I created this resource to help guide my GCSE class through the poem 'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou. They were studying it as part of preparation for a coursework assignment, following a lesson on 'The Story of An Hour' by Kate Chopin. Both texts are from Part 2: Paper 2 Section A Poetry and Prose Texts of the Edexcel International GCSE anthology. (New 9-1 specification.)

This scheme of work guides pupils through 'Exposure,' 'Dulce et Decorum Est,' and 'Who's for the Game?' and then uses this context to inspire a piece of creative writing about going over the top in the trenches. The presentation takes pupils through the writing paragraph by paragraph and suggests techniques they can use at each stage. I used it with mid/low ability year 9 pupils. There are bits and pieces taken from others' resources here as well as my own work.

A blank grid which can be used within lessons or as a revision resource to help students prepare for question 4 of the Edexcel iGCSE English Language A Paper 1 exam. See my other resources for pre-filled in grids guiding analysis of the specific texts in part 1 of the anthology.

A short task which prompts students to analyse ‘A Game of Polo With a Headless Goat’ by Emma Levine via questions. Can be used in lessons or set as a homework task.

Colour-coded quotes to help students revise ‘Of Mice and Men.’ I encourage my students to print the slides out to help and stick them up at home to help learn the quotes.

A simple grid to help pupils revise the key techniques used in this poem.

This unit of work takes pupils through 'White Comedy', 'I too Sing, America,' 'Blessing' and 'Island Man.' It helps pupils to analyse each poem and guides them through a comparison. It has bits and pieces taken from others' resources that I have adapted, as well as my own work. I have successfully taught this to high ability year 8 and low ability year 9. For differentiation, I include a scaffolded essay plan, which has helped some of my SEN/EAL pupils. Parts of this are inspired by Phil Beadle's amazing work on 'Island Man' and 'Blessing' (Teachers TV). I really enjoy teaching this unit of work, I hope that others find it useful.

A comprehension activity using an extract from Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Slaughter House Five’.

A worksheet to introduce students to the key imagery in Sonnet 116, and guide their analysis through PQA.

A 20 slide powerpoint presentation with examples of figurative language in lyrics from popular songs with an appropriate accompanying image. Includes simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, senses, imagery, idiom, hyperbole, anaphora and rule of three. I print these on A3 and use this as a display in my classroom, but it could also be used to introduce these concepts to a class within a wider lesson about literary devices. I find that my classes find the examples easier to remember when they are from popular songs.

A useful grid to guide students’ analysis of the ‘The Danger of a Single Story’ extract by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Aimed at answering q4 of the iGCSE English Language exam. (9-1) These grids have been invaluable within our English department, supporting the teaching and revision of Part1: Paper 1 Section A Non-fiction texts in the Edexcel iGCSE anthology. We have seen a vast improvement in the quality of students’ answers since giving them these grids. They identify key techniques and offer in depth analysis linked to the purpose of the text. See my other resources for grids on the other texts from part 1 of the anthology. Uses the PQA format offering exemplar points, quotes and analysis. Can be used within lessons or as a revision resource.

A grid which guides pupils to compare the poems ‘Half-Past Two’ by UA Fanthorpe and ‘Hide and Seek’ by Vernon Scannell. The grid looks at how the theme of childhood is presented in each. We have found these grids very useful in our English department to support the pupils’ revision and develop their answers.

A grid which guides pupils to compare the poems ‘Piano’ by DH Lawrence and ‘Poem at 39’ by Alice Walker. The grid looks at how the themes of parent child relationships and memories are presented in each. We have found these grids very useful in our English department to support the pupils’ revision and develop their answers.

These grids have been invaluable within our English department, supporting the teaching and revision of Part1: Paper 1 Section A Non-fiction texts in the Edexcel iGCSE anthology. We have seen a vast improvement in the quality of students’ answers since giving them these grids. They identify key techniques and offer in depth analysis linked to the purpose of the text. See my other resources for grids on the other texts from part 1 of the anthology. The word document guides students’ analysis of the ‘Young and Dyslexic? You’ve Got it Going On’ extract by Benjamin Zephaniah. Aimed at answering q4 of the iGCSE English Language exam. (9-1) Uses the PQA format offering exemplar points, quotes and analysis. Can be used within lessons or as a revision resource.

NOW UPDATED: A useful grid to guide students’ analysis of the ‘H is For Hawk’ extract by Helen MacDonald. Aimed at answering q4 of the iGCSE English Language exam. (9-1) These grids have been invaluable within our English department, supporting the teaching and revision of Part1: Paper 1 Section A Non-fiction texts in the Edexcel iGCSE anthology. We have seen a vast improvement in the quality of students’ answers since giving them these grids. They identify key techniques and offer in depth analysis linked to the purpose of the text. See my other resources for grids on the other texts from part 1 of the anthology. Uses the PQA format offering exemplar points, quotes and analysis. Can be used within lessons or as a revision resource.

A grid which guides pupils to compare the poems ‘Search for My Tongue’ by Sujata Bhatt and ‘Half-Caste’ by John Agard. The grid looks at how the theme of identity is presented in each. We have found these grids very useful in our English department to support the pupils’ revision and develop their answers.

These grids have been invaluable within our English department, supporting the teaching and revision of Part1: Paper 1 Section A Non-fiction texts in the Edexcel iGCSE anthology. We have seen a vast improvement in the quality of students’ answers since giving them these grids. They identify key techniques and offer in depth analysis linked to the purpose of the text. See my other resources for grids on the other texts from part 1 of the anthology. A worksheet to guide students’ analysis of the ‘Passage to Africa’ extract by George Alagiah. Aimed at answering q4 of the iGCSE English Language exam. (9-1) Uses the PQA format offering exemplar points, quotes and analysis. Can be used within lessons or as a revision resource.

A grid which guides pupils to compare the poems ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browing and ‘The Tyger’ by William Blake. The grid looks at how the theme of power is presented in each. We have found these grids very useful in our English department to support the pupils’ revision and develop their answers.

A worksheet to guide students’ analysis of the ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’ extract by Aron Ralston. Aimed at answering q4 of the iGCSE English Language exam. (9-1) These grids have been invaluable within our English department, supporting the teaching and revision of Part1: Paper 1 Section A Non-fiction texts in the Edexcel iGCSE anthology. We have seen a vast improvement in the quality of students’ answers since giving them these grids. They identify key techniques and offer in depth analysis linked to the purpose of the text. See my other resources for grids on the other texts from part 1 of the anthology. Uses the PQA format offering exemplar points, quotes and analysis. Can be used within lessons or as a revision resource.

A word document to guide students’ analysis of the ‘Explorer’s Daughter’ extract by Kari Herbert. Aimed at answering q4 of the iGCSE English Language exam. (9-1) These grids have been invaluable within our English department, supporting the teaching and revision of Part1: Paper 1 Section A Non-fiction texts in the Edexcel iGCSE anthology. We have seen a vast improvement in the quality of students’ answers since giving them these grids. They identify key techniques and offer in depth analysis linked to the purpose of the text. See my other resources for grids on the other texts from part 1 of the anthology. Uses the PQA format offering exemplar points, quotes and analysis. Can be used within lessons or as a revision resource.