1. Theme and Character The Essentials

2. Outline  Now that you have heard your class mates ideas it is time to make some notes that you can use for revision.  This notes sheet will provide the ‘essential’ information, but will not be large enough to contain all of the information. This is a sheet that is designed to remind you about ideas, not be the sum total of your learning.

3. Theme  So…what is this word again?  Why are we obsessed with it in English?  How are you going to prove this?

4. The Grid  The grid that you have been given is intended to capture all of the main areas of investigation to do with theme. 1. A discussion of the general theme. 2. Description of Key Scenes. 3. Techniques that show the theme in the scenes. 4. How these techniques link together. 5. Response/Explanation

5. Task  You task is to discuss in your group the two major themes that we have looked at and complete the grid that you have been given.  Make sure that you use small handwriting. This way you will ensure that you have recorded thorough notes.  Think about the great PowerPoint Presentations that you observed. There was wonderful discussion of techniques during this.

6. Character  On the reverse of the sheet is the outline for character.  Begin this for homework tonight.  Tomorrow in class you will be given ten minutes to complete this grid.

7. The Essay  Now that you have all the information that you require, it is time to think about how you will need to use the information.  Essay revision: So what are the things that you must do when writing an essay?

8. Persistent Problems  Linking to the question (some of you continue to stray too far from the question and therefore do not receive the grade that you could)  Lack of explanation – what happens is you retell the film, novel or play, but you fail to explain your response to it, or its importance, or why it was interesting.  Errors – some of you are still making far too many errors in your essay. Particular problems – spelling, use of commas, capital letters.  Lack of specific detail. You must be using specific examples from the text (actual hard evidence). Always be thinking ‘I have to prove this!’ You need to use a range of quotes to support your points – this includes in the discussion of film.  Clear conclusions. You must ensure that your conclusions show that you have clearly answered the question and that you include a personal response – what did you think of it? How did it change the way you saw things? Why is it relevant to your own life now?

9. Reaching for the Stars (or Excellence!)  Linking the different ideas (remember transition words? Linking statements?) What we are looking for is comparisons and contrasts – show the marker that you understand how the author, director, playwright has constructed their text to effect you.  You explore the way the text effected you. You are able to acknowledge that the author intended you to think about something and can explain how they attempted to do this.  You set up a clear argument in your introduction and then focus on this and the question throughout.  Quote weave in your essay so the marker knows that you are fluent with the text.  Make interesting and insightful observations (you are always explaining what you and how you are learning things from the text).  Clear understanding of the purpose of the text.

10. Paragraph Example  What follows are two recent paragraphs that you constructed in your PowerPoints. Both are of a high level (possibly Excellence), lets look at them and see what they do really well and perhaps how they could be improved.

11. Character of Romeo The Montague's (Romeo’s family) and Capulet’s (Juliet’s family) have there own colour that symbolises them and separates them from the rest of the people in the city, this shows us that the two families are very powerful and influential in Verona. The Capulet colour is blue and the Montague colour is yellow. These two colours are on opposite sides of the colour wheel to each other, this shows us there differences. Romeo meets Juliet for the first time when they are in the bathroom at the ball. The fish tank that separates them is filled with bright yellow and blue fish which is a symbol for the two families getting along in peace but this cannot happen until Romeo and Juliet are together. The young men in the two families drive cars that are blue and yellow, this shows us that the rivalry between the two houses is carried down throughout the entire family.

12. The Theme of Fate The camera work in Romeo and Juliet shows fate in the ball scene when the camera changes pace. The beginning of the movie had a fast pace, with fast cuts, but when Romeo and Juliet meet the camera becomes much slower and more lazy, showing that its love at first sight and that they are meant to be together, which is fate. By changing the camera speed it moves from the shallow life of the Capulets and Montagues and their arguments, moving to something that affects everyone. It’s also slow when Romeo and Juliet die, showing how the families are linked by love and grief, and it’s through them that everything is right again.

13. Your To Do List…  Before the essay that you will sit you need to come up with three areas that you want to focus on.  Think about what we have discussed today. Under the heading: My areas of Focus I want you to make a note of the three things that you will try and master in the upcoming essay. Choose things that you have not already mastered.

14. The Essay  Spend five minutes planning – set up your points (at least four techniques discussed), how it links to the purpose or idea, ensure you answer the question.  Remember to include an introduction, body paragraphs and then a conclusion.  Plan your essay according to the time – do not finish early, and try not to rush at the end.