The Value of a Strong Introduction An introduction serves a purpose and therefore it must be put together thoughtfully. An introduction is required for each question on the AQA Literature papers, except […]
Teaching THESIS in Introductions
Writing about gender roles: a few small things
Writing about the significance of gender roles at GCSE Understanding the significance of context and then embedding relevant aspects of it within a response is something that is very difficult to teach, […]
Ideas for teaching STRUCTURE
Here are FIVE key things to try… It always seems to make sense to read a text before analysing and exploring the way that a writer has chosen to structure it and […]
A Few Jots on Mythological Allusions
I am in the process of writing an Ancient Greek Myths scheme of work for Year 7 (which I will share when complete) and have been writing down the mythological allusions I […]
Sequencing: Literary Periods
Sequencing teaching carefully is very important in supporting our students’ memory and ensuring that we are embedding knowledge of context that will ultimately support any new learning that they do. Here is […]
In the Context of Love
Including observations on how contexts shape the meanings that students observe in the language, structure and form of the texts they study is often difficult to teach. The temptation to ask students […]
‘An Inspector Calls’: Names as Memory Anchors
There has been lots of chatter and tweeting about students memorising quotations and contextual information for the new 100% closed book exams. It is a challenge to ask students to go away […]
Shadow of a Woman: The Separate Spheres
Having noted fairly quickly that AQA’s ‘Power and Conflict’ anthology features half as many female poets as it does male and that many of the texts available not only showcase the suppression […]
English Literature Paper 2, Section B: a reflective process
Now that exams are fast approaching, taking a structured approach to revision can be very beneficial: …Followed by, a great revision activity I’ve used recently: directed questioning. Students have the poem in […]
Structure and Narrative Form in Jekyll and Hyde
Stevenson uses structure and narrative throughout the story specifically to build tension. It’s important to remember that a narrator may be part of the story (like Mr Utterson) or a non-participant, someone […]
