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Disaster!

Year 8 Speaking & Listening Task.

Video 1

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A secondary school revision resource for GCSE English Literature about the plot, characters and themes in J B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

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Task 4: Non-Fiction Writing Task.

Write a speech for your classmates giving your views on the following issues:

“Charity begins at home, but it shouldn’t stop there!”

You may find some of the facts and opinions from 'Poverty' handout useful in writing your speech. 

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How to write non-fiction texts.

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Task 3: Non Fiction Reading

Hello.

Pick up the nearest thing with writing on it.

Is it

   a) a newspaper or a magazine?

Or is it

   b) a fizzy drink and junk food packet?

Give yourself a 'C' if it's the first.  An 'E' if it's the latter.  

You can have a 'D' grade if you can explain what 'latter' means.

That counts as your starter; your intellectual warm-up.

Now comes the actual task.

Read any newspaper or magazine article you can find, and write answers to ALL of the following questions.

Personal and Textual Connections

What do you already know about this topic? 

How does this (book, article, topic) remind you of other texts you have read? 

What have you experienced in your life that helps you understand this topic? 

How does the information in this text fit with what you already know? 

Content

What are some of the most important words related to the topic, and what do they mean? 

What are some of the most important ideas related to this topic? 

What did you learn about this topic? 

What does this text make you want to learn more about? 

Style

How has the author made this topic interesting? 

How has the author made it easy for you to find information? 

Text Structure/Organization

What are the ways the author presents information on this topic? 

Text Features/Illustrations/Format

What does the title tell you about this text? 

How do headings and subheadings help you find information in this text? 

What information is provided through illustrations (drawings, diagrams, maps, charts, etc.)? 

Does the total format of the text help you understand the topic better? 

Author

What qualifications does the author have to write this text? 

How does the author use experiences and/or knowledge to do a good job of providing information? 

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Exam tips on the English reading non-fiction texts module.

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Task 2: Reading Fiction Revision

Remember that all fiction will involve P.A.C.T: Plot - Atmosphere - Character- Themes.

If you can make comments on each of these, backed by evidence (quotes) from the text, then you are on your way to a half-decent grade.

Of course, if you want a fully-decent grade; then you need to add a few more things.

Answering Questions on Fiction Checklist:

I have an idea about the plot (sequence of events)

I can comment on the atmosphere (mood; emotions)

I can discuss the characters

I can explain at least one theme

I can infer (read between the lines) the writer's message or meaning

I have looked at the writer's style

I am able to comment on the language (vocabulary)

I have an opinion about the story

I am aware of how other readers might look at the story

Yes, this is - to use the vernacular - a big-ass list.  It gets worse, this is just a small sample of the kinds of things a C+ grade pupil will write about in her/his exam answers.

Let's use the Last Cupcake as an example.

Read through the story again, and then answer the three questions at the end.  Each question is worth 5 marks.  

If you get a total of between 10 & 12, reward yourself with half a cupcake.  If more, then give yourself a whole cupcake.  If you get less than 10; no cupcake for you.  Do the task again.

My Weekend: The Last Cupcake

Her face was shadowed. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I could tell she was watching me.

In the gloomy evening light, we sat at opposite ends of the dinner table, watching, waiting.

Between us, the last cupcake lay on a plastic party plate, beautiful and enticing.  Not enough to share.

The tension grew, and then I heard a low rumbling, like a cat growling.

I realised: it was the sound of her stomach.

I reached across.  She moved at the same time. With my other hand, I pulled the table towards me. She jumped on the table, scrabbling towards the cupcake.

I can see it now, as if in slow motion.  She skittered towards the delicious baked goodness like some sugar-starved spider.  My hand was already over the cupcake.  She scratched: her tiny nails leaving trails of red blood on the back of my hand.

I pulled back in pain.  She grabbed the last cupcake.

Tears streamed down my face; I wept for the loss of the last cupcake.

Question 1) How does the writer create tension in the first six paragraphs?  You should discuss how the character is described, the perspective and the choice of words.

Question 2) Discuss the theme of 'power' in this extract.  You should mention which character seems to have power in the story, and how it changes. 

Question 3) How does the writer try to make you sympathise with the main character?  Basically, you discuss how the writer tries to make you feel sorry for the main character.  Higher achieving pupils will give an opinion about the writer's style - does he actually make you feel sorry for the character or not?

 You get a mark for every relevant point you make that is also backed up with evidence.

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Use our Generic (general) Book Club Discussion Questions for Fiction--any novel--for help with discussions. They're smart, insightful and will get you off to a good start.

This is a good website with a list of 9 generic questions that might pop up in discussions about literature.  Being able to answer these types of questions will be useful exam practice.

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Task 1: Creative Writing Revision

You will create a diary entry based on your activities over the weekend.

Here's the catch: you must write it in the style of an Action Novel. Your weekend activities can be exaggerated to seem more exciting.

Action Story Checklist:

Protagonist (Hero)

Antagonist (Villain)

Plan of Story

Description of Location

Range of sentences (description - long sentences; action - short sentences)

Example:

My Weekend: The Last Cupcake

Her face was shadowed. I couldn't see her eyes, but I could tell she was watching me.

In the gloomy evening light, we sat at opposite ends of the dinner table, watching, waiting.

Between us, the last cupcake lay on a plastic party plate, beautiful and enticing.  Not enough to share.

The tension grew, and then I heard a low rumbling, like a cat growling.

I realised: it was the sound of her stomach.

I reached across.  She moved at the same time. With my other hand, I pulled the table towards me. She jumped on the table, scrabbling towards the cupcake.

I can see it now, as if in slow motion.  She skittered towards the delicious baked goodness like some sugar-starved spider.  My hand was already over the cupcake.  She scratched: her tiny nails leaving trails of red blood on the back of my hand.

I pulled back in pain.  She grabbed the last cupcake.

Tears streamed down my face; I wept for the loss of the last cupcake.

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A secondary school revision resource for GCSE English. Exam tips for GCSE English creative writing

Some Basic Revision Tips from the BBC website.  Reliable and simple, it helps you go over some of the work you have done in class.