GCSE (AQA), Paper One: Using Bloom's Taxonomy to Analyse and Evaluate

These two booklets are designed to support GCSE, English Language teachers by providing comprehensive resources for teaching analytical and evaluative reading responses, using an extract from Charles Dickens’ Bleak House. The materials are carefully structured around Bloom’s Taxonomy, guiding students through various levels of thinking to deepen their understanding and enhance their written responses. These booklets focus on engaging students with critical thinking, literary analysis, and creative writing exercises that will develop their skills for answering exam-style questions.

An extract from Bleak House by Charles Dickens is included: A vivid, descriptive passage that presents an opportunity for students to analyze the atmosphere of Victorian London.
The first booklet uses question prompts based on Bloom’s Taxonomy: These questions guide students from basic comprehension (remembering key details) through to higher-order thinking (evaluating and creating). The progressive questions support students in fully engaging with the text refining and deepening their understanding.
A question is provided based on Question 4 of Paper 1 (AQA) along with a model answer.

The second booklet focuses on quotation analysis exploring key quotations. It uses Bloom’s Taxonomy to deepen the response of students. The analysis helps students understand how Dickens uses language to shape mood, tone, and themes in the text.
Model Paragraphs: Detailed, example paragraphs are provided to demonstrate how to construct an analytical response that includes textual evidence, coherent argumentation, and insight into Dickens’ use of language.

Creative writing exercises are also included which give an opportunity for students to apply their learning by rewriting passages from different perspectives or with an altered tone (humour vs. misery), which fosters creativity and further understanding of the text’s emotional impact.