This is an 8 slide PowerPoint which can be printed as a booklet to support pupils when writing their Critical Essay. PowerPoint includes: Introduction with Success Criteria (TAART) Main paragraph structure (Topic Sentence, Point, Evidence, Analysis (zoom in. zoom out) and Relate to Essay Question. Example double PEAR paragraph. Success Criteria and example Conclusion. Please see example Critical Essay for “Flowers” which marries in with this presentation.

New for 2021. This resource includes an example Critical Essay (A), for an “interesting/ memorable character” type essay question, but can easily be adapted to fit another essay question. The essay follows a neat, predictable paragraph structure: Topic Sentence, Point, Evidence, Analysis & Relate to Essay Question. It also includes a placemat activity which correlates with the essay whereby pupils find the evidence/ analysis and record it on the placemat. This works well as a revision placemat.

This is a comprehensive unit to support pupils studying George Orwell’s “A Hanging”. The unit includes pre-reading tasks, understanding questions, analysis questions, tables, essay writing advice, and some other bits and bobs. I’ve also included an example essay which is formatted in consistence with the example paragraphs in the printable unit.

Based on the theme of “Time Capsules”, this short unit of work is designed to capture pupils’ experiences of 2020/21. The PowerPoint has a brief introduction to time capsules, discussion prompts, video links and writing stimulus. Easy to navigate and adapt, this unit is a perfect way to end (or begin) the academic year. Most suitable for junior classes.

These grids have been designed to be used in conjunction with the 2015 and 2018 SQA Past Papers for John Byrne’s, “The Slab Boys,” Both grids support the pupils’ ability to answer language questions ( amongst others) by focussing their thinking so as their answer is in line with what appears on the marking scheme. I made this resource as some pupils were struggling to identify and analyse the language techniques apparent in the characters’ dialogue . Each grid also includes help and guidance with answering the 10 mark question, with room on the sheets to complete each question.

This is an excellent example of writing in response to George Orwell’s, “A Hanging,” designed to be written in response to a question similar to: “deal with an issue/ theme (Capital Punishment), has a strong message” etc. below is a breakdown of what the paragraphs focus on: Setting Characterisation (prisoner and guards) Symbolism of the dog Water imagery/ turning point Ending

This basic but easy to use flow chart will help younger pupils to decipher which figurative language technique the writer has used ( limited to Simile, Metaphor, Personification and Onomatopoeia).

Remote Learning Unit of Work. Looking for a concise and comprehensive unit of work to fill a couple of weeks? This unit of work was originally designed by myself as a resource suitable to be used as cover work - (work should take roughly 2 weeks to complete). Because of this, it does not require much teacher input; pupils can work independently through the unit at their own pace. Nonetheless, given the thematical and broad nature of the topic, there is plenty of scope to expand on this unit of work: Contents Page: • Page 3-4: “The Father of the Modern Circus” (Tasks: Reading, Summarising, Storyboarding and Visualiser) • Page 5-6: Animals in the Circus (Summarising Task). • Page 7-9: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation • Page 10-11: Raising Awareness - Poster Task • Page 12: Creative Writing (Writing task) • Page 13: Personal Reflective Writing (Writing Task)

Worksheets to support the learning of the following pages: Act 1: Exposition Questions Act 1: pages 15-24 Table plus comprehension Questions Act 2: pages 33-43 Comprehension Questions Act 2: pages 43-53 Comprehnsion Questions Act 2: pages 53 - end and supplementary “The British Working Man” worksheet table task. Theme PowerPoint lesson: this can be used as an ongoing working document. The resource includes a PowerPoint and 4 placemats (1 for each theme) for the pupils to complete as they work their way through the play.

As this is a new poem, there aren’t any official SQA Past Papers for this particular poem. These questions have therefore been made in this style in order to prepare the pupils for their final exam should this poem come up. Can be adapted to suit National 6.

Between these 2 PowerPoints you will find materials to take pupils through a trailer task, camera shots and angles and colour and lighting. Each presentation also includes stills from the movie with questions and an embedded countdown timer. Suitable for use with S1/2 ( Year 8/9). There is also a blank grid for pupils to sketch each angle and space to match and stick the purpose as well as a quiz to test pupils’ knowledge of each shot and their purpose.

Pupils should use this grid to show their understanding of the camera shots and angles used in the invasion scene ( in which Harry and Marv break into Kevin’s “funhouse”) and the purpose and effect of their chosen shots/ angles. An example has been provided.

A short but useful PowerPoint which looks at the use of colour and lighting in Home Alone, with a focus on the abundance of red and green and the purpose of this. The PP takes pupils through a few frames with guided questions and then asks them to write a detailed paragraph explaining their understanding of colour and lighting as used in the movie.

poem plus comprehension questions based on Edwin Morgan’s Trio. This resource should be used as a first response to reading the poem, prior to detailed analysis of the poetic techniques.

Blow up to 1 opener per page and display one every day or use as a fun quiz for your pupils ( or the teachers in your department) :)

Example 8 mark question + answer based on the Question "By referring closely to this poem, and to at least one other poem by Duffy, show how the poet uses word choice/ imagery to effectively convey theme(s). The imagined printed poem is Originally and the answer mentions both Valentine and War Photographer.

This is an example essay based on a “character changes” type essay question which can easily be adjusted to fit a theme" style question, i.e the theme of Growing Up. Essay has excellent analysis with explicit links to the question made throughout. Suitable for N5/6 / GCSE. I have also included a detailed paragraph plan for a Theme style essay, focussed on the Theme of “Growing Up”.

A few worksheets and creative writing challenges for Stone Cold.

New for 2022! Updated PowerPoint unit. A unit of work which explores the representation of poverty in Scottish poetry. the unit looks closely at Glasgow Sonnet by Edwin Morgan and The Slum by Eddie Linden. The PowerPoint presentation takes the pupils through poetic techniques with tasks throughout. There are two optional outcomes for this unit aim of the unit: 1 is for pupils to write their own examples of poetry using the techniques learned. The other is for pupils to write an Added Value Unit comparing the 2 poems with regards to form and structure, the use of language and main ideas. Suitable for junior school, though could be adapted for older pupils.

This colourful and engaging unit of work takes the pupils through various aspects of advertising such as: logos, the use of colour, slogans, persuasive language etc. Pupils also watch examples of Dragon’s Den pitches online ( teacher can choose these, although I used reggae Reggae sauce and I-Teddy) as a way of thinking about their own product and pitches. The overall objective of the unit is for the class to work in groups on pitching an “impossible product” to “The Dragons” demonstrating their understanding of advertising conventions learned in class. There is also a Numeracy element as, prior to their pitch, the group must plan and think of target market, number of projected sales, growth etc. This unit is lots of fun and is best suited to S2/3 ( year 9/10).