YEAR 13 LESSON 30/31/32.

The last sessions were all concerned with providing content for past AQA exam questions. These sessions contained lots of modelling, discussion of how the content should confront the focus of the assessment objectives, and how students should shape the response for Section B of the exam paper. As ever, class discussion was at the heart of all these sessions. Students were encouraged to produce as many essays as possible before the end of term.
During the half-term before the exam I will be in school on Tuesday to mark any essays you may have for me and I encourage ALL of you to e-mail me essays as we approach the exam. I will create a word document in response to any essays I receive. ESSAY WRITING IS THE KEY REVISION TOOL. All students have access to past questions so my advice is to attempt as many past questions as possible before the exam next week.

YOU HAVE BEEN A FINE GROUP. GOOD LUCK.
mrR:)(:

YEAR 12 LESSON TWENTY-EIGHT [2nd May 13]: Homework.

The session considered issues relating to THE GREAT GATSBY. The class were encouraged to consider the question:
TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS NOVEL A TRADITIONAL LOVE STORY?
Class discussion was good and we need to ensure that this sense of critical clarity appears within written work. Students were encouraged to consider Fitzgerald's aims and how he uses character as symbol to shape key ideas. Students were encouraged to digest the resources below to develop their own readings of the play and develop an awareness of the possible readings of the play. The Channel Four News interview with film director Baz Luhrmann is essential viewing.
Di Caprio on Gatsby: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22338888
The Guardian discusses Gatsby: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/30/great-gatsby-movie-fashion-wealth
More Di Caprio on Gatsby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxxrehVI0Lk
Channel Four News Baz Luhrmann interview [ watch this]:
http://www.channel4.com/news/baz-luhrmann-the-great-gatsby-film-director
Irritating bloke interviews Gatsby, Nick, Daisy, Tom and Myrtle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ2woqCbB20

HOMEWORK: Attempt the Love Story essay. Remember, next week will be a marathon session. Bring your TGG/TROTAM. We will be discussing the key areas of each text and how to shape a decent response that directly confronts the requirements of the assessment objectives. Students are beginning to offer me essays that they have attempted as extra homework. ALL students should be attempting past exam questions. Send any work to my e-mail and it will be marked before Thursday.
LOTS TO DO.

YEAR 13 LESSON TWENTY-NINE [ 1st May 13]: Homework.

The focus of this session was the use of language in Chapter 4 of Shelley's Frankenstein and how this use of language shapes meaning. The focus of the class discussion was the question:
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT VICTOR THROUGH SHELLEY'S USE OF LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER 4?
Students were encouraged to focus upon the fact that Victor's narrative is retrospective and is full of remorse and guilt. Focus was also placed on the moments within this key chapter when Victor shifts from past to present tense in order to directly address Walton. Why does Shelley offer this change in language register? Comment of the day was AxL's reference to the word 'torture' and how this word reflects Victor's view of his experiment and allows Shelley to shape the didactic nature of the text.


The second section of this May Day Extravaganza considered the Faustus exam question:
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK THAT FAUSTUS'S GREATEST SIN IS HIS MISUSE OF THE SUPERNATURAL POWERS GIVEN TO HIM BY MEPHISTOPHILIS?
This is an interesting question as it could easily be argued that Faustus does not have any power and is just a victim of Mephistophilis and his evil manipulation. Furthermore, Faustus's greatest sin is clearly the fact that he sells his soul. This is an interesting question that we will revisit next week.

HOMEWORK: Students are encouraged to produce one essay from the mass of past questions that you have been offered over the last few weeks. The Chapter Four question should be attempted by ALL students. Don't forget to access all the assessment objectives.
Next week's session will begin with a consideration of the Section B question:
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE THAT OBSESSION IS A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT IN THE GOTHIC WRITING THAT YOU HAVE STUDIED?
This question should be the focus of your reading. Bring your copies of MACBETH.