ENGLISH LEARNING OVERVIEW

Poetry From Other Cultures

Students study the themes and techniques in 4 poems from other cultures (Two Scavengers In A Truck, Night of the Scorpion, What Were They Like?) over 2 weeks. They use hot seating and drama to explore the poets’ ideas and their own responses.

Writing

Students revise (for two weeks) the features of writing for a range of audiences and purposes.

Non-Fiction Texts

Students revise their reading skills, looking at : following an argument, evaluating fact and opinion, presentation and language. 2 weeks.   

    

Weeks 1 & 2: English GCSE Exams

• Paper 1 exam: 8th November
• Paper 2 exam: 10th November

Of Mice and Men

Students have five weeks to read and study John Steinbeck’s brilliant and popular novel about two men’s difficult lives during the Great Depression in 1930’s America.

View From The Bridge

We pick up the literature GCSE course again with Arthur Miller’s dramatic play about immigrants in New York in the 1950’s. Students examine how Miller’s tension is created through exciting drama activities such as a Jerry Springer chat show to explore the underlying issues.

Of Mice and Men

Students return to what is often their favourite text of the course in order to compile their own revision material, including blogs and pod casts.    

Literature Poetry:

Four new key poems are introduced.  Students complete close analysis of these in preparation for their exam. Students compare how themes and techniques are explored by the poets and work out interesting connections between the writers as well as developing their own understanding of their literary heritage.

Students study five poems by Simon Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy, all based on the themes of Mothers, Fathers, Death and Old Age. (4 weeks)

GCSE English Literature Revision

The focus for this term is preparing for the GCSE exams at the beginning of June.  All lessons will cover exam techniques and practise questions.  There will be revision of all of the texts studied and grade booster sessions about how to improve marks.