How to structure a comparative paragraph for AQA Poetry - Power and Conflict

10+ Resources to teach students methods for comparing poems from the AQA anthology. Includes ideas for discriminating comparisons by both theme and method. The model examples come from the Power and Conflict AQA anthology and include plans for…

The Emigree and Kamikaze
Exposure and War Photographer.
Exposure and Storm on the Island
Tissue and Ozymandias
Remains and Bayonet Charge
Prelude and Ozymandias
London and My Last Duchess

There is also a blank template for students to practise using the 12 point comparative method on a question comparing Ozymandias and My Last Duchess.

There is also a choice over a simple 4 paragraph methods based approach or a more advanced 2 paragraph conceptual approach.

There is also a diamond ranking starter activity to get students to engage with the criteria for grade 8 and 9.

There is also a resource with 3 tiers of difficulty depending on how confident students are at planning their own comparisons.

Tier 1: Students add the analysis of the quotations. The topic sentences and recommended quotations are already filled in for them.
Tier 2: Students must pick their own 3 quotations from each poem and analyse the quotations.
Tier 3: Students must pick their own topic sentences, quotations and then analsyse the quotations.

The questions covered are as follows:

2021 question: Compare how poets present ideas about power and control in ‘London’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)

Nov 2020 question: Compare how poets present the ways people are affected by difficult experiences in ‘Remains’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)

May 2019 question: Compare how poets present the ways that people are affected by war in ‘War Photographer’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)

May 2018 question: Compare how poets present ideas about power in ‘Ozymandias’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)