This stand-alone resource is taken from the opening section of the highly regarded 215-page ‘Writing Unseen Commentaries: A Student Help Book’, a two-year course in the close textual analysis of short prose extracts and poems, designed to help students, within a clear framework, develop the skills of focused reading and critical commentary – skills they will be called upon to demonstrate within most national and international pre-university literature examinations. This is the introductory prose (fiction) unit from that course. The poetry equivalent is also published in the WordSmith Guides series. Both make full use of the innovative SCASI structure (Setting, Character, Action, Style and Ideas), an invaluable tool for the analysis of not only short pieces of literature but also whole works. This is also the Teaching Copy of the resource: the suggested responses to the study tasks are included in the body of the unit, whereas in the Student Edition they are located in a separate section at the end, so that teachers can dispense them to students as they see fit, for the purposes of self-assessment.

This stand-alone resource is taken from the opening section of the increasingly popular 280-page ‘Reading Between the Lines: A Student Help Book’, a two-year course in the close textual analysis of non-literary prose and graphic communication, designed to help students, within a clear framework, develop the skills of focused reading and critical commentary – skills they will be called upon to demonstrate within most national and international pre-university language or language and literature examinations. This is the introductory unit from that course. It makes use of the universal CAPS (Context, Audience, Purpose and Style) structure to explore factual and persuasive writing, and other forms of non-literary communication including graphic. This is also the Teaching Copy of the resource: the suggested responses to the study tasks are included in the body of the unit, whereas in the Student Edition they are located in a separate section at the end, so that teachers can dispense them to students as they see fit, for the purposes of self-assessment.

This stand-alone resource is taken from the opening section of the highly regarded 215-page ‘Writing Unseen Commentaries: A Student Help Book’, a two-year course in the close textual analysis of short prose extracts and poems, designed to help students, within a clear framework, develop the skills of focused reading and critical commentary – skills they will be called upon to demonstrate within most national and international pre-university literature examinations. This is the introductory poetry unit from that course. The prose (fiction) equivalent is also published in the WordSmith Guides series. Both make full use of the innovative SCASI structure (Setting, Character, Action, Style and Ideas), an invaluable tool for the analysis of not only short pieces of literature but also whole works. This is also the Teaching Copy of the resource: the suggested responses to the study tasks are included in the body of the unit, whereas in the Student Edition they are located in a separate section at the end, so that teachers can dispense them to students as they see fit, for the purposes of self-assessment.

This stand-alone resource is taken from the opening section of the highly regarded 215-page ‘Writing Unseen Commentaries: A Student Help Book’, a two-year course in the close textual analysis of short prose extracts and poems, designed to help students, within a clear framework, develop the skills of focused reading and critical commentary – skills they will be called upon to demonstrate within most national and international pre-university literature examinations. This is the introductory prose (fiction) unit from that course. The poetry equivalent is also published in the WordSmith Guides series. Both make full use of the innovative SCASI structure (Setting, Character, Action, Style and Ideas), an invaluable tool for the analysis of not only short pieces of literature but also whole works. This is also the Student Edition of the resource: the suggested responses to the study tasks are located in a separate section at the end, so that teachers can dispense them to students as they see fit, for the purposes of self-assessment. In the Teaching Copy they are included in the body of the unit.

This stand-alone resource is taken from the opening section of the increasingly popular 280-page ‘Reading Between the Lines: A Student Help Book’, a two-year course in the close textual analysis of non-literary prose and graphic communication, designed to help students, within a clear framework, develop the skills of focused reading and critical commentary – skills they will be called upon to demonstrate within most national and international pre-university language or language and literature examinations. This is the introductory unit from that course. It makes use of the universal CAPS (Context, Audience, Purpose and Style) structure to explore factual and persuasive writing, and other forms of non-literary communication including graphic. This is also the Student Edition of the resource: the suggested responses to the study tasks are located in a separate section at the end, so that teachers can dispense them to students as they see fit, for the purposes of self-assessment. In the Teaching Copy they are included in the body of the unit.

This 141-page resource supports teachers and students working towards GCE A Level, IB and AP examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – while challenging students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides essay questions in the style of all three examination systems. From an AP Central Teachers’ Resources Review: “The first of several differences from Spark, Classic, Monarch, or other guides is that the Wordsmith Study Commentaries are much longer. Another is the personal voice assumed here – reassuring, conversational, and encouraging.” It is available in both a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: A Macbeth Commentary: Teaching Copy‘ and with the ISBNs 978-1071216903 and 1071216902 .

This 156-page Commentary is a companion resource to the Teaching Copy (q.v.). The only difference is that the suggested responses to the study tasks have been relocated to a separate Answers Booklet at the end of the resource file so that teachers may withhold them if they wish, or dispense them on an ongoing basis so that students can explore the play for themselves, then undertake a self-assessment process and at the same time deepen their understanding of how the play (and drama in general) ‘works’. This version of the resource, as does the Teaching Copy, effectively supports preparation for GCE A Level assessment, as well as IB and AP. It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: A Macbeth Commentary: Student Edition‘ and with the ISBN 979-8613412419.

This 254-page Commentary is a companion resource to the Teaching Copy (q.v.). The only difference is that the suggested responses to the study tasks have been relocated to a separate Answers Booklet at the end of the resource file so that teachers may withhold them if they wish, or dispense them on an ongoing basis so that students can undertake a self-assessment process, and at the same time deepen their understanding of how the play (and drama in general) ‘works’. This version of the resource, as does the Teaching Copy, effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. Purchase will allow one copy to be held on computer, and one print copy to be made. It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: A King Lear Commentary: Student Edition‘ and with the ISBN 979-8613412419.

This 141-page resource supports teachers and students working towards AP and IB examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – while challenging students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides essay questions in the style of AP and IB. From an AP Central Review: “The first of several differences from Spark, Classic, Monarch, or other guides is that the Wordsmith Study Commentaries are much longer. Another is the personal voice assumed here – reassuring, conversational, and encouraging.” It is available in both a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). The resource effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: A Macbeth Commentary: Teaching Copy‘ and with the ISBNs 978-1071216903 and 1071216902. .

This 156-page Commentary is a companion resource to the Teaching Copy (q.v.). The only difference is that the suggested responses to the study tasks have been relocated to a separate Answers Booklet at the end of the resource file so that teachers may withhold them if they wish, or dispense them on an ongoing basis so that students can undertake a self-assessment process, and at the same time deepen their understanding of how the play (and drama in general) ‘works’. This version of the resource, as does the Teaching Copy, effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. Purchase will allow one copy to be held on computer, and one print copy to be made. It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: A Macbeth Commentary: Student Edition‘ and with the ISBN 979-8613437337.

This 145-page resource supports teachers and students working towards AP and IB examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – while challenging students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides essay questions in the style of AP and IB. From an AP Central Review: “The Guide includes fine ‘Commentary’, ‘Overview,’ and ‘Student Response’ sections, as well as practice commentaries. It has recently been revised to become more interrogative – less commentary, more questions that call for students to do the discovering.” It is available in a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). It effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: An Othello Commentary: Teaching Copy‘ and with the ISBNs 978-1071227701 and 107122770X. .

This 165-page Commentary is a companion resource to the Teaching Copy (q.v.). The only difference is that the suggested responses to the study tasks have been relocated to a separate Answers Booklet at the end of the resource file so that teachers may withhold them if they wish, or dispense them on an ongoing basis so that students can undertake a self-assessment process, and at the same time deepen their understanding of how the play (and drama in general) ‘works’. This version of the resource, as does the Teaching Copy, effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. Purchase will allow one copy to be held on computer, and one print copy to be made. It has recently been republished in paperback under the title ‘Study Guide: An Othello Commentary: Student Edition‘ and with the ISBN 979-8613457779.

This stand-alone resource is taken from the opening section of the highly regarded 215-page ‘Writing Unseen Commentaries: A Student Help Book’, a two-year course in the close textual analysis of short prose extracts and poems, designed to help students, within a clear framework, develop the skills of focused reading and critical commentary – skills they will be called upon to demonstrate within most national and international pre-university literature examinations. This is the introductory poetry unit from that course. The prose (fiction) equivalent is also published in the WordSmith Guides series. Both make full use of the innovative SCASI structure (Setting, Character, Action, Style and Ideas), an invaluable tool for the analysis of not only short pieces of literature but also whole works. This is also the Student Edition of the resource: the suggested responses to the study tasks are located in a separate section at the end, so that teachers can dispense them to students as they see fit, for the purposes of self-assessment. In the Teaching Copy they are included in the body of the unit.

This 280-page Commentary is a companion resource to the Teaching Copy (q.v.). The only difference is that the suggested responses to the study tasks have been relocated to a separate Answers Booklet at the end of the resource file so that teachers may withhold them if they wish, or dispense them on an ongoing basis so that students can explore the play for themselves, then undertake a self-assessment process and at the same time deepen their understanding of how the play (and drama in general) ‘works’. This version of the resource, as does the Teaching Copy, effectively supports preparation for GCE A Level assessment, as well as IB and AP. The resource has been provided in both .pdf and Word format to provide maximum flexibility. A Library Edition (paperback) has been recently published under the title ‘Study Guide: A Hamlet Commentary: Student Edition’ with the ISBN 78-1097725236 (enter in any Amazon Search box).

This 198-page resource supports teachers and students working towards GCE A Level, IB and AP examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – while challenging students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides essay questions in the style of all three examination systems. From an official AP Central Teachers’ Resources Review: “A superb teacher’s resource: it offers a beautifully structured plan for a curriculum unit on Lear.” It is available in both a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). A Library Edition (paperback) has recently been published under the title ‘Study Guide: A King Lear Commentary: Teaching Copy’ and with the ISBN 978-1071193921 (enter in any Amazon Search box). .

This 254-page Commentary is a companion resource to the Teaching Copy (q.v.). The only difference is that the suggested responses to the study tasks have been relocated to a separate Answers Booklet at the end of the resource file so that teachers may withhold them if they wish, or dispense them on an ongoing basis so that students can explore the play for themselves, then undertake a self-assessment process and at the same time deepen their understanding of how the play (and drama in general) ‘works’. From an official AP Central Teachers’ Resources Review: “A superb teacher’s resource: it offers a beautifully structured plan for a curriculum unit on Lear.” This version of the resource, as does the Teaching Copy, effectively supports preparation for GCE A Level assessment, as well as IB and AP. The resource has been provided in both .pdf and Word format to provide maximum flexibility. A Library Edition (paperback) is now available under the title ‘Study Guide: A King Lear Commentary: Student Edition‘ and with the ISBN 979-8613412419.

This 288-page Commentary supports teachers and students working towards AP and IB and examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – but challenges students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides a bank of essay questions in the style of both AP and IB. The resource effectively promotes the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. From an official AP Central Teachers’ Resources Review: “The guide’s inquisitive spirit and sharp, intelligent attention to the play’s language and to theatrical features and ‘mechanics’ – pacing, silences, and staging possibilities – set this guide way above the ordinary.” It is available in both a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). It has also has been provided in both .pdf and Word format to provide maximum flexibility. A Library Edition (paperback) has recently been published under the title ‘Study Guide: A Hamlet Commentary: Teaching Copy’ and with the ISBN 979-8606091416 (enter in any Amazon Search box).

This 223-page resource supports teachers and students working towards GCE A Level, IB and AP examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – while challenging students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides essay questions in the style of all three examination systems. From an official AP Central Teachers’ Resources Review: “The guide’s inquisitive spirit and sharp, intelligent attention to the play’s language and to theatrical features and ‘mechanics’ – pacing, silences, and staging possibilities – set this guide way above the ordinary.” It is available in both a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). It has also has been provided in both .pdf and Word format to provide maximum flexibility. A Library Edition (paperback) has recently been published under the title ‘Study Guide: A Hamlet Commentary: Teaching Copy’ and with the ISBN 978-1097725236 (enter in any Amazon Search box).

This 198-page resource supports teachers and students working towards AP and IB examinations. It is a line-by-line analysis of the play at a level, and in a manner, that all senior students will find accessible and engaging. It asks, of each scene, ‘What’s really happening here?’ and offers detailed answers – while challenging students, by means of brief but penetrating writing tasks, to find answers of their own. It also provides an essay bank of questions in the style of AP and IB. The resource effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6. From an AP Central Teachers’ Resources Review: “A superb teacher’s resource: it offers a beautifully structured plan for a curriculum unit on Lear.” It is available in both a Teaching Copy (this one) and a Student Edition (with a separate Answers section at the end). It has also has been provided in both .pdf and Word format to offer maximum flexibility. A Library Edition (paperback) has recently been published under the title ‘Study Guide: A King Lear Commentary: Teaching Copy’ and with the ISBN 979-8606091416 (enter in any Amazon Search box). .