I forgot to say in the last post... If you missed time for your Controlled Assessment, you must come to Psychology II (the room through the doors to the Y10 office), P3 tomorrow, 30th November.

Hello Y10

Today we looked at the poetic devices song writers use in songs. We considered how the language and devices create layers of meaning. The purpose of the activity is to extend our analysis poems; we're not just commenting on the device we are commenting on the effect upon the reader and considering how this adds to the theme/tone/purpose of the poem.

We analysed the opening of Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise today. It's loaded with poetic devices that add to the layers of meaning conveyed to the audience. Tomorrow, you'll look at the songs you've chosen as poetry and present these to others or the class.

As I've said, it's essential that you are confident in analysing poetry as you'll have an unseen poem in the exam (this means that you will not have seen it before). If you're not very confident in your poetry analysis now, you don't need to worry about it too much. This work is preparation for your exam in the Summer of 2012! We'll look at poetry at intervals over the course to build on and refine your skills.

In addition, I have looked at some of your poems. They are fabulous! I think we need to spend a bit more time in lessons looking at them to show off the talent in the class.

Ms

Hello Y10

We've been studying poetry this week. We studied Island man and poetic devices. It's essential that you know and can use the devices confidently as you'll have an unseen piece of poetry in the exam. Poems are easier to discuss when we know the techniques poets use. If you would like to look at the poetic devices sheet it is here.

If you would like to look at the analysis of Island Man that we looked at in lesson click here.

If you missed a lesson, it is essential that you study independently in order to ensure you are at the same point as the rest of the class. This is your responsibility and this resource is available to you to assist with this. Use this blog. You've already started your GCSEs in English.

See you next week,

Ms

Hello Y10

Today we looked at Poetry. We considered how the poet used language to convey meaning and ideas.

We looked at The Night of the Scorpion and did an amazing piece of drama to go with it. Watch out Drama dept! Perhaps a new school production?

You need to learn ten poetic device for tomorrow. It's only ten and we'll have some fun with it tomorrow.

Ms

Well done for getting the Controlled Assessment done Y10! We really have been working on our Competency of perseverance...
We will be moving on to poetry next; we'll have some fun with this and study a variety of different poems.
Happy Eid!
Ms Caldwell

Hello Y10

It's the Controlled Assessment next week. You're well prepared for this and have all the help you need in your draft books. Look through your article, which should be fully drafted by now, and check it against the your success criteria, your targets and the Assessment Objectives.

Remember, you're marked for your communication (purpose, genre & rhetoric), organisation (discourse markers, paragraph links) and SENTENCE STRUCTURE. Ensure you have a range of sentences as your marks are weighted towards this.

I recommend that you look at the games here, particularly the newspaper article. It's quite basic, but it's good cement understanding. It's not a children's' game either.

Look at the first one (don't bother with the second) here for advice on semi-colons. There is more information here. There is even a semi-colon game for some light relief.

Everything you need is in your draft books; try to remember as much as you can!

Ms Caldwell

Hi Y10

In today's lesson we looked at our personal targets, set specific actions for meeting the targets and created our own success criteria for the next Controlled Assessment.

Our competency focus was reflection. A considerable amount of the lesson was spent reflecting on our work, this makes us good learners! I also need to reflect; it is a skill for life. We need to constantly reflect on what we have done well and what we could do better in all aspects of our lives. It sounds simple enough, but can be difficult.

You need to remember that you are at the beginning of Y10; you have a lot of learning in between now and and sitting your exams and your result is not your overall English GCSE grade.

Now we need to act upon our reflection to improve our work for the next Controlled Assessment!

Ms Caldwell

Hello Y10

Well done for the last two lessons. I do realise that looking at the Assessment Objectives isn't the most exciting thing in the world, but it is important for knowing what you have to do to do well in the next controlled assessment.

Your homework, due Friday, is to write two of the most amazingly fantastic paragraphs you've ever written. You need to:

• Consider the genre, purpose (use a range of rhetorical devices).
• Use links bewteen the paragraphs
• Use discourse markers (click here for some examples)
• Use a range of sentence structures that are crafted for effect

Remember how Carole Malone crafted the sentences, using repetition and rule of three to add to the impact of her sentences? Use that!

See you next week

Ms Caldwell