A ccss compliant, no prep required 14 page work book consisting of 100 reading questions, a detailed list of the gothic features of the novel and a creative writing task ‘The Danvers Letters’. There is also a two page essay which introduces the novel and argues its merit as a source of study. A document of four sample PEA paragraphs which explore the gothic features of the text and an analysis grid worksheet considering the female characters are also provided.

Three creative writing tasks with ideas and advice for producing good quality stories. This forms part of my larger resource ‘AQA GCSE Paper 1 Section B Really Effective Creative Writing Advice and Tasks’. Both resources can work brilliantly with any age group for any curriculum. This works really well with students, showing them how to write less but write it better. This also stimulates their own creative ideas for using narrative and descriptive language. I have uploaded a short film to YouTube which takes you throught this presentation names AQA GCSE Language Paper 1 Section B Creating a Narrative. Available in ppt and word document formats.

A brief (288 words) analysis of the Colin Kaepernick quotation. This resource provides a strong example of analytical writing particularly relating to emotive vocabulary, and of the ways contextual information can enhance the investigation of vocabulary and phrases within a quotation.

A short 600 word A Grade exemplar essay exploring the spontaneous overflow of emotion in Shelley’s Stanzas Written in Dejection Near Naples. The meaning and impact of literary devices are explored in connection with contextual issues relation to Shelley’s own life and the wider Romantic movement. Originally designed for the Edexcel A Level Literature course, this can be used as an exemplar analysis and to assist creating an essay response which explores two Romantic poems for the 9ETO/03 examination paper.

Ninety flashcards and a teacher reference list of high level literary terms and vocabulary which raise the sophistication of literary investigation and analytical writing. If applied correctly, these terms will enhance student insight into literary texts and raise the evaluative quality of essays. This resource is great for A Level courses or advanced GCSE students.

A thorough (15 pages, 5200 words), chapter by chapter breakdown of the content, themes, issues and concerns of the author, literary devices and impact of The Handmaid’s Tale. Every point is tied to specific textual references which together provide an essential support resource for any study of the novel for A Level study for AQA, Edexcel, OCR or other examination boards. This reource also assists study for the Australian HSC.

A Christmas Carol close reading comprehension activities worksheet based on an extract description of The Ghost of Christmas Past. Students work on a detailed drawing of each part of the ghost, using their interpretation of quotations as instructions on what to draw. There is also a task in which students match vocabulary from the extract to its synonyms or definition. An answer key is provided. This is editable and no preparation is required.

A fun, students out of seats activity which is a great way to get to know your students and stimulate interest in any topic. Students are asked a series of opinion questions which they respond to by moving to an A, B, C or D sign in a different area of the classroom. There are 15 fun, topical questions in a ppt presentation and handout, A, B, C and D sign posts and flash cards. Teacher’s notes and instructions are included. This can be used successfully with any Grade Level and no preparation is required. This is a fantastic way of getting to know a new class or livening things up throughout the year.

Detailed essay ideas, quotes, scaffold included: A new spec AQA GCSE Literature Paper 1 Macbeth exam style question on the theme of ‘remorse’ incorporating a play script extract from Act 3 Scene 4 ‘Banquo’s Ghost’. A number of additional scene extracts and quotations relevant to the question are included as well as a series of detailed thesis statement ideas and a comprehensive essay scaffold handout to aid student planning. This resource provides excellent revision preparation for the upcoming examinations that can be used in class or as an independent student task.

A 22 slide ppt and handouts which teaches students to understand Romeo and Juliet as a piece of theatre to be watched rather than a text which is read. Students work in groups on drama, arts and crafts activities to produce a tableau of one moment in Act 3 Scene 1, although any moment in the play can be used. Elements including facial expression, body language, proximity, symbolism and use of props to create meaning are explored. Ideas for using masks, playing cards and colour to create meaning are included. An entertaining range of activities are provided which prepare students to complete the central task of creating a tableau. The tableau will communicate information about the characters, themes and issues of the play using only the sense of sight. Students are also asked to write a short essay explaining the content, symbolism and meaning of their tableau. Handouts with detailed instructions, sentence stems and a sample essay are provided. Originally created for Key Stage 4, I am confident this can be used successfully with any age group and ability level as an assessment task or a fun project. The props created can also be adapted for use in a display, as can photographs of the tableaus (with student permission).

A large (136 pages of WORD documents and 11 detailed ppts), fully editable, no prep required complete unit of work which really brings A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life. This unit of work makes the play relevant to student’s lives and the world in which they live, asking them to experience the play as a piece of theatre as well as a literary text. Quizzes, tests, essay questions, worksheets, debate cards, character analysis, group projects, creative activities, contextual information and more. All activities are graduated to fit the learning stages of Blooms Taxonomy moving from recall and understanding through to analysis, evaluation and creation with collaborative projects. Primarily designed for A Level courses or GCSEs, most activities can be easily used with younger age groups at Key Stage 3 (11 to 14 years old). I have placed particular focus on contextual appreciation, textual knowledge, critical thinking, and skills in building and supporting an argument through debate, essay and letter writing tasks. Creative tasks include Director’s Log and Deck of Cards projects. The essay questions in particular are intended to stretch and challenge students’ ability and achievement. The resource includes: Context, Genre Conventions and Narrative (12 pages) Close Reading and Textual Knowledge (57 pages and 9 ppt presentations) Debate and Discussion Tasks (18 pages) Formal Letters (13 pages and 2 Marking Rubrics) Essays (17 essay questions, 25 pages and 2 Marking Rubrics) Collaborative Projects (21 pages and 2 ppts of 35 slides)

A detailed reading test which asks students to answer comprehension questions based around every chapter of the novel. The document is 8 pages long with spaces for written responses. This can also be used as a worksheet or shared activity.

An unusual activity which enables students to access a wider range of ambitious, unexpected, descriptive vocabulary and devices than they may usually rely on in their creative writing and make their compositions stand out in the examiner’s pile. This will also assist students in creating specific language fields to assist establishing tone and character within narrative or descriptive writing. The activity should take a full lesson and requires a packet of jelly snakes or similar. It is excellent for GCSE creative writing or adaptable to any age group or ability.

A huge 23 page document that gives you everything students need to write effective detailed and well developed persuasive pieces. It consists of definitions and a host of examples (most have between 10 and 20) of 31 persuasive devices which include more sophisticated techniques such as parallel structure, antanagogue, absurdity, weasel words, neologisms, allusion, delayed epithet, hypophora, distinction and metabasis. All of the better known devices such as rhetorical questions, emotive language etc are present as are examples of how to use punctuation for persuasive effect such as ellipsis and inverted commas. There is a list of 34 topics for debate followed by 13 AQA style GCSE Language Paper 2 Question 5s. Also provided are 14 ideas that students can choose between to build any argument around which will help them avoid repeating the same point in their writing. 10 mnemonics are included to help students remember these argument ideas. The resource ends with a handy checklist to aid students in ensuring their writing uses the conventions of a persuasive piece. This resource acts as an excellent addition to any scheme of learning or works very well alone. It is also a useful reference when focusing on specific skills with any age group.