Our LAST Ever lesson

Final language Resource EVER

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Super Language Doc

GCSE Language Revision Super Doc

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Revision Language Section B

Right - one of the key things here is timing. People are still not allowing themselves enough time: THE MOST MARKS IN THE PAPER ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FINAL QUESTION SO DO NOT RUN OUT OF TIME. You may decide you want to work backwards to avoid running out of time.
Q5 - 25 mins (explain, describe inform)
Q6 - 35 mins (persuade, argue)

What you're marked on.
i, content/communication
ii, organisation
iii, accuracy (sentences and spelling)

i, this is choosing vocabulary and language devices appropriate to purpose. (If you're describing, you're going to sumptuous imagery with similes, metaphors distinctive verbs adjectives etc. If you're informing, depending on the target audience, standard English and statistics etc.etc.)
ii, this is the quality of your paragraphing and text cohesion. You should also use a range of discourse markers.
iii, important marks-wise, spelling and sentences. You know the tasks. It may be that you have a few distinctive words you learn to spell before you get in. Make sure you're not getting your, you're, and they're their, there wrong. Also, capital letters and I not i are important as are apostrophes. Get the basics right as you'll seem like a poor candidate if these are wrong. You need to also have a range of sentence structures too. Write :;,..!?-() at the top of your paper and use them all... One word sentences for impact and embedded clauses are an essential.
If you use the structures I have given you and told you to use again and again - this WILL improve your marks...

Sentences clauses and colons

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WOW! Even more for you. You can have a full and comprehensive understanding of the exam: lucky you!

Language exam higher

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REVISION LANGUAGE SECTION A

Hello Y11. Hope you enjoyed the questions Thursday. I think we have been very well prepared for the Literature, especially if you came to the revision sessions.
It's not over yet though and you'll have to study this weekend, despite the sunshine.
There's a lot of writing here, but you'll need to practice your reading skills in preparation for Section A anyway!

Firstly, The 10 Mark Challenge booklet it available on the school home page.

For Section A, the trick is really exam skill. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE being asked to do and when. You need to also be really quick - there's a lot to do in a short space of time - knowing the exam structure will help with your speed. There are videos to guide you here.

Look at a range of articles over the weekend and answer the 4 questions. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what you are require to do (lucky you):

Section A
Q1 – what do you learn from the article? (8 marks) SOURCE 1	It will not say you do, but you need   to have quotes here. It’s more PE than PEE though.
Q2 – how does the article use   presentational features?           (8 marks) SOURCE 2	This is PEE+ on presentational features. YOU MUST LINK WHAT you are saying back to the   purpose of the text rather than making a general comment about the use of colour, image, strap-line etc. Look at the link to the other blog for some excellent guidance on this. Remember here to focus on presentational features and don’t analyse language. If you write about language here you get 0.
Q3 – how does the writer show thoughts and feelings? (8 marks) SOURCE 3	PEE+ on THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS here, but linking back to the text. Identify what the question is asking you to write about: circle it in the question and use these words in your topic sentences (P).
Q4 – Compare the effectiveness of the language between two sources?	This is the same skill as the poetry. The trick is to find a linked point. REMEBER PEE SANDWICH! Also, don’t make generalised comments about the effect of emotive language or the choice of the word ‘....’ etc. Why are these articles doing this? Link it back to purpose.

To of the stock(s) phrases...

Brutally undercuts

Savagely belittles

Cleverly creates

Skilfully manipulates

Fails to convince

Reinforces the theme of 

The most significant structural point is

Crooks and Of Mice and Men

Look at the below


'I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads . . . every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.'


How does this extract reflect Crooks' repression? What does it show you about dreams, particularly the American Dream? Crooks then goes on to be cruel to Lennie - what does this say about mankind? 


How does Steinbeck use Crooks to show racial inequality in 1930s America? 
(Don't forget that you need to include quotes and analysis in your answer...)


This below is taken from shmoop.com (it's a good site, have a look around!).


Lennie’s brief interaction with Crooks reveals the complexity of racial prejudice in the northern California ranch life. Though Crooks was born in California (not like many Southern blacks who had migrated, he implies), he is still always made to feel like an outsider, even in his home state. Crooks is painfully aware that his skin color is all that keeps him separate in this culture. This outsider status causes him to lament his loneliness, but he also delights in seeing the loneliness of others, perhaps because misery loves company. When Crooks begins to pick on Lennie, suggesting George won’t come home, we discover the slight mean streak that undoubtedly develops after being alone for so long. Lennie unwittingly soothes Crooks into feeling at ease, and Candy even gets the man excited about the dream farm, to the point where Crooks could fancy himself worthy and equal enough to be in on the plan with the guys. 

Crooks’s little dream of the farm is shattered by Curley’s wife’s nasty comments, slotting the black man right back into his "place" as inferior to a white woman. Jolted into that era’s reality by Curley’s wife harsh treatment, Crooks refuses to say the woman is wrong. Instead, he accepts the fact that he lives with ever-present racial discrimination. He dismisses the other men, saying he had "forgotten himself" because they’d treated him so well. It seems Crooks defines his own notion of himself not based on what he believes he’s worth, but on knowing that no matter how he feels, others around him will always value him as less. As quickly as he got excited about the dream, he abandons it, telling Candy he was "Jus foolin" about being interested in his own freedom and happiness.

Women in Of Mice and Men

Look at the presentation of women in OMAM. There's Curley's wife, always only ever a wife as she is not given a name. She is seen as sexually forward and dangerous. Find quotes to support this and learn them. Leave good ones in the comments box to be kind to your peers!
How else are women presented though? There's Curley's wife who is unsympathetically presented; she is  dangerous and ultimately is seen to destroy the dreams of the sympathetically presented ranch workers. In her death she 'flops like a fish' and Candy gets angry with her as she lies there dead. The other women mentioned are Aunt Clara and the 'whores' at the 'cathouse'. These women are not condemned for their occupation, but seen as a necessary and acceptable way for the ranch workers to relax.
How do these representations show attitudes about women in 1930s America?
Research it and then write for 22 minutes answering the question.
It would be really useful if you posted your answers!

Revision 5 LOTF questions

We are so nearly there!
Here are some LOTF exam questions for you to have a go at. You will have looked at some of them before. Think about what you need to include.
Solid point that answers the question.
Quote that you can unpack
Loads said about it including picking out a particular word, and a comment on structure if possible.
Link it all to theme/ messages. Why is Golding doing this? What's he trying to say?
Bosh! Sorted.

·         What do you think is the significance of Jack in Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding present him?

·         What do you think is the significance of Piggy in Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding present him?

·         What is the significance of Roger, Samneric and the Littleuns in Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding present them?

·         How does Golding present the idea of ‘the Beast’ in Lord of the Flies, and how does he use it to explore the boys’ fears?

·         ‘As if it wasn’t a good island’. What is the significance of the setting in Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding use the island to explore different ideas?

·         What is the significance of violence in Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding present and explore the theme.

·         What role do the ‘assemblies’ play in shaping our understanding of Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding use them to explore ideas?

(p85)

·         What role does loyalty play in Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding present and explore the theme?

·         Self-interest plays a crucial role in the events of Lord of the Flies, how does Golding present and explore the idea?

·         How significant are symbols to our understanding of Lord of the Flies, and how does Golding use them to explore themes and ideas?

Post to follow about OMAM! 

Lucky you.

Check out this blog. It is exceptional - devotees will be rewarded!

How to Compare

Hi Y11
If you missed today's lesson, it is imperative you look at this and do the task. This is the least well done exam skill so, if you can really get it down, you'll be sorted!
Don't be intimidated by it - it is an excellent response; however, you have the skills to do this as it is just building on PEE+.
Let me know if you're stuck.
Ms

Poetry - How to compare

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Revision 4

Right - final days...

1. Use your 10 Mark Challenge targets. Use CherwellOnline to guide this. All staff know about this so you need to ensure that you are ready to say where you are getting your marks from and what you have done. 
2. Make sure you know 4 poems extremely well. I don't mean just have a general idea, but have quotes you know of by heart that you can say loads about AND link to the ideas in the poem (feelings/experiences of conflict). You then need to also know how these poems link to other poems - use the little booklet you have to guide this. I will, again, test you randomly. Write out a sample response in 45 minutes answering: How is the personal experience of conflict shown in one of your poem and a second? Remember the comparison lesson we did - this skill is transferable to this question too. 
3. Make revision cards on the themes in LOTF - the study guide will be very useful for this, otherwise look online. There are links in previous posts that will help too. 

Let me know if you have a problem or query.

Ms

What is in each exam and when?

Monday 22^nd Literature Modern Texts

Lord of the Flies and Of Mice and Men

1 hour and 30 minutes/ 45 minutes on each

Thursday 24^th Literature Poetry

Conflict Poetry and an Unseen

1 hour and 15 minutes

45 minutes on Conflict comparing two poems (choice of two questions with a named poem in each)

30 minutes on an unseen Poem

Tuesday  29^th Language Exam

2 hours and 15 minutes

15 minutes reading time

Section A – 4 questions and 3 sources (1 hour) You should know this very well by now.

Section B – 2 writing tasks (1 hour)

Revision 3 (inc sentence accuracy)

Hello Y11

This is our final week of lessons before the exam season begins.

We are really nearly there!

Your revision should have a focus on the modern texts exam (2 hours of revision and then AT LEAST one hour language work).

So, some general advice for the exam that came up from our mock papers.

1.       Plan your work. Think, ‘what’s the most significant thing that happens linked to this question or this extract?’ Then plan, with a quote being the basis of your paragraphs.  This will help you maintain focus.

2.       Have clear topic sentences. What is your paragraph about?

3.       Extend your language and structure analysis with an analysis of how it links to themes.

4.       You can pretty much learn the section B of the OMAM paper. Research the context and write about it. Remember the carousel lesson we did? That’s a good basis, but you can find out more specific details.

Your revision should be:

• ·         Write a 45 minute timed essay answering: What do you think is the importance of Ralph in LOTF and how does Golding present him?
• Complete the OMAM exam with your personalised targets. 
• ·         Research the historical context of OMAM. Make revision cards with keys points. Then write out a response for

-          How does Steinbeck use Curley’s wife to convey ideas about America in the 1930s?

-          How does Steinbeck use Crooks to convey ideas about America in the 1930s?

• ·         Look through the sentence accuracy PPt. Then write an article for a newspaper arguing for or against a free bus travel for under 18s. (Don't forget the structures we have used too!)

Bring these to the lesson on Thursday and put them on the desk when you get in to class. Prize for the most effort, C3 for those who don’t...

Comment if you are stuck. Ms :)

Sentences clauses and colons

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Revision 2

OK, firstly, you need to ensure that you have completed last week's Anthology revision.
YOU MUST COMPLETE 3 HOURS OF REVISION EVERY WEEK. I will ask you to tell me what you have done (as well as also spot testing you on the Anthology revision
This week we are again splitting it into Literature and language. Lots of you this week felt like you had forgotten LOTF. Yikes. Therefore:

• make revision cards for LOTF and OMAM like the ones we have in class. These need to be stuck somewhere where you will look at the often. These should be theme and character based. Use the labels on the right-hand side of this post to take you to lessons. There will also be links in these posts. When you do the characters, have on the cards what the most significant things that happen to them and have quote to learn (at least one and a half hours work here).

• work on your sentence structures and writing for Section B, Q5 and 6 with this video. It give you a link to the next one when it's finished.Then move on to There are some ideas of things to write about in the Q6 ppt below.

Top Tip: work with someone else. Get someone in your home or a friend to test you, discuss etc. 

REMEMBER, THIS IF FOR TWO GCSES SO SHOULD REQUIRE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF REVISION.

Leave a comment if you are stuck and I will get back to you ASAP.

Best wishes,

Ms

LotF Mock Exam Feedback

You should be very clear on what you need to do to do well in the LotF question. Know those targets!
Here's the lesson:

LOTF Mock Feedback

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Q4 Language Exam

So much of this is about exam skill at this stage. Know what you are going to be asked to do in each question.
Here is Q4 (I've taken all the Speaking and Listening stuff out as not to confuse you).

Q4 language exam - Higher

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Section B Q6 Higher Paper

Dear Y11

Here's the lesson for Section B Q6 of your Language exam. This was the lesson I left for cover.
You can repeat this over and over again with the normal argue things.
E.g. Why smoking should be banned, why children should travel free on buses, why we should have a three day week, why you should be given a million pounds or why you should be able to go on an extreme sport holiday. There - there's a good few hour work right there!

Section B Q6 Higher Paper

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Ms

Your Revision

Ok guys, it's the final push.
Use this blog now to guide your revison.
By Monday's lesson you should have completed 3 hours of English Revision. It's actually very difficult for me to check up on this, however, you need to think about what you really want on that sunny August day when you come in to get your results. Working now is going to make you feel good on that day. So, to use MM's terminology, basically yeah, show you are mature and take responsibility for your own learning.

Here's what you should have completed for Monday's lesson (some of this was your Easter Homework too so you should be well on top of it. If you're not, have a word with yourself!).

1. A completed Poetry Mock Exam
2. A fully annotated Anthology, guided by the little pink booklet that you've been given.
3. Four poems that you have selected to know really well (I will give you spot checks)
4. At least six openings to exam questions using the AO1 and AO3 (comparison) skills that we worked on the other day. 
5. At least 30 minutes looking through the poems and all of the other English resources on Cherwell Online

Well done! You are very nearly there.

Ms

The Poetry Exam - English Literature

Hello lovely Y11

Alas, we have only a few more weeks together...

In this time, using this blog is absolutely crucial to guide you revision. Use the labels on the right-hand side.

Here is the Poetry exam lesson we did the other day. Here's a link to the poem for unseen practice.

Poetry Exam 

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Best wishes,
Ms

Belfast Confetti + Homework

Don't forget -- homework is on the last slide... The Poems are Bayonet Charge and Hawk Roosting.

Belfast Confetti (2)

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Speaking and Listening CA

GCSE Speaking And Listening CA

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Comparative Response

Hello Y11
The slide show for the lesson after Futility and Poppies will not download...
The lesson was to write a comparative response to the poems:

Learning to…
Explain how conflict is presented
Compare the use of poetic features, language, structure and form

We looked at what is required in the exam and made our own success criteria from this:

AO1
respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations
AO2
explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings
AO3
make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating writers’ different ways of expressing meaning and achieving effects

AO1 and 2 we have been working on almost entirely through Y11 - it's the making links that's significant. THIS CAN BE SIMILARITIES OR DIFFERENCES!

Let me know how you get on.
Ms

Poppies Imagery

Poppies imagery 2

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Homework!

You must research the poem Poppies for Monday's lesson. Come to the lesson with notes and a fully annotated poem.
Ms

Futility

Futility

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Charge of the Light Brigade

Charge of the Light Brigade

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Flag by John Agard

Dear all

In today's lesson we looked at Flag an considered Agard's attitude to flags and their role in conflict.

Here is the lesson:

Flag by Agard

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Go through and ensure you have fully annotated your poem. If you take your Anthology home thoough, you must let me know.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.
Best wishes,
Ms

OMAM Context link

Here's a little gem for you! Everything you could want to know about context...
Ms :)

Holiday Homework

Hey Y11

We've come to the end of out work on LOTF now. You should have now a comprehensive set of notes in your books. (Click here for further notes) This should include:

• character studies with quotations and link to themes
• chapter studies with quotations and link to themes
• sample exam answers

Obviously, we will revise much of this before your exam, but you really need to ensure that you have this work. Basically, everything you do should have quotations and link to themes all over it! 

Your holiday homework is to research the context of Of Mice and Men. You can have this as a poster or notes depending on what will be useful for you when you come to revise. You know the novel well, but you will also be asked to comment on the context in the exam. As I said in class, I am expecting you to spend 2 to 3 hours on this homework. Your homework should include:

• details on the life of a ranch worker at the time the novel was written
• understanding of the status of women, black people, the old and the disabled in the context
• definition of the American Dream and links to the novel

Here are some links to help you: 

• Bitesize - loads of stuff to help! 
• Sparknotes - awesome
• enotes - lots of text, but useful
• Not sure about this one, but let me know what you think...

If you find a good site, please leave the link in the comments box.

When we come back you'll have four lesson and then a Literature mock.

Let know please if you have any problems or concerns.

Best wishes,

Ms Caldwell

The Story LOTF

Hey Y11 After a range of technical problems, I have finally managed to upload our lessons.
Also, have a look at this link.
Ms

Structure LOTF 2

6 lotf structure 2

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Structure LOTF

5 lotf structure

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Simon LOTF

4 simon poem

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Lit Exam LOTF

3 lotf exam prep

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Characterisation Lesson

2 lotf qqt

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Names LOTF

1 character quote find

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Link to e-learning films

Link to e-learning films. Sit back and learn!

Not a substitute for the book.

Listen to the text

A link to the book read by Golding!

Lord of the Flies

Hello Y11

Right, I hope we're getting back into the swing of things now. We are half way through out Lord of the Flies course so you should have a fairly solid understanding of the text and its messages.

A couple of things that really stand out from the examiner's report (after every exam there is a comment on how it went)

1. Write a lot about a little. This is key advice and something we have been working on throughout the GCSE  course. 
2. Focus on theme/message and not on content. Again -- do NOT tell the story. 

You should have read the book at least once by now. If you haven't, this is urgent and you need to sort it out. I'll upload the PowerPoints we've worked on in class. 

Let me know if you have problems.

Ms Caldwell

Characters

Sorry - this post is up a little late. I'm a bit out of the habit of blogging.
Your homework was to create detailed character profiles of two boys from the text: Ralph, Jack, Piggy or Simon.
I expect you've done this already...
They should include quotes from the text. Excellent ones will also explore the symbolic aspects of the character.
Here are some links:
Sparknotes, Bitesize and Pinkmonkey.
Should be enough to keep you going.
Any problems, let me know. If you find any good links, please add them as a comment.
Happy New Year btw.
Ms