Unit Lesson Intentions

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Unit Lesson Intentions

• To recognise how setting is used
• To structure a critical essay

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Talking in WhispersPlanning a critical Essay
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Success Criteria

• To write a suitable introduction
• To write three main points about setting used in
  the novel with the correct structure.
• To write a suitable conclusion

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Lesson Intentions

• To identify key words from the essay question
• To learn how to use the essay question to plan
  your response.

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Essay Question

• Choose a novel and show how the writer uses
  setting to highlight the key concepts and aspects
  of character in the opening chapters of that
  novel.
• Task Copy out the essay question above in
  full in your jotter and underline the words which
  you consider to be the most important in the
  question.

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Understanding and Using the Essay Question

• Choose a novel that you have read the beginning
  of in which the setting is an important aspect.
• show how the writer uses setting to highlight key
  themes and aspects of character in the opening
  chapters of that novel.

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Understanding and Using the Essay Question
Continued.

• Choose a novel that you have read the
  beginning of in which the setting is an important
  aspect.
• show how the writer uses setting to highlight key
  themes and aspects of character in the opening
  chapters of that novel.

• Talking in Whispers
• Opening three chapters
• Country of Chile in 1980s
• The setting is used to show the dangerous and
  volatile situation, the fear that the people live
  under
• The setting is used to highlight the theme of
  totalitarianism, oppression and fear
• The weather is used to reflect the mood and
  situation of Andres

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Lesson Intentions

• To learn how to structure a critical essay
• To write an introduction for a critical essay

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Critical Essay Structure

• Critical essays always have the same structure.
  (Essentially a beginning, a middle and an end).
• Introduction
• 3-5 Key points
• Conclusion

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Essay Plan and Structure

• Paragraph 1 Introduction
• Paragraph 2 - Plot Summary
• Paragraph 3 Key Point 1
• Paragraph 4 Key Point 2
• Paragraph 5 Key Point 3
• Paragraph 6 - Conclusion

Main body of essay
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Main body of essay
Look at the work we did using the essay
question. What aspects of setting in relation to
the novel could we consider that will make up
each of our key points?
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Key Point

• Point 1 will be about how the setting highlights
  the dangerous and volatile situation in Chile.
• Point 2 will be about how setting is used to show
  the fear/oppression in Chile
• Point 3 will be about how the weather reflects
  the mood and situation of the main character.

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Writing an Introduction
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Starter Activity Solo Work 5mins

• Work alone to answer the following questions and
  write your answers down
• 1. What is the purpose of an introduction?
• What do you think you should include in an
  introduction of a critical essay?
• Why is it important to write a good introduction?

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INTRODUCTION - In the introduction, include the
key information about your text Start with Tarts

•  
• Title,
• Author
• Reference to the essay question,
• Techniques that you will be writing about.
• Summary of the plot
•  

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Introduction T.A.R.T.S

• Title Talking in Whispers
• Author James Watson

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Refer to Question

• Use the key words from the question to help you
  say what your essay will do
• Try to avoid saying I will... or I am going
  to...
• Use formal language - no slang!

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Techniques

• Tell the reader which techniques your essay will
  examine.
• Dont mention techniques you dont write about.
• We are studying a novel Techniques will
  include characterisation and setting used to
  highlight theme.

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Introduction Exemplar 1

• I am going to tell you about a novel called
  Talking in Whispers by James Watson. In it
  Andres is on the run from the security forces and
  he meets two puppeteers that he joins forces
  with. James uses characterisation to show the
  reader the theme of oppression.
• Task What has this candidate done well and how
  could they improve on this attempt?

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Introduction Exemplar 1

• I am going to tell you about a novel called
  Talking in Whispers by James Watson. In it
  Andres is on the run from the security forces and
  he meets two puppeteers that he joins forces
  with. James uses characterisation to show the
  reader the theme of oppression.

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Introduction Exemplar 1

• I am going to tell you about a novel called
  Talking in Whispers by James Watson. In it
  Andres is on the run from the security forces and
  he meets two puppeteers that he joins forces
  with. James uses characterisation to show the
  reader the theme of oppression.

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Why the introduction isnt very good!

• Doesnt refer to the question!!!
• Plot Summary is poor and irrelevant to the
  question
• Doesnt mention the technique of setting
• There is no contextual information about the
  setting.
• There is no mention of the fact that it is just
  the opening three chapters that will be
  considered.
• It has little or no style!

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Exemplar 2

• Talking in Whispers by James Watson is a
  powerful and claustrophobic novel set in Chile in
  the 1980s. In Chile at this time the people live
  in constant fear of the totalitarian government
  with little freedom. In the opening chapters
  Watson uses the setting of Chile under this
  regime to convey the theme of the dangers of
  totalitarianism. In addition, Watsons skilful
  use of setting assists the reader in
  understanding the climate of fear and oppression
  that the people live under daily. Also, his
  detailed use of setting allied with sensitive
  characterisation reveals important aspects of the
  central character of Andres in the early part of
  the novel.

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Introduction

• Task
• Write a good introduction for your essay
  remembering to use T.A.R.T.S. (Leave the plot
  summary for now, we will come to that later.
• You may use the sentence below to help you
  start.
• Talking in Whispers by James Watson is a
  powerful and claustrophobic novel set in Chile in
  the 1980s.

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Summary of Plot

• This should be very brief (No more than 8 jotter
  lines)
• It should take an overview of the novels themes,
  plot and characters.
• It should be focused towards the essay question
• Task
• Try writing a short summary of Talking in
  Whispers now in your jotter.

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PEARLs of Wisdom

• Yes you guessed it your ever-thoughtful English
  teacher has only came up with another fantastic
  mnemonic to help you with writing critical essay.
• This time for structuring key points
• In this essay on Talking in Whispers you will
  therefore need 3 pearls of wisdom because there
  are 3 points.

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Key Point P.E.A.R.LS OF WISDOM

• Each key point will have the same structure
• Point Topic sentence that introduces the point
  you are making
• Evidence Quotation from text to support the
  point you are making
  introduced properly by giving the context.
• Analysis Explanation of how quotation supports
  your point and
  comment on any relevant techniques
• Relate to Question Refer to question and
  explain
• How the quotation and analysis relate to the
  question.
• Link A sentence to link to the next key point.

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Lesson Intentions

• To learn how to introduce a quotation properly.

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Introduction to Quotation

• Remember you have to introduce the quotation
  properly by giving the context of the quotation.
  DONT simply write, for example . . . or Here
  is a quote . . . because this is tedious for the
  marker to read and boring for you to write.
• Instead you should give the context what is
  happening at the time and who provides the
  quotation.

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Lesson Intentions

• To learn how to write effective topic sentences.

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Point (Topic Sentences)

• A Topic Sentence is used to introduce the Point
  that you are making in each paragraph.
• To write a good topic sentence you should
  include
• An opener such as firstly, additionally,
  moreover, or finally
• Relevant words from the essay question
• Task Try to write a suitable topic sentence for
  each key point you will write.

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Lesson Intentions

• To learn how to select relevant evidence from a
  text
• To learn how to analyse evidence from a text
• To learn how to ensure you answer the question
• To learn how to link ideas in an essay.

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Selecting Evidence and Analysis

• Look at the evidence and analysis tables and try
  to fill in any blanks. There is a table for each
  Key Point you will write in the essay.
• Key Point 1 You have various sections filled in
  and you have to complete the table.
• Key Point 2 You have the quotations selected
  for you and you have to complete the other
  sections.
• Key Point 3 You have to fill in the whole table
  using the notes you took on the weather and
  Andres previously.