James Creamer, Alexandra Park School Example lesson 2: Evaluating writers’ viewpoints and perspectives using music texts James Creamer, Alexandra Park School

Free writing Use the words below as a springboard for writing whatever you wish (story, play description, song, rap, etc) numb trapped lonely utopia chained

Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives Learning objectives: To use the skill of evaluation to understand texts To demonstrate understanding of texts through analysis personification hyperbole metaphor onomatopoeia alliteration explicit point of view implicit infer perspective interpret simile oxymoron

make an overall judgment Reading skills When you first approach any text, you need to read it and evaluate it. This is vital to achieving success in English as well as many other GCSE subjects. You need to evaluate the text. Think: What effect is the writer trying to achieve? What does the writer want you to think and feel about the events and characters? How have they done that? what is the writer’s purpose, their intentions and the impression they want to make? the reader your opinions and emotions what techniques have they used?

Now look back on your piece of free writing. Explain to your partner: What effect were you trying to achieve? What did you want your reader to think and feel about the issue / event / characters? How have you done that?

Let’s now apply the skills of evaluation to a pop song. What effect is the artist trying to achieve? How are they positioning the audience to respond? YouTube link to Chained to the Rhythm by Katy Perry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um7pMggPnug

How has Katy Perry presented her ideas? Work with your group to annotate the song lyrics. Don’t colour it in! Do annotate for methods and effects. How does she want us to respond to the issue / idea? Let’s try one together…

How has Katy Perry presented her ideas? Are we crazy? Living our life through a lens Trapped in our white picket fence Like ornaments

How has Katy Perry presented her ideas? Use your skills of evaluation and analysis. Use the language toolkit on p3 of your GCSE booklets to aid analysis. Now get annotating!

How has Katy Perry presented her ideas? A Youtuber commented: “The writer has a really important message about the way many of us live in the modern world. It kind of makes me sad and worried.” Explain your views on this statement.

How has Katy Perry presented her ideas? In your groups you are now going to write a response to the statement. You are working together to try to beat the rest of the class to write the best evaluative response. Next lesson you will have to present your answer to the class and explain why it is the best. Winning group gets a prize.

How has Katy Perry presented her ideas? Success criteria: Present a clear view in response to the statement. Back it up with evidence. Identify methods and facts. Write one PEE paragraph in response to the statement. Explain and then evaluate, “perhaps the writer is suggesting…”