Last Minute Revision! Literature GCSE

Do not focus on what you know! Focus on what you don’t!

What are you REALLY hoping isn’t on the exam paper?

This is what you REALLY need to revise!

‘Of Mice and Men’ Assessment Objectives CWrite about attitudes/themes/ideas Write about how language is used Write about how structure is used Social and historical context PEE BAll of the above PEEE AAll of the above Include close text analysis (language) A*All of the above Include alternative interpretation

‘Of Mice and Men’ Questions These could be based on …  Attitudes, themes and ideas  Characters, their motivation, role or relationships  Steinbeck’s use of language  How the structure of the novel is used  Social and historical context and how it is relevant to the novel

Types of ‘Of Mice and Men’ Questions’ You could be given a question that asks you to focus on a section of the novel. The question could ask you to read a particular section, or it may be printed in the paper. You could be given a question with bullet points. You could be given a question without bullet points.

What don’t you know about ‘Of Mice and Men’? Write everything you know about the social and historical context and how it effects the story here. Write everything you know about the language used by the characters, and Steinbeck’s use of language here. Write everything you know about the structure of the novel and how it helps the reader’s response to the novel here. Write everything you know about attitudes, ideas, themes and characters here.

My Revision Focus Social and Historical Read your notes on the Depression. Use the PowerPoint to revise the American dream. How is each character treated differently from today because of the time the novel is set? What prejudice is present in the novel? How is the story different because of the time the novel is set? What was Steinbeck trying to show us about the era? Language Pick three characters. How does the way they speak tell the reader what they are like? Find the description of each character’s appearance. What clues does it give us about them? Find the description of each setting. What clues does it give us about what will happen next/ the kind of place it is?

My Revision Focus Structure Explain how the opening and ending of each chapter is important. Explain how the narrative is like a circle. Explain why Steinbeck did this. List all the clues you can think of to the ending of the novel. How is Candy’s relationship with the dog like George’s relationship with Lennie? How is this linked to structure. Attitudes, ideas, themes and characters What are the main themes? How do the main themes relate to the story? List all the characters. Which themes link to them? Why is each character important in the novel? Use the power point in the shared area to revise Curley’s Wife, Slim, Crooks and Candy. Why do you think Steinbeck wrote the novel?

Poetry Assessment Objectives CWrite about attitudes/themes/ideas Write about how language is used Write about how structure is used Compare PEE BAll of the above PEEE AAll of the above Include close text analysis (language) A*All of the above Include alternative interpretation

The rules for pre and post 1914 poetry… Use an A* introduction – name the poems, the poets and the key part of the question. Refer to writers and poets by their surname and never by their first name. Write about every bullet point. Use clear topic sentences to introduce each section of your essay: ‘Each of the poets uses language devices to …. Firstly…. Similarly…In contrast … Alternatively …’ Write about two pre 1914 poems, one Duffy and one Armitage poem. Always write about the named poem first for each section. Write about every poem for each section of your response. PEE for every poem for each section of your response. Compare throughout your essay, using comparison words to start sentences.

Questions for pre and post 1914 poetry These could be based on … Comparing how poets approach similar attitudes, themes or ideas. The voice, character or persona in four poems. The actions, emotions or other aspects of the people in the poems. How language is used. How structure is used. Your opinion of why the poems are successful.

Question types for pre and post 1914 poetry Your question could be … Split in to two sections a) and b). Ask you to compare four poems. Offer you a list of poems to choose from. Have no bullet points. Have ‘unhelpful’ bullet points. Stick to the rules and the assessment objectives and you will be fine.

Pre and post 1914 poetry revision Focus on the poems for your tier. For each one, write the title in the centre of a piece of paper and brainstorm the 4 assessment areas – attitudes, themes and ideas/ language/ structure/ comparisons. Complete extended brainstorms using a theme at the centre, then 4 poems, then ideas for each poem relating to attitudes, themes and ideas/ language/ structure/ comparisons. How is language used in each poem? How does the structure of each poem support the way language is used? How is structure used in each poem? How does the language of each poem support the way structure is used? Annotate questions. Invent some questions – then practise planning them. Timed planning.

This weekend … Reread the novel and the poems. Learn the ‘rules’ for each paper and the assessment objectives. Work through the Literature PowerPoints on the shared area. Read your sample questions – practise annotating and planning questions in timed conditions. GOOD LUCK Y11 – YOU CAN DO IT!