Good morning yr 11
This post will inform you of what we are going to be doing next term, what you need to do to prepare and what and when the extra sessions are.

First, however, your Christmas holiday homework is to do background research on The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
Make sure you know:

• Who wrote the play, when and why?
• What sources he used to write it and how he used them
• What was happening in his personal life and what was happening in America at the time he was writing which decided him to write this play?
• How was the play received by audiences and critics?

Then extension work:

• What the real life events were in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.
• Find out about witchcraft! What kinds of charges were made against people?
• Why had this group of people left England for America?
• What was their religion like? i.e. How did they practice it? What was and wasn't allowed for them to do?

If possible read the play! If not read about the play so you are familiar with what we will be reading about!
You can of course purchase the film with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder quite cheaply and since it is quite true to the play it is a good resource. So watch it!!

We will be starting next term by reading the play and, yes, you will all be reading parts!

We will also be doing a further and last piece of creative writing.

I would also suggest you keep Of Mice and Men in mind and plan to re-read chapters so that you are really familiar with the characters, themes and storylines of the novel. Because there is a mock on this and The Crucible in March.

Extra lessons begin Tuesday 7th January in SB2. Then the following Monday 13th Jan in K1A [after our English lesson.]
In these early sessions we will work on exam skills. Don't come if you don't intend to work. I will not be teaching you so much as giving you practice in the different questions and talking to you individually about how to approach them. You may bring a drink and snack but no fizzy drinks.

If I set work and you don't do it then you will not be attending any more sessions! Sessions will last no more than an hour.

If you look through this blog you will find lots of suggestions for work to do to increase your knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the English course, please use it!

New documents produced this year, for example on Unseen poetry, will all be available on ShowMyHomework!

Have a good Christmas but do some work after all in 6 months it'll all be over and you don't want to be back here in September doing it all again!

Mrs S