Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin 2015 Higher Level Question: “Ní Chuilleanáin’s demanding subject matter and formidable style can prove challenging.” Discuss this statement, supporting your answer with reference to the poetry of Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin on your course. Fully worked sample answer/essay in response to the 2015 question. As Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin is a 2018 female poet, this is the ideal style of essay to prepare for the 2018 exam.

2011 Boland Higher Level English Essay “Boland’s reflective insights are expressed through her precise use of language.” Sample answer based on the above question, ideal for 2018 revision and preparation for Leaving Higher Level English.

1. Compare the feelings towards London in Blake’s London and Wordsworth’s Composed upon Westminster Bridge. OR 2. Compare Blake’s use of nature in The Nurse’s Song (Innocence) and The Nurse’s Song (Experience)

Suitable for Year 7 or 8. L/O: to understand and explain the writers’ ideas and use of language I understand the poem. I can explain what Blake was trying to say. I can identify a variety of language techniques. I can explain how and why they are used. I can explain the overall theme of the poem.

L.O: Develop ability to infer meaning in a text. Must: create three questions to ask Karl based on the article Should: find evidence to answer the questions Could: create questions that require you to infer information. Find evidence to support your inferences TASK 1: Answer the questions that you have come up with as if you are Karl Pilkington. Remember the mark scheme Must: read reasonably well, identifying a range of details. Some supporting detail is used Should: interpret the text competently. Some ideas are developed. There is some supporting detail throughout. Could: thoroughly engage with the passage. Integrate an appropriate amount of supporting detail into the response TASK 2: How is language used for effect (Answer in the form of PEEA paragraphs)? What is Karl’s first impression of the place he would be bungee jumping from? What impression are we given of the tribe? How important is the bungee ritual to the people of the tribe? How dangerous is the bungee jumping activity? How did Karl feel about participating in the bungee jump himself?

Key moments and give thoughtful value judgements on the character Act 1 Scene 5 - Romeo and Juliet fall in love at the ball Act 2 Scene 1 - The Balcony Scene Act 3 Scene 1 - The Fight Scene (turning point of the play) Act 4 Scene 3 - Juliet’s soliloquy Act 5 Scene 3 - Churchyard scene of tragedy Figurative language - examples from the play Metaphors Similes Personification Irony

King Lear quotes on themes and characters. Perfect revision tool. Theme of Evil Theme of the “Natural Law” Theme of Sight and Blindness Theme of Justice Theme of Power Theme of Gods Theme of Filial Ingratitude Character of Edmund Character of Lear Characters of Goneril and Regan Character of Kent Character of Cordelia Character of Gloucester Character of Edgar

Venn diagram activity for use in comparing three texts for the Leaving Cert: Juno Big Maggie The Spinning Heart

LO: To explore the context of An Inspector Calls LO: To explore the characters and their roles in An Inspector Calls LO: To explore the importance of the dramatic techniques used in An Inspector Calls

Suitable for Year 7 or 8. L/O: to understand and explain the writers’ ideas and use of language I understand the poem. I can explain what Blake was trying to say. I can identify a variety of language techniques. I can explain how and why they are used. I can explain the overall theme of the poem.

1. Why is George and Lennie’s dream so important to them? Use any key terms you have learned, make it informative and remember to quote from the book……………………… 2. Describe how different characters and incidents change the atmosphere in the bunkhouse Write about: • George’s suspicions about the bunkhouse beds • The ranch owner questioning George and Lennie’s late arrival • The killing of Candy’s dog • Curley’s attack on Lennie 3. Write 3 Tweets that could be from one of the characters about events in the book No more than 140 characters (letters, symbols or spaces)) per tweet; use #’s for key words and they must be informative.… 4. Create a mood board about The American Dream Use different sources such as the internet and books to find • Pictures, quotes and facts about this idea that led so many people to seek a better future………………… 5. Discuss the relationship of George and Lennie. Write about: • Their travelling and working together • How they relate to other characters in the novel • Their dream • Incidents that occur on the ranch involving them both • Lennie’s death 6. Write about the importance of the different places in ‘Of Mice and Men’. Remember to link the settings to the themes. Explain how they are important and what they represent………………… 7. Look at the various examples of discrimination in Of Mice and Men • How does discrimination affect different characters? • How do characters respond to discrimination? • How does it affect their lives, and the outcome of the story? 8. How does Steinbeck portray friendship in Of Mice and Men? • How does its presence or absence affect different characters, in their actions and in their relationships? • What does it require of people? • What does it offer them in return? 9. What is the importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men? What role do they play in people’s lives? How do people use dreams, and how do various characters’ dreams affect them? 10. Many of the characters in Of Mice and Men seem lonely Why are various characters lonely, and how does it affect them? 11. Think about different characters in Of Mice and Men, and the power that they have • What different kinds of power do different characters have? • Where does it come from? • What do they do with it? How does it help them, or hurt them? 12. Create a poster advertising for workers for the ranch in Soledad. Think about the layout and what details you would need to include. You must include information about what you expect from the workers as well as what will be provided for them…………………………..

1. 15 marks Read pages…………. Imagine that you are Scout. Write a letter to Jem, explaining how you feel about that night and how you feel about him as a big brother. In your letter you should: Example of a writing task: Argumentative/discursive writing Either (a) ‘All teenagers need to rebel in order to grow up.’ What do you think? [25] or (b) ‘Equality is a dream – it can never be a reality.’ What do you think? You may focus on one specific area of equality – such as gender or wealth – or deal with the topic more generally. [25]

Lesson Objective: To use writing techniques and attractive vocabulary in our work. Must: Gather a list of vocabulary to make sure that your writing is attractive and contains flair. (5) Should: Use writing techniques to create detailed and effective description. (6) Could: Include the idea of sound to portray emotion. (7)

Quick revision lesson of Curley's wife including a writing frame to support students answers. Learning Objective: To analyse Curley’s wife’s in detail. STARTER: Write a list of on what you think a woman in 1930’s America was expected to be like. E.g. A woman in 1930’s America would be... What is a 1930’s woman? Women were stereotypically (normally) seen as housewives although some women worked in factories. However they were never given the same credit as men. Women were typically seen as well dressed. They were shown to be dressed up to look their best for their husbands. Hollywood glamour was popular at that time. The film industry was booming. Curley’s wife appears to be fond of the colour red. The colour red could symbolises a few things about Curley’s wife. It could indicate that she is an attention-seeker as red is a vibrant colour which hardly goes unnoticed. Also, red has connotations of danger and it could signify that she could be a danger to Lennie, especially because the girl in Weed had a red dress which resulted in Lennie having to leave his last job.

1. Read pages………….(George’s confession to Slim). (15 marks) Imagine that you have heard the discussion. Write a letter to George expressing your views on the situation. In your letter you should: 2. Read pages……………..(the fight scene) (10 marks) How is Lennie made to seem vulnerable? How is Lennie made to seem dangerous?

Lesson 1: Learning Objective: to be able to comment on the language, how it effects the reader and be able to thoroughly analyse the poem. MUST: identify key words in the poem SHOULD: explain the effect on the reader COULD: analyse why this is effective How will we do this All learners are able to pick out key words and contribute to group discussion. All learners are independent and produce a piece of writing from the activity. All learners will be able to reflect on their learning and their next steps in learning. Lesson 2: Learning Objective: to be able to analyse language and explain the meaning behind the poem. MUST: select appropriate evidence from the text to back up your ideas. SHOULD: interpret writer’s ideas and viewpoints. COULD: explain and evaluate how writers use their language to influence the reader. Lesson 3: Learning Objective: To learn how to provide a perceptive/insightful analysis of the differences and similarities between the writer’s choices about language used in both poems. MUST: to explore the writer’s use of language to portray ideas. SHOULD: be able to explain differences and similarities with clear explanation COULD: be able to write in detail and make extended analytical comparison.

I Felt a Funeral in my Brain LO: How do sounds highlight our fear of the unknown? Must: identify how the use of sound can create a gothic atmosphere(level 5) Should: discuss how these sounds help highlight emotions (facts) (level 6) Could: evaluate how sounds help create the ‘unknown’ and discuss how what is not known is much scarier that what is known (level 7)

Engaging and fully resourced scheme of work focusing on ballads. Ideal for Year 7 or Year 8.

Guaranteed to have students eating from the palm of your hand as this mini scheme of work really should interest the social media savvy student. Lesson 1: Social Media and Celebrities (Literacy lesson) Lesson 2: Cyber Bullying Lesson 3: Blogs Lesson 4: Dragon’s Den – creating your own App

Mid-term Break - Seamus Heaney - questions