On revising comparing poems effectively.

One of the most effective ways to prepare for this section of the Literature exam is to pre empt what's coming. This post will direct you on how to do this effectively.

We can *roughly* know the types of things you will be asked about in the exam. We know it'll be to compare, and we can make some educated guesses about the topic which you will be asked to compare. Therefore, you can begin to group poems by question. Below are a list of questions that you may be asked. For each one, decide all of the poems you could write about:

1) Compare the ways identity is presented....
2) Compare the ways that strong characters are presented....
3) Compare the ways that weaknesses in characters are presented.....
4) Compare the ways that characters are presented.....
5) Compare the ways that attitudes to other characters are presented....
6) Compare the ways that heritage is presented....
7) Compare the ways the past is presented in terms of its impact on characters....

For each of these topics (in bold), write a list of poems you could write about.

You then need to work through the poems, one by one, comparing each of them to all of the others.

For example, if you decided that you could write about COMH, Casehistory, River God and Singh Song (there are more, but just as an example....) for identity, you would then set about deciding what you'd write about if each of the poems was the named poem, and which ones you'd compare it to and how.
So, let's say that River God is the named poem. For each of the poems you could compare it to, make a list of:
1) Similarities
2) Differences
3) Language devices used
4) Quotes you could use.

You can then use that information to write a plan. Then repeat this process for every poem that could be named, and for every poem you could write about. You should then be in a position where, in the exam, you know straight away which poem you'll choose, and, more importantly, what it is you're going to write about.

Have a go at planning the following essays, deciding what poems you'd use, and what you'd write about. Bring them to me to look at!

1) Compare the ways that strong characters are presented in Medusa and one other poem.
2) Compare the ways that heritage is presented in COMH and one other poem.
3) Compare the ways that attitudes to other characters are presented in The Ruined Maid and one other poem
4) Compare the ways that feelings towards other characters are presented in On a Portrait of a Deaf Man and one other poem.
5) Compare the ways that characters' experiences are presented in 'Horse Whisperer' and one other poem.

Once you've planned a range of responses, have a go at writing them as an essay response. Bring them in or email them to me for feedback.

Remember, it's absolutely vital that you're confident on all of the poems, and all of the potential topics. Tackle the ones you're scared of, or struggle with, first. Make yourself confident on them. You do not want to be in the position in the exam where you cannot answer either of the questions!!

English Language Revision Sessions

From next week, there will be English Language revision opportunities after school. For those of you re-sitting the language paper, these are a good idea.

They will be held in S10, from 3:20 to around 4 o'clock.
The dates of the sessions are as follows:

Monday 28th April: Q1
Tuesday 6th May: Q2
Monday 12th May: Q3
Monday 19th May: Q4

As you can see, these sessions are focusing on the reading section of the exam. If you feel you need more help with your writing, please remember that there is an English Drop In Clinic every Thursday lunchtime in S12 where you can go to get some expert help and support.

Please also remember that these sessions are absolutely not a substitute for revision at home, in your own time. These sessions are purely being provided for re capping purposes, to remind you how to respond to the question, and to provide you with some practice materials.

If you cannot attend the session, but would like the hand outs, please come and see Miss Forrester, who is running the sessions, in S10, or the Year 9 Head of Year office, at lunchtime.

We hope that your revision is going well. Please do come and see us if there's anything we do to support you further.

Good luck.

"Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction" - Anne Frank.

Revising for English Literature over Easter...DO IT.

All the best people in the world recognize that the purpose of the Easter Holidays is for Year 11 students across the country to be revising. Forget eating chocolate eggs, it's all about revision.

So, with that in mind, we thought it would be useful for you to have some exam style questions to do over your revision holiday. This is one of the best, if not the best, way of revising for this exam. It helps you realize what you know, but also, crucially, what you don't know about the texts.

Here are a list of questions for you to use. These are all aimed at candidates sitting the Higher paper.

For Short Stories:

Q1a: Write about the ways that attitudes to parents are presented in Anil
Q1b: Write about the ways that attitudes to others are presented in another short story.

Q2a: Write about the ways that the relationship between the boy and his father are presented in 'Compass and Torch'.
Q2b: Write about the ways that a relationship is presented in one other short story.

Q3a: Write about the ways that Carla is presented in 'My Polish Teacher's Tie'.
Q3b: Write about the ways that a main character is presented in one other short story.

For Poetry (character and voice).
Q1: Compare the ways that powerful characters are presented in My Last Duchess and one other poem from the anthology.

Q2: Compare the ways that strong emotions are presented in Medusa and one other poem from the anthology.

Q3: Compare the ways that ideas about identity are shown in 'The Clown Punk' and one other poem from the anthology.

Q4: Compare the ways that isolated characters are portrayed in 'The Hunchback in the Park' and one other poem from the anthology.

Remember to bring these into school for your English teacher to look at, or email them a typed up version. If you're stuck on these, please leave a comment - these are immediately directed to an English teacher who can provide you with assistance over the holidays.

More exam papers can be found by following this link: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-9710/past-papers-and-mark-schemes

You will all be sitting Unit 1 and Unit 2. Unit 1 is Short Stories and Of Mice and Men and Unit 2 is poetry and unseen poetry. To practice answers for Of Mice and Men and unseen poetry, you are best placed to access these on the above link so that you have the extracts of text from Of Mice and Men and the poem for the unseen question.

Good luck - remember, you only get one chance at these exams. Work hard now and you will be successful.