GCSE English Information Evening

1. GCSE English Information Evening Wednesday 18th September 2019 Claire Jackson Head of English c.jackson@sa.sat.coop

2. Parents/carers: How do you see your children revise?Pupils: How do you revise?

3. Importance of English English, as a subject teaches vital skills in writing, reading and Spoken Language. It develops pupils in inference and using different forms of communication successfully and effectively. All further education centers will ask for a Grade 4 as a minimum in English. Grade 4 is a C- and Grade 5 is a strong C currently. Pupils who do not achieve a Grade 4 in English will have to continue the course and re-sit in ANY further education provider. Therefore it is in the best interest for pupils to pass English the first time.

4. English Literature Paper 1 – 1hr 45 mins Paper 2 - 2hrs 15 mins Section A An Inspector Calls Section B Power and Conflict Poetry Section C Unseen Poetry and comparison Section A Shakespeare – Macbeth Section B Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

5. English Literature Question Types The exam questions will either deal with an extract and the text as a whole OR a question about the text as a whole.

6. Timing Timing will be key for ALL English Literature and Language exams. Your overview of the Literature and Language Exams break down timings for each question in the exams and even further, time for planning the pupils’ responses in the exam. Pupils practise the timed response in lesson but revision should feature heavily around timed responses. Especially English Language where a lot of the skills learnt in class need to be continually practised in timed conditions at home.

8. Revision Methods 1 – Flashcards 2 – Revision Guides 3 - Dice Games 4 – Mind Maps 5 – Quizzes 6 – Timed Responses

9. Flashcards Flashcards are an excellent way to revise with a partner, in groups or with parents or carers. Flashcards should be centred around characters, themes, poems and scenes. Each flashcard has room for a brief summary and key quotes around the subject – try to aim for 5 key quotes. You can use them to test yourself or others can hold the cards asking for sectional information.

10. Revision Guides Revision Guides are available online for £5.95 and are available for all modules of the exam. The Guide looks at each text's language, form and structure. It also provides example essays and practise questions. Be careful not to passively read the revision guides. An excellent way to use them is to have a blank piece of paper with a topic heading. Write as much as you can about the topic, then in a different colour add any additional information when actively reading the revision guide. Next time you do this there should be less information in a different colour as you are revising and remembering more.

11. Dice Games Dice are created using the net cubes. The names of the poems, characters, acts or themes are written on the faces of the dice and thrown – you then have two minutes to write as many quotes, information links to themes as you can about the topic. When using for the poems, throw two dice together and then you have two minutes to make as many comparative points as possible between the two poems. This allows pupils to simulate the pressure of timed conditions in exams and the limited time they have for planning.

12. Quizzes Take a card at random, write 5 questions based on the named poem, character, theme or act for your partner to answer. This works well in paired revision. The pupil writing the questions is revising and testing their knowledge by writing accurate and relevant questions. The person answering the questions is revising through the questions set by their partner. This again allows pupils to work at speed and become accustomed to the timed conditions of the exam.

13. Timed Responses This type of revision is very important – it is important to keep practising timed responses. It will allow pupils to get used to timings – the single most difficult part that pupils fail on in the exam. It allows pupils and understanding of the amount of time actually required and how much they can actually write in that time. Pupils should aim to do a timed response every 1/2 weeks to ensure they are consolidating their revision and can receive constructive feedback from their teacher.

14. Revision Aids username: shrewsbury@audiopi.co.uk Password: audio Literature

15. Theatre Productions The texts studied in English are well-known and popular. As a result there are many theatres that will put on productions of the texts. This may be an excellent opportunity to re-visit the text in a new and exciting way.

16. Getrevising.co.uk • Register • Study planner • Enter dates for exams • Create exams – Lit 1 and Lit 2, these could be broken down further into AN INspector Calls, Poetry, Unseen, Macbeth/Romeo and JUliet and so on… • Add Lang 1 and Lang 2 as well • Put in deadlines like completing a timed paper or response. • Put in hours worth of revision needed. • You can put in your activities or commitments.

19. Exam Dates English Literature 13th May (am) English Literature 21st May (am)

20. Any Questions?