Well done on getting through the Controlled Assessment. For most of you, that's all the Controlled Assessment out of the way now. An extra well done!

We've spent the last week looking at what we call Paper 1 - the language exam paper. This is split into Reading and Writing.
In section A (Reading), you'll be asked four questions, which are comprehension/reading questions like we have looked at in class.
In section B (Writing) you are then asked to write to inform/advise for 12 marks (click here for a useful site on information writing). You are then asked to write to persuade for 24 marks.

This is brief, but I'll upload this week's lessons as they happen. You can then use this to revise for next weekend.

Any problems, queries etc, leave a comment (but not your name),
Ms

Nearly there!

Hello Y11

I hope you've enjoyed your first week of work. I've left a picture to alleviate your anxiety - you're welcome!

Right, I had a few problems uploading these, but they should be here now. Let me know if you have problems.

Here is a basic PEE+ handout. This is the last lesson - this brings everything that we've done together so it is good to remind yourselves of it. I've also saved them in the student shared area.

Remember, if you need any help at all, leave a comment here and I will get back to you. You can also leave paragraphs as this will help others. Be brave. It's anonymous (don't leave you name).

Please also look below at the video and the links in the previous post. The pupils who have used this blog are the ones who have really extended their learning - be that pupil.

Looking forward to you coming back to school.

Ms

GCSE English "Of Mice and Men: Friendship

5 minutes well spent...

Of Mice and Men

Hello Y11

Well done. You've worked really well. After reading your paragraphs, it is important to ensure that you stick to analysis and do not get drawn into to telling the story.
Remember, really simply, you're assessed on

• selecting quotes
• analysing language and structure
• linking to the writer's viewpoint.

Your paragraphs should follow PEE+ to ensure that your writing stays focussed and analytical. Therefore:
Point (make sure this is a strong point)
Evidence is your quote.
Explain the language and structure
+ link to the writers viewpoint (messages/themes)

For example, when Curley's wife is killed Steinbeck ensures the reader's sympathy for Lennie is maintained. The reader sees the killing as an inevitable consequence of Lennie's bear-like strength and Curley's wife's desire for attention. The use of simile of Curley's wife 'and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish' creates an unsympathetic image, further emphasised with the alliterative 'f', as we tend not to feel sorry for dying fish in the way we may for a differnt animal. However, the separated clause with the semi-colon accentuates the seperation of Curley's wife from the men on the ranch; this highlights the lonliness and isolation that she felt and she is only free from 'the ache for attention' in death. The symapathy the reader may feels for Curley's wife is undercut with 'and she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck' as this seems harsh and matter-of-fact. This tone reminds the reader that Lennie would not have wanted to break her neck it was just something that happened so, even though he has commited a terrible act of violence, the reader doesn't blame Lennie.  The repetition of the natural imagery, including the clear link to the animalistic imagery when Curley's hand was crushed as he 'flopped like a fish on a line', both links Curley and his wife as the enemy, but also reminds the reader of Lennie's early despcription as a bear, reiterated with his 'paw'-like hands throughout the novel. Because of this, it seems clear that this was both inevitable and natural as bears do kill fish and Steinbeck could be highlighting the predatory nature of the world; it could also suggest that Steinbeck was trying to show the constance of the natural world and Lennie is a victim in this world.

Here are some good links for you. Sparknotes and Andrew Moore's overview. OMAM has been a GCSE text for many years so there's lots of stuff online. If you find soething really good, please share it in comments.

I'll have to upload PPts later as have other work to do now, but wanted to get this up if some of you were using your afternoon to study! Hope so.

Good luck in your week of work!

Best wishes,
Ms Caldwell

Technical Problems have been resolved

Hello Y11
Well done for working through the heat today.
You should know the text very well by now. You should also know the quotes that you are going to use for your essay. We will sit this assessment in the week between work experience and half term.

For your homework you need to write two PEE+ paragraphs. This should be at least 500 words of analysis (remember not to tell the story. 

Your title is:

Explore the ways that Lennie is presented and explored in Of Mice and Men.

We have looked in detail at the progression of Lennie's violence, but also how the audience remain sympathetic to Lennie. Steinbeck creates this sympathy - how? The murder of Curley's wife helps our understanding Lennie. Whilst she 'flop(s) like a fish' we are concerned about Lennie and fearful for his future. Here is the Powerpoint we looked at in class; look at the very clear success criteria for the paragraphs. The explanation is not written in, but you should look at what you have to do and write it yourself. Ensure you have quotes from other parts of the novella in your analysis. Technical issues have now been resolved and you can access PPt here. It is also available in the Student Shared area.
We will then peer assess on Monday morning. We then only have one more lesson before the CA...

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend.

Ms  

Homework

Find one quote of natural description and include at least 150 words of analysis. Youshould include:

• where it comes in the novel (including pg number)
• use of light,
• symbolism
• notes on the grammatical features

This needs to be in on Monday ready to be used in the lesson.
Ms

Hello Y11

I hope you're now settled in to life as a Y11 student. This year will pass extraordinarily quickly so it's imperative that you focus immediately and get to work. You have done well at this this term. 

Last week we started reading Of Mice and Men, an excellent novel. We will finish reading it this week. As I said in class, you will have a Controlled Assessment on this book and you will answer a question on it in your final English Literature exam. Therefore, it is important that you read and re-read the book. 

You need to come to Monday's lesson having read to the end of Section 3. Look at the questions on page 62, though I don't need you to write written answers.  We'll consider the questions together in class.

Finally, please remember our first lesson of the year on talent and hard word. Hard work is what makes people succeed, as Michael Jordan says, don't make excuses...

Ms Caldwell