GCSE English Lit Taster
Rebecca Musgrave
Created on August 11, 2024
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Transcript
Starter question: Should literature be controversial?
GCSE English literature
Taster Session
Start
-I am entering year 13 this september-I study A-level maths, A-level Further maths and chemsitry -My favourite GCSE subject was history.-My favourite part of GCSE English Literature was Lady Macbeth
Maggie
- I am going to sixth form and entering year 12 this September- I shall be taking English Literature as an A level and it is my favourite subject- My favourite part of GCSE English Literature was learning about poetry
Breindead
Rebecca
- Has just completed year 11, and is going on to do A levels in September- Favourite subject is English, and is taking it next year- Favourite character from GCSE texts was Lady Macbeth
Meet the hosts
Summary
- Introduction to English Literature - Outline of the exam papers for different exam boards- Revision Resources- Revision Techniques- A Sample Lesson
Introducing English Literature
Information about what to expect and the papers for different exam boards.
Here are the AQA assesment objectives simplefied:- AO1: Write critical essays that show a clear understanding of the text, using quotes to back up points.- AO2: Analyse the writer uses how form, structure, and language to create effects.- AO3: Understand how the context influenced the creation of the text.- AO4: Make sentences grammatically coroect and use a variety of vocabulary and sentence lengths to make your point clear.How much of your final grade are each worth?AO1= 37.5%AO2= 42.5%AO3= 15%AO4= 5%
AQA Assesment Objectives
+ info
AQA Paper breakdown
Edexcel Assesment Objectives
These are the assesment objectives for Edexcel:- AO1: Write critical essays that show a clear understanding of the text, using quotes to back up points.- AO2: Analyse how the writer has used form, structure, and langauge to create effects.- AO3: Understand how the context influenced the creation of the text.- AO4: Make sentences grammatically coroect and use a variety of vocabulary and sentence lengths to make your point clear.How much of your final grade are each worth?AO1= 37%AO2= 42%AO3= 16%AO4= 5%
+ info
Edexcel Paper Breakdown
+ info
Revision Resources
What can you use to revise?
Revision Resources
The Texts
How to use
Revision guides
How to use
Resources you make
How to use
Online Resources
How to use
Revision Techniques
What are the best ways to revise for English Literature at GCSE?
Active VS Passive Revision
Revision is either active or passive. Passive revision is when you review information without actively engaging with it, including things such as reading notes or copying out notes word for word. This is ineffective as your brain does not take in information.Active revision forces your brain to think about it and understand topics. Not all active revision techniques work for everyone, however so it is important to find the ones that work best for you early on, long before GCSE exams so you know what helps you to remember things. Active techniques often take longer, but are much better for your memory.
Over time, we forget information we have learnt, as our brain believes it is unimportant. This is represented by the forgetting curve. Each time we go over something, we remember it for longer. The first time we may only remember it for a day, then multiple days, then weeks etc. This is why it is best to frequently revisit topics using spaced repition. Spaced repitition is revising topics at set intervals using your preferred studying techniques. An example of intervals you could use is you revise it the first time, then again three days later, then again a week later, then again 2 weeks later, then a month later.
Spaced Repition
Flashcards
You can use these to test yourself on various things, including:
- Quotes (Eg you could put a theme or idea on one side and the quote that proves it on the other)
- Knowing tha narrative: Having a question on one side and then an answer about what happens next on the other side
- Context: Write questions and answers about the time period
- Essay plans: Put a general theme on one side and an essay plan on the other (bullet points only). Can you remember all of the bullets?
Blurting
Blurting is a technique in which you set a timer and in that time you write down everything you can remember about a themes, the context, quotes etc from a text. Do not have notes open. You can do this as normal notes, bullets, mindmaps, add images, or whatever else helps you understand and remember the information. Then, you check your notes and write in another colour everything you forgot about that topic. This forces your brain to think about the topic and highlights the areas that need the most work. To make this even more effective, you can:-Close your notes again. After you blurt and check your notes, hide your notes again and add anything else you now know. You will still need to add anything else you forgot the second time (ideally in another different colour). - Make recall questions or flashcards on things you forgot and quiz yourself, so that you remember them in the long term.
Discussion
Discussion with others is a great way to revise for English, espcecially when discussing with others from your class or who are studying the same texts. Talk about themes, sections of the text, or characters without having your notes in front of you. Afterwards, go over any notes/ annotations that you forgot. In addition, write down any good ideas or points the other person makes.For just a memory exercise, explain a concept or theme in the novel to someone who has not studied it. Again, you should not sue your notes. Anything you can't explain, you should revise again.
Practice
Doing practice essays is a a great way to test what you do and do not know about a text, but also improve how you are structuring your essays. These are the best ways you can do this:
- Past paper- sit an entire past paper from your exam board in timed conditions. This is useful to practice the time-management and see what grade you are working at.
- One essay- take a single essay from a past paper and write it in timed exam conditions. This more time efficient than sitting a whole past paper, and still allows you to improve your essay technique. You can also target a weaker text/ question.
- One essay without exam conditions- Choose one essay from a past paper and complete it without the timed conditions and/or without your resources in front of you. This allows you to focus on just the technique of how to write the the essay, but once you understand this, you must move back to timed exam conditions.
A Sample Lesson
Get the idea of what a typical lesson would look like as we introduce a text
Macbeth- Meet The Main Characters
Macbeth- Macbeth is the protagonist, and Lady Macbeth's husband. Starts noble but slowly gives in to his 'hamartia' (fatal flaw) which is ambition. He murders the King (Duncan) to take the throne until he is overthrown at the end.Lady Macbeth- Macbeth's wife. She urges him to commit evil deeds and challenges gender stereotypes.King Duncan- The King of Scotland until he is killed by Macbeth.Macduff- A noble in Scotland. He overthrows Macbeth.Malcolm- Duncan's son, and rightful heir to the throne.Banquo- A noble in Scotland. According to the witches, his children wil be Kings. He is a threat to Macbeth.The Witches- A group of evil witches that cause chaos and trigger Macbeth's hamartia with their prophecies.
Macbeth- Basic Context
Macbeth- Analyse An Extract
What is this extract?- Act 5, Scene 1- 'Sleepwalking scene' - Lady Macbeth feels guilty about her part in murdering King Duncan
The Extract
Any questions?
Thank you for coming!
Religion
- Macbeth was written at a time of religious turmoil
- Protestantism vs Catholism
- The religion of England kept changing as the monarch kept changing
- Reformation (emergence of protestantism) began in Germany in 1516 but arrives in England in 1534 when Henry VIII created the 'Church of England'
- After the Gunpowder plot (1605), there was a fear of Catholicism because the plotters had been trying to make England Catholic again
When was Macbeth written?
- In the early 1600s by William Shakespeare
- Many elements of the play were catered to James I. For example, Macbeth's treason was punished. This is a warning not to committ treason.
- Treason was a common theme at the time because of the gunpowder plot.
- People also believed in witches at the time, especially James I. He wrote a book called Demonologie. This is why Shakespeare included 'The Witches'
What resources can you find online?
Here are some websites that have, or where you can make, onlines resources:- PMT have notes and practice questions for a variety of subjects.- Quizlet has lots of flashcards you can use for free, or you can make your own.- Study Smarter has study sets for different subjects, or you can make your own. These contain notes, flashcards, and files on that topic. - BB resources channel.- BBC Bitesize
Gender
- In Shakespearean times men were dominant and women were expected to focus on domestic duties
- Shakespeare reverses gender roles at the start of the play (Lady Macbeth is dominant)
- As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes more dominant
- This shows the approach of the restoration of the natural order
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also emphasize a specific phrase or fact that will be etched in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also emphasize a specific phrase or fact that will be etched in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also emphasize a specific phrase or fact that will be etched in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
How can you use your resources?
- Condensed resources simplify a large text and are easier to work from- Base resources on themes or characters- Quote banks, mind maps, essay plans - Make flashcards, blurt, or use other active techniques from these.- An idea is to make a table with a theme in one column, the next column containing quotes for that theme, and then the final column breifly summarises the analysis for each quote
How can you use revision guides to study?
- Get ideas that you hadn't thought of- Many contain practice questions. Complete it and get feedback.- Use revision techniques (such as blurting) for themes or characters and then check what the revision guide contains- Reccommend CGP books
How can you use your texts to revise?
- Annotations: Annotate a copy of the text as you study it in class. Include context, analysis of from, structure, and language, and ideas.- Use this to create other resources - Can use tabs (small sticky notes) to mark important points in the narrative