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

Help!

Hi guys, so this is it, last minute how can I help time!
This one is for all of you who are asking how can we revise for English?

Literature 1
For Of Mice and Men and The Crucible you can obviously revise the plot, characters, themes and make sure you understand Miller / Steinbeck's methods and concerns in their writings. In addition make sure you have a bank of quotations you can use.

The main thing for this exam is showing you understand the underlying significance of the text, hidden meanings, implications, authors' opinions and attitudes and how they make you realise what they think. So use 'this shows' suggests, implies, tells us... to show the examiner you get why the author wrote it.

Literature 2 Poetry
For the Conflict poetry: make sure you know the best poem to compare any given poem with.
Identify words / images / devices the poets use to convey (get their message across) their opinions and feelings.
Explain in detail what the quotations you choose actually mean or show.
Identify techniques e.g. repetition, alliteration and give an example and explain what effect it has on the reader or what it makes you think of.
Always write 'this shows...' implies, suggests, has the effect of... etc
And don't forget to COMPARE! as you go is best! 'Similarly the poem / poet...' 'on the other hand the writer...' 'whereas in the poem...'

For the Unseen:
First of all use the question to guide your understanding of the topic of the poem.
Read the poem at least twice! Make an effort to understand it and the poet's point of view.
Use a highlighter to identify words, phrases, images, techniques you are going to mention in your essay.
Always use the question to guide your answer e.g 'the poet shows how they feel about... in '...' which shows ....' and 'another way the poet conveys their message is by the techniques of... which have the effect of...' ANSWER the question!
Use lots of quotations - SHORT ones! and explain each or a series of similar ones together.


For the Language Exam:
Section A
In this section you are being asked to identify FACTS. [this is called RETRIEVAL]
You are also asked what you learn this means you should write : 'I learned from this article that...' 'this implies that...' 'this suggests...' 'this shows...' [this is called INFERENCE] Make it crystal clear that you have learned an implication of the fact you have quoted.
Quote but also explain in your own words.

Section B
You have to write two longer pieces here from at least two of the following skills:
INFORM, EXPLAIN, ARGUE, PERSUADE, DESCRIBE.

FORM                                                   )
AUDIENCE                                          ) Remember these!
PURPOSE                                             )

Use a range of techniques depending on the task:
Rule of 3, repetition, anecdote, opposites, personal 'I', appeal, emotive language, urgency, facts and statistics, threat, bribery, blackmail, direct address 'You' etc

Remember to start and end appropriately e.g. if it is a letter who is it to?
Dear Sir...         Yours Faithfully
Dear Mr Thorn...   Yours Sincerely

PARAGRAPHS - Willow that one's for you!
And STRUCTURE it! Firstly...In addition... furthermore... whereas... Finally... And use a range of different ideas and suggestions in your work.

If you could also make more creative vocabulary choices that would help too!

16 marks and 24 marks 1 1/2 minutes per mark! that's 24 and 36 minutes!

Best of luck all of you.
It's been great fun, I will miss you all but I am looking forward to continuing our association for those of you picking up Media or Philosophy A level.

Mrs S

Language exam paper Higher Tier

English/English Language ENG1H

Unit 1 Understanding and producing non-fiction texts

Insert

The three sources that follow are:

 Source 1: a magazine article called Lifesaving with Class by Rory Stamp

 Source 2: a newspaper article called Trapped Chilean miners: rescue drill reaches their refuge at last by David Batty

 Source 3: an extract from a non-fiction book called Saved.

Section A: Reading

Answer all questions in this section.

You are advised to spend about one hour on this section.

Read Source 1, Lifesaving with Class, by Rory Stamp, from the RNLI magazine, the lifeboat.

1 What do you learn from the article about the Beach to City programme run by the RNLI?         

 (8 marks)

Now read Source 2, the article and the picture which goes with it called, Trapped Chilean miners: rescue drill reaches their refuge at last by David Batty.

2 Explain how the headline and picture are effective and how they link to the text.                        

 (8 marks)

Now read Source 3, Saved, which is an extract from a non-fiction book.

3 Explain some of the thoughts and feelings Parrado and Canessa have whilst searching for rescue.                                                                                                                                                       (8 marks)

Now you need to refer to Source 3, Saved, and either Source 1 or Source 2.

4 You are going to compare two texts, one of which you have chosen.

Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts.

Give some examples and analyse what the effects are.                                                                  

 (16 marks)

Section B: Writing

Answer both questions in this section.

You are advised to spend about one hour on this section.

You are advised to spend about 25 minutes on question 5.

You are advised to spend about 35 minutes on question 6.

5 Write an entry for your online blog which describes a time when you felt uncertain or unsure about a situation you were in and explain how you overcame it.

You should aim to write no more than two and a half sides in response to this question.                

 (16 marks)

Blog: a regular online piece of personal writing.

6 It has been said that: ‘People who save lives or help improve the lives of others are the true role models of today.’

Write an article for a newspaper in which you argue your view about what makes a good role model.                                                                                                                                         

 (24 marks)

Curley's Wife exam question 2012 based on the extract when George and Lennie first meet her.

Set A Language Practice - Questions 1-4 with marking criteria