The Candy Skins - Wembley

As advertised in class! LOADS of stuff on TT for you now... get on it!

Achieving the A*

All - I've updated TT with a video about how to achieve the A* for writing - it's in the Writing skills playlist - www.youtube.com/user/cheneytakeaway Have a look - even if you aren't aiming for the A*, there is still some useful stuff here, with advice and examples. See you! Mr Boulter

Link to AQA site and TARGETING REVISION

All - here's a link to the bit of the AQA website which stores the past papers for English Language. http://www.aqa.org.uk/index.php?763&tx_rgtabs_pi1%5BshowAsFirst%5D=2 It's got a good few examples from over the last few years; unfortunatley it doesn't have much on Paper 1 Section A due to copyright - the only paper it has is the one about the police that we did for mocks. Still worth revisiting this though. One further thought - lots of you are using Takeaway Teacher and linked resources to revise. My advice is to make sure that you revise in a TARGETED way, which means that you are choosing to revise and work on the areas which you need to improve. You need to look back to your mock exam analysis and feedback and consider the following: - which areas of the exam did you do less well on, and which resources will help you to improve these areas? - Do you need more work on Reading Skills or Writing Skills (there are playlists for each on TT)? - What were the targets that I set you, and what targets did you set yourself as a result of the year 11 mocks? What can you do to act on these targets? Have fun and see me if you want further help, Mr Boulter http://www.youtube.com/user/CheneyTakeaway

Videos

All - new OMAM videos are available on here: http://www.youtube.com/user/bm124 WATCH AND MAKE NOTES! Many thanks, Mr Boulter

The Ode Less Travelled!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099509342/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=009179661X&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0ARYTRFZ4QP762FJ27EJ

Takeaway Teacher - Writing - flair

Essay feedback

Hi all,
Here's your essay feedback, to go with the sheets I gave you in class. Please watch and take notes.
When you've done that, in Friday's lesson you need to use the website www.wix.com/teacherinmypocket/english to revise - I would suggest that you start with one of the Other Cult poems, but then move on to the Writing Skills or Lit Poetry.
For each video, you should aim to get at least 5 key points down - don't try to make notes on everything, but pick out the points that you hadn't previously considered or found particularly interesting / useful.

Mr Boulter

Homework this weekend

Hello all,

In a change to the homework advertised on the sheet I gave you (and linked in a previous post) this weekend you need to write the Writing to Argue / Media coursework replacement piece about reality TV. The planning frame is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dQNkPA6X06oRp2F1gXxHx6by2cYwTFIkXfV7cXQ2PAY/edit?hl=en#

Remember: if you are intending to resubmit this to replace your MEdia piece, make sure you spend longer on it and make it a polished piece of writing. If you are keeping your current Media piece, you need to spend only 45 minutes and do it as an exam practice.

Here's the link to the specification, towards the end of which you'll find the marking criteria for this piece - it's the EN3 Media assignment. http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/pdf/AQA-3702-W-SP-11.PDF

Have a great weekend,
Mr Boulter

Amazing new YouTube sensation!

Year 11 - I've no idea who this is but it is amazing! ENJOY!

Mr Boulter

Coursework Clarification

Hello everyone,

Further to our discussion regarding coursework on Friday, I will just confirm that if you are intending to improve or re-do any pieces of coursework, this needs to come in during the first week of next term. I know a number of you were intending to improve your Change pieces on the back of the feedback you've had, so I look forward to these coming in.

Thanks,

Mr Boulter

Hi all,

Here's the link to the presentation from today's lesson, which includes your essay title and guidance on how to go about planning and structuring a response.

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0ATrONjBAh1q7ZGQ4dGt0OHdfN2ZqN3Q0Z2Zz&hl=en

While I'm here, if you want to see some examples, they are available here:

http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/qp-ms/AQA-3712-H-W-CEX.PDF

There's an A* response on p 31, and an A grade response on page 42, so do have a look at these if you are stuck for ideas.

Your essay is due on the first day back, and you should aim to spend one hour on writing this - 15 minutes longer than the Of Mice and Men essays you've done.

Finally, don't forget to use www.wix.com/cheneyenglish/gcse for all your revision needs, or indeed this: http://www.youtube.com/user/bm124 for video revision of all the poems.

Have a great hols by the way!

Mr Boulter

Homework Essays

OK - well done everyone for today, and I hope you enjoyed 'Golden Friday'. Homework essays are to choose from:

1) Do you regard OMAM as a tragic novel?
Write about:
- what seems tragic about the novel to you, or not
- how Steinbeck makes the novel seem tragic, or not

2) Write about the ways Steinbeck uses animals in OMAM.

3) Many readers find that OMAM is a sad book. How far do you agree?

4) Read the passage at the beginning of Section 6 of the novel and then:
- write about the ways the writer uses details in this passage to make the reader think about the characters, events and ideas in the novel
- write about the ways the writer uses details in this passage to prepare the reader for the ending

Look forward to them!

Thanks
Mr Boulter

Links and stuff

Hi all,

Thanks to Emily for finding this link to an audio version of OMAM online - here it is: http://www.dedicationtechnologies.com/oman/ Also, don't forget the department website, www.wix.com/cheneyenglish/gcse and also this one www.wix.com/teacherinmypocket/english which has some brilliant videos to watch and target your weaker areas (sample here):



Best to watch the vid, write down what you learnt, watch it again, and check you've got everything you need.

Looking forward to essays tomorrow, and a MASSIVE well done for EVERYONE GETTING THEIR ESSAYS IN LAST WEEK! Only three slightly missed deadlines (you know who you are!!!).
Mr Boulter

Homework help

Hi all,

To help with your homework this weekend, follow this link: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/qp-ms/AQA-3712-H-W-CEX.PDF
This takes you to some sample essays, including the A grade one I gave out in class. Also, this link: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/qp-ms/AQA-3712H-W-MS-JUN08.PDF takes you to the mark scheme, including the sheet I gave you in class.

The essay question is:
How does Steinbeck make us feel sympathy for Lennie in Of Mice and Men?
Remember to spend 45 minutes on the actual writing, but you may want to spend longer on preparing your ideas.

Look forward to receiving them,
Mr Boulter

Welcome to 2011 and the best year of your school life!

Well, sort of. Should be a good summer anyway, once you get the pesky exams out of the way...

Points I'd like to make:

1) Well done on your mock performance, which was generally very encouraging I thought! The most important thing is that you understand which areas were your most successful and which were weak, and that you know what you need to do to sort this out.

2) I hope you're ready to work! Now that mocks are out of the way, we really need to kick on with the Literature element, studying the novel and the poetry in detail, before returning to some Language revision nearer to the exam. THIS LINK will take you to a document showing you exactly what we'll be studying in class, and also giving you your homework tasks. I'll give it you in class also. Can I also say, though, that we have to be able to work in a way which doesn't put too much pressure and stress on ourselves (I'm counting myself in this as well as you!)... part of being a successful student is recognising that some stress is OK, but being able to manage time, work sensibly, take breaks, remember to take opportunities to switch off and enjoy yourselves, and keep things in perspective!

3) You are going to be writing a lot. That's writing in class, and writing at home. This is not because I am an evil masochist who enjoys seeing people suffer, but because it is simply the most effective, guaranteed way to ensure that you succeed. So make sure you approach this with a positive attitude, get into a habit of writing at a particular time in the week, and put in the hard work you need to get the rewards.

Right, see you all soon, hope you had a lovely Xmas and all that,

Mr Boulter

ps- an amazing, yet to be decided on prize to whoever correctly identifies the bird!