. Answers are provided.

A simple and straightforward powerpoint, animated as it was used in a revision session. The powerpoint has a recap slide with suggested answers. (These may not match your students, in which case they’ll need editing). There are 4 suggested tasks. 3 are very straightforward; the final one is more challenging and closer to the task that students will encounter in the exam. The weather task asks students what is wrong with the sample paragraph. The answer is that it doesn’t express a clear viewpoint.

This powerpoint was planned for a mixed-ability year 7 class as part of a unit of work on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The focus is on the meaning of Puck’s final speech and the ideas that Shakespeare is expressing through that speech. A suggested (short) response to the writing prompt is provided on the final slide. The homework is a multiple-choice quiz on the extract, to be used after the lesson, intended to embed the pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the speech. Answers to the quiz are provided.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity using an extract written by Nathanial Hawthorne (in the public domain). There are 8 questions (answers provided). These could be used as a cover activity for children working on myths and legends. The questions could be used to structure a guided reading activity. Alternatively, it works well as a homework activity.

A simple powerpoint that can be used for first teaching of the poem but which would also work as cover or as a homework activity. Easily adaptable to set more or fewer tasks from the grid. Could also be extended to explore what aspects of Dunbar’s life and experience could have inspired the poem.