'Flipped Learning' Tutorials for Mock Preparation

Over the next six lessons you are expected to watch one of the following tutorials in advance of each lesson...

Preparing to improve Q1 (AQA Higher Tier English):

Preparing to improve Q2 (AQA Higher Tier English):

Preparing to improve Q3 (AQA Higher Tier English):

Preparing to improve Q4 (AQA Higher Tier English):

 

Preparing to improve Q5 (AQA Higher Tier English):

Coming Soon

Preparing to improve Q6 (AQA Higher Tier English):

5 Top Tips for Q5 &6 - higher and foundation.

1. Make sure that you plan:

2. Use a range of Punctuation accurately:

3.Vocabulary

Learn some impressive words here http://www.geoffbarton.co.uk/files/student-resources/GCSE-A*/GB-Top-level-vocab.pdf 

Revision tip - type a paragraph and put it into 'Wordle' this will give you an over-view of the range of words you are using. Aim to improve these words if they seem dull.

4. Structure. Think about the structure of your work as it will impress the examiner if it is clear that you have thought about it. Think about hooking the reader and maybe leaving information to the end, use cliff-hangers or end with a thought-provoking statement.

5. Finally, use language techniques. Work out the GAP (Genre Audience and Purpose) and then tailor your writing accordingly. For example if it is asking you to be descriptive use similes, metaphors and imagery or if it asking you to be informative, use facts and statistics, etc.

An Inspector Calls- Key Quotes

Mr Birling

‘heavy looking, rather portentous man’   
‘a hard‐headed practical man of business’
 ‘Yes, my dear, I know – I’m talking too much.’
 ‘perhaps we may look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together’ 
‘The Germans don’t want war’ 
‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ 
‘mixed up together like bees in a hive’
‘community and all that nonsense’
 ‘a man has to mind his own business and look out for himself and his own.’ 
‘I know the Brumley police officers pretty well’
 ‘This is Gerald Croft, the son of Sir George Croft’
 ‘the wretched girl’s suicide’ ‘she’d had  a lot to say – far too much – so she had to go of course.’ 
(Eric)‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble. That’s why.’
 ‘I must say Sybil, that when this comes out at the inquest, it isn’t going to do us much good.’ ‘The whole story’s just a lot of moonshine.’

Mrs Birling 

‘Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things.’
 (To Sheila) ‘when you’re married, you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.’ 
(To Inspector Goole) ‘You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago...’ 
‘Girls of that class.’ 
(On Eric’s drinking) ‘he’s only a boy.’ 
IG to Mrs B ‘ You’re a member, a prominent member, of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organization, aren’t you?’
 ‘We’ve done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving causes.’ 
‘I didn’t like her manner. She impertinently made use of our name.’ 
‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’ 
IG to Mrs B. ‘She came to you for help at a time when no woman could have needed it more.’ ‘She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl of her position.’ 
‘I blame the young man. He ought to be dealt with very severely.’

Gerald

(To Sheila) ‘I hope I can make you as happy as you deserve to be.’
Mr B to G. ‘I have an idea that your mother – Lady Croft ... feels you might have done better for yourself socially.’
(Sheila to Gerald) ‘Except for last summer when you wouldn’t come near me.’ ‘My God! ...I’ve suddenly realized – taken it in properly – that she’d dead!’
‘I didn’t install her there so I could make love to her.’
‘I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.’ 

Eric

‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.’
(Mrs B) ‘You stole money!’
‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble. That’s why.’
‘You killed her – and the child she’d have had too – my child’
‘You’re beginning to pretend as if nothing’s really happened at all. And I can’t see it like that. The girl’s still dead, isn’t she?’
‘we helped to kill her.’ 

Sheila

‘except for all last summer when you never came near me.’
In response to mother’s comment that women must get used to their husbands working all the time: ‘I don’t believe I will.’
‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.’
‘I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse.’
‘She was very pretty and looked like she could take care of herself.’
‘I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet.’
‘I know I’m to blame and I’m desperately sorry.’
‘he’s giving us rope so that we’ll hang ourselves.’
‘You were the wonderful fairy prince. You must have enjoyed it, Gerald.’ 

Inspector Goole

'We’re respectable citizens and not dangerous criminals.
Sometimes there isn’t as much difference as you think.'
'This girl killed herself—and died a horrible death. But each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it. But then I don’t think you ever will.'
'There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, with what we think and do. We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.'

Thank you to BBC Bite Size for the pictures.

Five More Things You Must Revise For English...

1. The types of questions on the paper. 

Look through past papers and familiarise yourself with what is asked and how it is asked. Look up any words and phrases which may confuse you such as:
How does the writer present,..
This is asking you to look for how the writer uses language techniques to achieve his or her purpose.
How is language used for effect
This is asking you to explain how language has an effect on the reader - try to link this to the overall purpose of the text and identify language techniques where possible.
Explain the ways, 
Again, this is asking you to explain techniques used by the writer to achieve their purpose.
'What do you understand' and 'What do you learn..'
These questions are testing your comprehension of what you have read, the question will want you to read between the lines, make inferences and be perceptive. This type of question does NOT require you to analyse language.
Find past papers here on the AQA web site http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-4705/past-papers-and-mark-schemes

2. Semantic Fields

A semantic field is a set of words grouped semantically (that is, by meaning), referring to a specific subject. If you can identify a semantic field of words in a piece of writing it could help you to reach the top band of the mark scheme (see below):

offers a full and detailed understanding of the texts in relation to language

You could also refer to it as a lexical field: a group of words referring to the same topic, e.g. ‘flames’, ‘damnation’ and ‘hell’. This is most worth commenting on where there’s an interesting contrast, e.g. love described as ‘war’ - something unexpected which shows us a strange truth about love: it can be hurtful, violent, you can feel destroyed, etc.

This normally highlights a particular mood.
How to write about it: ‘flames suggest it is burning, unstoppable, and links to the idea of ‘hell’. The semantic field of 'hell' suggests that this is moral evil, not just a bad situation.’

Thank you to http://englishtutorhome2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/how-to-get-a-or-at-english-language.html for this definition. Revise other subject terminology to impress the examiner by following the link.

3. Link your revision - practising Q4 skills will also help your literature analysis and vice-versa.

Remember, when approaching language analysis, always ask yourself, 'Why has the writer chosen that word?' and 'What effect does it have on the reader?'.

 

4. Always Plan!

For Q5 and 6, use the first page of your answer paper to dedicate to a detailed plan. This will help you to get marks for the structure of your work. Watch this video about how to plan effectively:

Thank you helpmemrdavies!

5. Learn how to use compound, complex and simple sentences and use them all in the first paragraph to create a great impression on the examiner! Mr Davies can help you to revise this too...

 

 

 

Mr Pilsel's Explain Everything Videos for the Conflict Poems

1. The Charge of The Light Brigade

2. next to of course god america i

3. Flag

4. Futility

5. Bayonet Charge

6. Mametz Wood

5 Ways to Revise the Conflict Poems...

1. Work through the notes and videos on BBC Bitesize. Click on the picture below:

2. Download this revision guide, which will also help with the unseen poetry. Thank you to http://www.icknield.beds.sch.uk:

3.Watch some online tutorials, This is a good place to start:

4. Learn how to decide which poems to compare and look at past Unit 2 question papers:

5. Read through the poems and your annotations and colour code them under their main themes. You can find these themes in the CGP revision guide:

Explain Everything Videos-Foundation Tier English Language

The Explain Everything videos have been produced to allow you to learn how to answer exam questions in your own time, by watching videos recorded by your own teachers. We recommend that you watch them several times, as you approach your exam on the 2nd June.

Question 1a

Question 1b

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Explain Everything Videos-Higher Tier English Language

The Explain Everything videos have been produced to allow you to learn how to answer exam questions in your own time, by watching videos recorded by your own teachers. We recommend that you watch them several times, as you approach your exam on the 2nd June.

Question 1

Question 2 

Question 3

Question 4

Ten Ways To Revise 'An Inspector Calls'...

1. Make sure that you know the plot... 

Re-read the whole play, or if you're a bit short of time watch this excellent summary of the plot on BBC Bite Size:

2. Make sure that you understand the context of the play; this is important to any question that may be asked...

Portchester School has an excellent YouTube clip to help you with this:

3. Understand the character of Mr Birling and Priestly's use of dramatic irony...

'Titanic...unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable' - Mr Birling

#Helpmemrdavies has a great lesson on YouTube which explains this really well and in an entertaining way:
Link To Video Clip - Birling's Toast 

4. Learn key quotes...

Write down key quotes for every character and theme - learn them to save time in the exam.

Watch this video for really useful tips on how to achieve top-band marks:

5. Revise the characters...

Click on the picture to watch a YouTube tutorial:

6.Revise the themes of the play...

Blast through them all in the blink of an eye- with these short pod-casts:

7. Look at past papers and mark schemes...

Practise answering the question in the time allowed. Click on the picture to go to the AQA web page...

8. Search for revision resources online...

A good example can be found at http://www.langley-sec.solihull.sch.uk/ - Click on the picture to find the resource:

9. Purchase a revision guide...

Follow the link in the picture to Amazon.

Watch the film again and make notes on how drama is created at various points in the plot...

Any questions or tips of your own? Add comments below...

10 Ways to Revise 'Of Mice and Men'.

1. Make sure that you know the plot. Click below to watch a plot summary...

2. Make sure that you understand the historical context of the novel  -this will enhance your answer to any question that may be asked. Portchester School has a series of extremely useful revision clips...

3.Revise the characters. Click on this picture to find handy revision cards to print out...

4. Search for resources online. Here is a revision booklet which you can download. (Thank you www.icknield.beds.sch.uk)

5.Watch the film again and think of a topic to make notes on as you watch it -e.g. 'How does Steinbeck present the relationship between George and Lennie?'

6. Look at past papers and mark schemes. Practise answering the question in the time allowed. Click on the picture to go to the AQA webpage...

7.  Think about the structure of the novella. Mr Bruff explains this really well here...

8. Think about how to structure your answer to get the highest marks...

9. Purchase a revision guide. Follow the link in the picture to Amazon...

10. Watch the Thug Notes version for a different approach...

Any questions or tips of your own? Add comments below.

If you only revise 5 things for English Language Unit 1...

1. Learn DAFOREST for Q6 and language analysis questions:

2. Create and learn a list of words to help you analyse and explain:

3. Learn different ways of starting your sentences. For example, use connectives:

4. Learn when to paragraph and how to use basic punctuation accurately:

5. Give your teacher homework! Practise past papers and hand them in to be marked. Get past papers here: