Most students will be studying for two GCSEs:

English Language

English Literature

Key Dates

Literature Component 1 Tues 22 May 9am (2hrs)

Shakespeare & Poetry Anthology

Literature Component 2 Fri 25 May 9am (2hrs 30)

1914 Prose/Drama, 19th Century Novel & Unseen

poetry

Fortnightly revision sessions:

Tuesday, Week 1.

Afterschool – 3.10-4.10 (Miss Creswick 3.00-3.30)

With usual English teacher, in usual teaching room.

What is important in Literature?

• Plot

• Theme

• Character

• Poetry Anthology and 19th Century Prose - Context

Structure of exam is similar in certain parts:

• Shakespeare, Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry have 2 questions.

• 19th Century Prose and Post 1914 texts have one longer essay.

Missing Words

• ‘I wear the ____ I _____ in life’

Replacing Words

• And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.

Colouring Words

• "Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!“

Displaying Quotations

Plot and Character

• Focus on breaking this down into the main areas:

e.g. Chapter, Acts and Scenes. Work in 3s or 5s.

• Get students to re-tell these to you

• For character, word on 3s and 5s, too. What are the main events they link to? Who do they interact with?

Theme and Context

Comparison

Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry

Comparison

Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry

AO2 – Close Analysis

Games!

Revision Guides

• All available online

• Any guides on the Literature texts will be useful

• Many will be non exam board specific so be wary about the ‘essay’ suggestions

Key Dates

Language Component 1 Tues 05 June 9am (1hr 45)

Reading Fiction & Narrative Writing.

Language Component 2 Fri 8 June 9am (2hrs)

Reading Non –Fiction & 2 x Transactional Texts

(writing).

What is important in Language?

Reading

• Understanding how writers use language.

• Information retrieval.

• Using terminology to describe language.

• Evaluating statements about language.

• Comparing how information is presented.

Writing

• Adapting writing to suit form, purpose and audience.

• Cohesive structure.

• Ambitious vocabulary.

• Accurate spelling.

• Varied sentencestructure and types.

Component 1

✓ Fiction Reading (60 -100 lines)

✓ Five questions

✓ 1 hour

Component 2

✓ Two non-fiction texts (19th

and 21st Century)

✓ Six questions

✓ 1 hour

Reading

Split the text by the lines each question looks at

Revise comparative

connectives

List…

How does the writer…?*

What impression…?

Evaluate….

Compare….

*this will require a discussion of the techniques used by a writer

Don’t simply label everything!Use terms to enhance analysis.

Compare…

Be clear about which text is being written about –use the writer’s surnameor the type of text (article, website, blog...)

Supporting your child when revising for the

READING paper.

• Timings – how much is each question worth?

• Question types and what is being assessed for each.

• Writers’ techniques – learn terminology.

• Encourage them to read and discuss.

• Practise, practise, practise! Students have booklets of sample papers.

Component 1

Prose Writing.✓Choice of 4 questions✓45mins

Component 2

Transactional Writing.

✓ 2 compulsory tasks

✓ 2 x 30mins

Writing

Supporting your child when revising for the

WRITING paper.

• Timings – speed planning.

• Practise, practise, practise!

• The Choice• The Broken Promise. • Write about a time when you couldn't find something, or

someone. • Continue the following: He knew this would be his last

chance. • The Outsider

Top Tips:

• Small number of characters

• Short time frame

• No James Bond style action sequences that involve high speed car chases or kidnap plots!

• A specific genre can be used – but don’t use the exam as an opportunity to try writing in a style you’ve never tried before!

• Clear beginning, middle & end.

Possible tasks:ArticleReviewReportLetter (formal or informal)Speech

AudienceVoicePurpose

Teachers will give students example questions that they can use.It’s also easy to make them up.

Confident use of a range of punctuation.

Sentence variety & Structure.

Spelling & Vocabulary – back to basics.

Useful websites:

• GCSE Pod

• BBC Bitesize

• Spark Notes

• Victorian Web

• Shmoop

• Quizlet (flashcard generator)