Parents Workshop - English

Transcription

1 Parents Workshop - English

2 The Challenge Two separate GCSEs English Language Two exam papers Creative Reading and Writing Writers Viewpoints and Perspectives English Literature Two exam papers Shakespeare and the 19 th Century Novel Modern Texts and Poetry (seen and unseen comparison)

3 7 hours 30 minutes

4 The Problem? A lack of wide reading The fiction articles are all taken from novels that are considered accessible for that age range. A well-read student may have read the novel! The non-fiction 20 th /21 st Century articles are all taken from broadsheet newspapers such as The Times, The Guardian, The Observer, The Telegraph, etc. A student who reads opinion or interest pieces from these papers is at an advantage. The non-fiction 19 th Century articles need a student who has a range of strategies for comprehension. Breaking down words, looking at the context, etc.

5 The Good News? The skills of analysis are transferable from studied text to studied text, and from Literature to Language.

6 What does that mean? Once you get it right, it s right.

7 Where are the pitfalls? DIY For set text questions, if you don t know the set texts, the skills won t save you.

8 What can the department do to help? Personalised English Language skills revision based on PiXL results ed to both parents are pupils Targeted-by-ability revision classes for each question on all exam papers Both PiXL data and teacher knowledge will form these groups Sixth Form learning mentors for targeted students

9 Personalised English Language Revision

10 Colour Grade Therapies and Tests to complete RED = 1 4 BASE & SECURE AMBER = 5 6 SECURE & MASTERY GREEN = 7 9 MASTERY & ADVANCED

11 This Week Pupils and parents will be ed the therapies and tests to move their child to Green for each question. A revision timetable will be put together which will have compulsory before or after school revision sessions targeted for your child s ability.

12 What can you do? Understand Give time and space for them to work Encourage Check their work ask, Is there anymore you could add to improve it? Discuss what you are reading with them Ask about what they are reading. Read their set texts!

13 How will you know? Look at the following extract and the sample answers. Is the difference in quality clear?

14 Task: Take a look at the extract below from Treasure Island. How does Stevenson create a frightening impression of Billy Bones? I remember him as if it were yesterday, as he came plodding to the inn door, his sea chest following behind him in a hand-barrow -- a tall, strong, heavy, nut-brown man, his tarry pigtail falling over the shoulder of his soiled blue coat, his hands ragged and scarred, with black, broken nails, and the sabre cut across one cheek, a dirty, livid white.

15 Quote plodding soiled blue coat ragged and scarred livid white What does this description tell us about Billy Bones? As he came plodding to the inn door shows that Billy Bones was moving slowly, possibly because he is old or injured.

16 Sample Paragraph Response The description of Billy Bones is quite frightening as the idea of him plodding suggests that Billy Bones was moving slowly; this may be because he is old or injured. We know that he is not very clean and, therefore, must be quite dirty looking as his coat is described as a soiled blue coat. This suggests that the coat is stained heavily.

17 Task: Take a look at the extract below from Treasure Island. How does Stevenson create a frightening impression of Billy Bones? I remember him as if it were yesterday, as he came plodding to the inn door, his sea chest following behind him in a hand-barrow -- a tall, strong, heavy, nut-brown man, his tarry pigtail falling over the shoulder of his soiled blue coat, his hands ragged and scarred, with black, broken nails, and the sabre cut across one cheek, a dirty, livid white.

18 Quote Technique What does this description tell us about Billy Bones? as if it was yesterday plodding soiled blue coat, tarry ponytail ragged and scarred, broken simile as if it was yesterday suggests that the image of Bones has left a vivid impression on his mind. verb choice plodding shows that Billy Bones was moving slowly, possibly because he is old or injured. adjectives adjectives livid white adjective

19 Sample Paragraph Response Stevenson instantly gives the reader the impression that the image of Billy Bones had a long-lasting effect on Jim Dawkins through the simile as if it was yesterday. The ease with which Dawkins recalls Bones is reinforced through the focus on his plodding movement, suggestive of either an aged or injured man, and the vivid description of how he looks dishevelled and worn. Both his clothes, described as soiled and his hair, as tarry, give the reader the impression of a life where Bones s attentions are focused elsewhere. The fact that he carries his sea chest on a hand-barrow into the inn suggests that he sacrifices personal pride for material gain. The reader is left in no doubt as to the nature of Bones as a character as the paragraph ends with a focus on a violent sabre cut scar across his face. The oxymoronic livid white evokes the vicious nature of the scar and how it must have been inflicted upon him. Notably, he is the man left standing, furthering his intimidating nature.