This lesson was inspired by the AQA 2018 English Language Paper 1 Question 5. Students were asked to describe the face of an old man. To help students improve their description, I have created a bank of 275 words that students can use to add precision to their descriptions. The follow up tasks gives students 8 images of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (Polanski version). Students must select the adjectives carefully to describe one of the 8 images. Peers then have to work out which image they have described from the quality of the description. The plenary asks students to write down their favourite words to describe each aspect of the face.

A grade 7 and a grade 8 slightly improved response to the following exam style question about Lady Macbeth: Starting with this speech (Act 1 Scene 5 ‘The raven himself is hoarse’) explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman.Write about: • how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in this speech • how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in the play as a whole. Includes a grade 7 version and a grade 8 version for comparison. The grade 8 version has a more thoughtful introduction and conclusion and creates more of a debate. The PowerPoint contains colour coded annotations to showcase a deliberate and easy to imitate method for helping students structure a successful response.

This popular resource includes 3 grade 9 Romeo and Juliet responses, 1 grade 8 response and 1 grade 7 model response to 5 AQA style GCSE examination questions on Romeo and Juliet. The exam questions and extracts are included beside the model responses. I have tried to produce responses at the level reasonably expected of a high-level GCSE-aged student within 45 minutes of examination time. Sometimes when teachers write exemplar responses, they produce such a high level of analysis that students find them overwhelming. I tried to avoid that. Includes a grade 9 model response to a question on adults and children. Includes a grade 8 model response to a question about male hostility and asks students how they could turn it into a grade 9 response through deeper language analysis (A02). This resource is ideal to use to show students how to write successful answers that meet the criteria for A01, A02 and A03. I have also included a sixth examination question so that students can have a go at an exam question themselves using my 9 step method.

Student-friendly, double-sided revision cards to cover 6 themes in Macbeth: ambition supernatural deceit violence courage *guilt Each revision card has 3 sections: key parts of the play that link to the theme key quotations linked to each theme ideas about context/Shakespeare’s purpose for each theme. The back of the card has space for students to make analytical notes on quotations. I have now added revision cards for the 6 main characters and 9 revision cards to cover the character of Macbeth.

A detailed worksheet on semi colons for a 20 minute intervention session.

A grade 9 critical and exploratory response to an exam-style generic question about how Romeo and Juliet’s relationship develops during the play. I have included the extract and a brief examiner commentary to help explain why the response would achieve grade 9. The response is 662 words along which is about the average length of a grade 9 essay in 45 minutes of exam conditions. Also available as part of a group of model responses: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/romeo-and-juliet-grade-9-grade-8-and-grade-7-model-responses-to-aqa-gcse-questions-11580421

An example of high level analytical writing in An Inspector Calls about how Priestley presents ideas about selfishness in An Inspector Calls. Includes an examiner comment and grade at the end. This resource is also available as one 9 sample responses at different grades: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/9-an-inspector-calls-model-responses-11453529 It is also available as a bundle covering the whole play: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-inspector-calls-aqa-1-9-differentiated-birling-sheila-11412310

Lesson explaining how to answer a Macbeth question on the theme of guilt for AQA GCSE. Also includes a grade 7 sample response and a grade 9 sample response to allow for a comparison. Includes worksheets for exploring the extract. Also includes a grade 5 model paragraph to assist lower ability students with writing about the extract and then moving to outside the extract.

A 45 minute (871 word) high level top band response to the following question: Starting with this extract, how does Dickens present Scrooge as an outsider to society. Includes the extract.

A grade 8/9 borderline exam response answering a question about Scrooge’s anxieties in A Christmas Carol. I have also included a writing frame that I used with a much lower ability class (target grades 4 and 5).

A complete ready to teach lesson containing a starter activity, 6 pages of line by line annotations of Act 4 Scene 1 followed up with various extension activities to test students’ understanding of this scene. Ends with students completing an analytical paragraph on the scene. Includes a modelled example.

Full lesson which pairs 6 quotations from Stave 1 with 6 quotations and Stave 5 and asks students to make inferences looking for similarities and differences to highlight Scrooge’s transformation and redemption. The PowerPoint then goes through 3 inferences for each of the 12 quotations. The lesson also Includes a grade 9 model paragraph and a writing frame for lower ability students. There is also a helpsheet to support an exam question which is also attached.

A grade 9 exemplar essay to the 2018 AQA question on Romeo and Juliet which was as follows: Starting with this moment in the play, explore how Shakespeare presents relationships between adults and young people in Romeo and Juliet. (30+4 marks) Includes some examiner comment for A01, A02, A03.

Several helpful and printable revision sheets and activity sheets covering key quotations for characters, themes and stage directions with links to examination questions and context. The themes covered include: Responsibility Class Age Gender Wealth, Power and Influence.

PowerPoint for an exam walk-through looking at the AQA Question from May 2017. Differentiated starter: define the key words linked to male aggression and make links. Main: Analyse 5 key extracts that demonstrate male aggression with a focus on A01 and A02. Suggested answers are on the PowerPoint to guide students through each extract. Plenary: Draw a line graph to chart the intensity of male aggression across the play. Also includes a grade 8 model response to the question so students can look at how to develop it into a grade 9 response.

Two sample unseen poems and accompanying exam questions on a word document to allow for easy editing and printing.

5 high grade Macbeth exam responses. The actual questions and extracts have been removed to avoid any copyright issues but should all be familiar to teachers. All responses were written to reflect the ability of grade 8/9 students working under timed conditions. Marking is subjective but these responses would, in my opinion, squeeze into the top band because all 5 contain thorough and at times debate with the nuances of the question supported by thorough and at times perceptive analysis of methods and wider ideas supported by fine-grained analysis of judicious quotations

Similes and Metaphors worksheet

Just a bank of ambitious vocabulary for creative writing.

A grade 8 model response comparing how conflict with nature is presented in Prelude and Storm on the Island. I’d give it a mark at the top of Band 5 24/30 which I predict is around grade 8. It is well-structured, thoughtful, detailed and developed with apt evidence. To reach Grade 9 it needs to be more critical and exploratory with more convincing exploration of alternative interpretations and contectual factors. I have many other Power and Conflict resources also on my shop such as the following: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-poetry-revision-grid-extended-version-11530298 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-11626301