Welcome to Our Class Wiki for English Language A
English A will provide students with the skills to respond to a variety of texts as well as develop a critical approach to literature. The class will provide a variety of opportunities to communicate formally and informally in both written and oral formats; enhancing understanding of their own culture and those of others, which advances a deeper understanding of human nature. There will also be opportunities to read for enjoyment!
There are four main units that we will focus on during this year:
Unit 1: Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Unit 2: Animal Farm, by George Orwell
(including a study of persuasive speech making)
Unit 3: Every Word Counts: The Short Story
Unit 4: Poetry in Motion
Unit 5: Macbeth, by William Shakespeare
Link to the Purple Duck here…
Writing Tips
First of all, if your problem is the organization of ideas into a coherent essay (which is what Criterion B is all about), here’s a scaffold to help you. This is not the only way in which to plan and organise a literary essay, but it’s an example that could certainly help you get your ideas in order.
Know what to say but don’t know how to say it? Below is some help for writing those important essays.
Take a look at this list of words that describe the tone of a piece or of a character.
And to use the right kind of literary language that is appropriate for literary criticism (it’s even mentioned in the rubric!) use this further list of words below to help you. Don’t try learning them all at once, but refer to the list every time you write a piece of literary criticism and use them as you need them.
Literary Terms (for prose texts)
Still not sure what literary device you have discovered? Check Literary Devices here!
Here’s more information about how to achieve the right tone of formality needed in a literary essay (if you want to get up into the 9-10 band for Criterion C).
Make those all-important links between ideas, both between and within paragraphs, with connectives.
Chart of connectives and conjunctions
Check your grammar!
Raise your level of vocabulary.
For creative work, have a look at this advice before you begin.
Finally, here’s a good idea to improve your writing: READ! The more you read, the more comfortable you will feel with expressing your own ideas in your own way. Here a list of fiction recommended for Grade 10 by English teachers in the UK. See what’s in the library, or make a Christmas list! You may not like all of them (I don’t) but you will like some.
Enjoy the year. If you have anything to say, remember the comment area below the line on each unit page. Use it, and start a conversation.