1. Welcome to GCSE English

2. A Question 3 Masterclass!

3. What do we need to look for then?
Look for 4 key moments in the text
The beginning
The next stage
Identify a shift in focus/mood/pace etc
What next?
The ending
Ask parents to divide their paper/white board into four sections. Use the support cards to help you.

4. Watch this sequence from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
What details does the director draw our attention to in the film?
How does the structure of the sequence make it interesting?
Get parents to use the whiteboards

5. Set the scene: darkness; old man alone, vulnerable – trigger: the light
Caretaker investigates: walks to the house, hears whispers…
The snake: confirmation of impending danger; caretaker doesn’t heed the signs…
Caretaker gets killed

6. Structure of the scene – graphic form
Which section takes up the most time?
Why do you think this is?
Why is the death scene so quick?
Why cut back to the kettle?
Additional task if interested

7. Any questions?
Explain that this is a new skill that the government have introduced into GCSE English. It’s important to give students as much exposure to this as possible.

8. The four key moments… 1. The opening What’s happening?
What’s the focus?
What’s the writer trying to do/show?
Does the opening foreshadow anything?
What’s the effect on the reader?
3. The next stage …
What’s happening?
What’s the focus?
What’s the writer trying to do/show?
Effect on the reader?
Has there been a shift in focus/pace etc?
Why has the writer done this?
What is the effect of this shift on the reader?
2. The next stage …
What’s happening now?
What’s the focus now?
What’s the writer trying to do/show?
Effect on the reader?
Has there been a shift in focus/pace etc?
Why has the writer done this?
What is the effect of this shift on the reader?
Print copies for each parent.
4. Conclusion
What’s happening? What is the writer focussing on?
Has anything changed?
Does the end link back to other parts of the text?

9. The writer … Some key words to use when discussing structure
Opens with /At the beginning…
foreshadows…
establishes…
‘s viewpoint…
‘s perspective…
Focus on/focus shifts to /focus narrows to…
An the second half of the extract…
At this point…
These two paragraphs juxtapose/contrast/contradict each other…
Zooms in on…
Cuts to…
Shifts…
Concludes with…
The ending reminds us of/sums up the idea that…
The writer …
Print a copy for parents
These phrases should be used to develop students’ confidence when discussing structure