Merry Christmas!

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to wish you all a super Christmas and well-deserved break. I'm sure you've all been working really hard and are well into the synoptic unit.

Did I hear correctly that my replacement teacher has gone??? If so, I will try and answer any questions you might have...remember I care very much about how you all progress :)

If you haven't already, make sure you read Sebastian Faulks 'Birdsong' as this will provide you with a really throrough understanding of WW1 and act as a good framework from which to form opinions of the other writers you encounter.

The following is quite a good site:
http://www.firstworldwar.com/ - make sure you check out the primary documents. You should have been provided with a booklet I put together for my Yr 13s last year...if you haven't been given it ask Mrs Beverton (as I provided her with a copy, as well as my replacement teacher) for a copy....worst case scenario, ask in the library as they have a scanned copy of it (it has a picture of Lord Kitchener on the front cover....it contains many different resources and some learning activities for you).

Craig and Paul....work on these guys and get them using this blog as a resource and forum!!

Take care guys...I'll check on you all in a few days time and hope that someone has seen this :) 10 days until baby Robb arrives!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs R

More work from Moi

seeing as i haven't posted anything on here for a while i thought I'd leave some more of my poetry that I've been doing recently. i hope you all like and enjoy this one, it kinda means a lot to me. again, this one has no title so suggestions would be appriciated.

I don't think you will
ever fully understand
how you've touched my life
and made me who i am.

I don't think you could ever know
just how truly special you are
that even on the darkest nights
you are my brightest star.

I don't think you will ever comprehend
how you've made my dreams come true
or how you've opened my heart
to love and the wonders it can do.

You've allowed me to experience
something very hard to find
unconditional love that exists
in my body, soul and mind.

I don't think you could ever feel
all the love i have to give
and I'm sure you'll never realise
you've been my will to live.

You are an amazing person
and without you i don't know where I'd be.
Having you in my life
completes and fulfills every part of me.

Pauls Poetry Palace lol

Hello Gang.

This is another bit o poetry I've cooked up. Sorry for any offence this poem may cause :)

Baa Humbug
Over the years I’ve had many requests,
Had many a party,
many a guest
Many a buxom blonde have asked for my hand
While we dance slowly to the smooth jazz band
"No!",
every time is what I’ve said: "why don’t you marry that guy instead?"
Because when they ask me the thought comes instead, not of their...
Perfect breasts,
But arguing!
From the top of the bed
And our two kids wishing that they were dead
In fact,
I think I’ll go shag a sheep instead.

Baa Humbug.

Oooohhh! You guys....!

Thank you so much for your lovely card and yummy chocolates. I'll really miss this class and your lively discussion...who knows...if I have a son I may even call him...well I'm sure you can guess.

I may moonlight on here from time to time to see how you're all going, so you may not have seen the end of me just yet!

Ollie - here is your coursework topic. I hope this matches with what we discussed in class this week :)

Compare the presentation of hope in George Orwell's novel 1984 and Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road.

Week 6 - Final coursework topics

Following feedback from the English KS5 Advisor, please see your approved coursework topic below:

Yr 13 A2 Coursework Topics

Student
Coursework topic:
Bates, Lauren
Compare the presentation of the treatment of the individual by their society in the novels One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey and J.D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye.

Kyle, Belcher
Compare the presentation of the idea of the totalitarian state as presented in Adolus Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s novel 1984 .

Clement, Damon
Compare the presentation of the exploration of the future by novelists Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and George Orwell’s 1984.

Davies, Sophie
Compare the presentation of how the idea of religion has been explored in the science fiction novels Dracula by Bram Stoker and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Dewick, Jessie
Compare the presentation of the representation of women in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea.

Fields, Craig
Compare the presentation of social class and historical context in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and Ian McEwan’s Atonement.

Harding, Alice
Compare the presentation of the use of diction in _______ A Clockwork Orange and Irvin Welsh’s Trainspotting.

Holden, Oliver
You need to see me this week to finalise your topic; otherwise discuss this with Mrs Latif or Miss Thrussell!

Newbegin, Paul
Compare the presentation of the narrative style and use allusion in Angela Carter’s novel Wise Children and John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things.


Stone, Beau
Compare the presentation of tension by the novelists Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley Dracula and Frankenstein.

Vardy, Grace
Compare the presentation of political satire in George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Joseph Heller’s Catch 22.

Wallduck, Lucy
Compare the presentation of the representation of identity in different cultures in the novels A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and The Reluctant Fundamentalist by ______.

Our last lesson together is tomorrow (Wednesday)...

A quick note from your new teacher.

Hi everybody!!
I just thought I would say hello and let you know that I am online and here to help.
Miss Thrussell.

Something to think about

DAMON

Week 5 - Essay due Wednesday

Thanks so much to everyone for presenting really intelligent, interesting and well-researched seminars on your assigned poems. I really have been impressed with your efforts, and am continually struck by how much effort some of you are putting into your studies. This augers well for the remainder of the year, and I will be eager to hear of your progress even when I'm on maternity leave...so please maitain your efforts so we can all celebrate together next August when thos results come through :)

Essay:

How does 'Tintern Abbey' demonstrate Wordsworth's belief in nature's importance in the development of the individual's mind?

Discuss with reference to Romanticism and at least one other poem you have studied.

Date due: Wednesday 1/10/08

(I suggest you consolidate your understanding of the poem by reading the additional notes on the poem in the booklet)

Good luck!

In tomorrow's class I will be asking for final numbers of students who wish to do an English re-take (later in the year).

Please come to class ready to complete the necessary form, and know that you will have to pay £15 per unit. This money must be paid directly to Ms Markly in the administration office by 10th October. It is your responsibilityt o ensure you have:

• provided me with your details tomorrw (I'll pass these onto Ms Markley), and
• to pay Ms Markly by the aforementioned date.

I'm looking forward to your seminar presenttaions tomorrow!

Missing essays

The following students have not yet handed in their essay (due Wed Wk 3):

• Damon
• Jessie (printing issues??)

Please ensure you bring it along with you on Monday to our lesson in the library. I don't want you falling behind.

All students will have the chance to discuss coursework progress with me, and to give me your final coursework topic. Please be ready to do so.

Week 2 - Preparation for poetry seminars next week

Please read the following poems as they will be presented in our Poetry Seminar next Wednesday:
Lines.... p.85
Lines left upon a Seat in a Yew-Tree p.30
The Foster-Mother's Tale p.26
Lines written near Richmond, upon the Thames, at Evening p.97
The Last of the Flock p.72
Anecdote for Father's p.56
We are Seven p.59
The Nightingale p.32
The Mad Mother p.78
Expostulation and Reply p.99
The Tables Turned p. 101

Week 1: Yr 13

Welcome back...our onward journey to success and greater knowledge continues!

I have still received only ONE research assignment - you had a month last term to be working on this, as well as the summer break. I will not mark any work submitted after Friday.

Essay:

Justify the inclusion of 'The Female Vagrant' in Lyrical Ballads. Suggest how this poem links with one other poem we have studied.

In your essay you should address:

• Romanticism (definition, dates, etc)
• Social/cultural/historical context
• all Assessment Objectives - refer closely to the marking criteria on p.2 of your green Reader.

Ensure you include the essay question typed on the top of your essay.

Date due: Monday 8th Sept.

Reminder: Coursework

You need to complete reading your novels, and prepare a possible task question to submit and discuss with me by the first lesson in Week 3. We need to be working on your coursework regularly so you have sufficient time to edit and refine your work.

Congratulations!!

Wow - congratulations on some excellent AS results!! Many of you have made a brilliant start to your A level studies and are well on the way to success in 12 months time :) I'm super-keen for us to maintain the momentum.

I look forward to seeing you all in our double lesson, p3 & 4, on Wednesday (tomorrow).

Please ensure you bring along your research assignment on the context and content of Lyrical Ballads - I will be marking your work this week as we begin our great dive into some more fabulous poetry, and your research in this task will underscore your understanding of Texts in Time.

Exam on world war one literature

Does anyone know what books we should read? Do we have to read any in particular?

Help! I need some body HEEEEEELP!

Help!

I'm still a tad confused as to what books to read =(

Also what was the research task?


Love Paul!

Celebration dinner!

To mark the end of a year of hard work, meet us for an evening of fun and celebration:

Date: Wednesday, 9th July
Time: 5:30pm
Location: 'Dragon Garden', opposite McDonald's.

For those of you absent from Monday's lesson, you need to catch up on 'The Convict' - it is your responsibilty to catch up on missed lessons.

Many of you still owe me an essay! Please bring it to class on Thursday.

Reminder: your research assignment is due first lesson back next term (Yr 13!!)

English Coursework

Hey everyone, I was just wondering if anyone else had the same problem as me in finding what books to use for their coursework. I found it quite hard and first thought of playing it safe by going with 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein', which is what i put down to do. Although thinking about it today, i realised that i should do some books which i will enjoy. So I've decided to go for a genre that interests me and the two books I've chosen are; 'Blackout' by Chris Ryan and 'Black Wind' by Andy McNab. Just wondering what your views are on these books (if you have any) and if you think they should be good for this c/w. Both are Military based and i was going to compare the two different styles.

OH MY GOD, WE HAVE TO GO TO THIS!!!

HAMLET IS ON AT THE DONMAR WAREHOUSE IN LONDON WITH JUDE LAW IN IT!!!!!1

This is the link:http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/pl87.html

Missing Teacher!

Hello all,

Apologies for the VERY late notice - I have just been informed that I am needed in a planning meeting today, so won't be there for our lesson.

So...in my absence, could you please conduct some research into why Coleridge was so fascinated with the supernatural (as evidenced in his poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner').

Top stuff - let's discuss it on Thursday :)

lyrical Ballads

with all this talk of the 'Romanticism' in 'Lyrical Ballads', it got me thinking. Maybe I could give this romantic poetry stuff a go, after all Shakespeare and Wordsworth seemed to have found it OK. so I wrote a short poem, it's nothing extravagant but it's something i quickly threw together, enjoy! =)

p.s. please give your opinion on this, good or bad. It has no title, so possible ideas will be strongly welcomed.

You make me smile on the inside,
And on the out,
Your beauty unmatched,
No doubts about that;

But to tell you I 'Love You',
I do not know,
Fear that you may say 'No',
Making me question, even though;

I love you beyond all compare,
And do hope that one day we can share,
A bond beyond being friends,
In which you and I will be together till the end.

Whilst I'm here

Just thought I'd say that i found the exam extremely reasonable, I thought the spies question on fatherhood was good, didn't like the tis pity ones but went for the extract. Finally I quite got into the Larkin one on the explosion.


=)

Text books - you need to buy these

As we move into A2 you will need to purchase the following texts for study beginning the first lesson back after half term:

• Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lyrical-Ballads-Other-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140424628/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211452888&sr=8-3

and

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamlet-Penguin-Shakespeare-William/dp/0141013079/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212396706&sr=1-7

Please ensure you have these. Mrs Latif will teach you Hamlet and I will teach The Romantic Poets. It is very important you have the exact text as indicated above, as these are prescribed by the AQA.

Enjoy your break - I'm still waiting to hear your feedback from yesterday's exam :)

today's lesson

i apparently misread the meesage send my miss and thought that we didnt have a lesson today, could anyone give me their notes of the poems we looked at, or at least some kind of summary of them, as if they come up in the exam, im screwed :D. thanks to anyone who helps.

This is it!! Your exam is this week!

I'm sure you don't need reminding that Wednesday is your exam day.

Take some time to carefully read through your past essays (both my comments and your corrections), and revise all of Larkin's poems. Refocus on the assessment objectives and ensure you can address them when writing on our poet.

After discussion with Mrs Beverton (CL), you will be provided with copies of High Windows for the exam. This is because your collection is too full of annotation. You will receive a copy of High Windows in the exam.

Use time management well, try not to make careless errors, and good luck!

I hope you enjoy a lovely half-term break, and I'll see you in June to begin A2!

Week 6 - Your exam is next week!

Unfortunately I won't be in today's lesson (Tuesday) - I was going to inform you of this on Monday but you were all busily preparing for your General Studies exam.

Please continue with your own revision, and prepare for Thursday's in-class essay. It will be on an unseen essay question, and will mimic an exam-style question.

Meanwhile, create a detailed plan for the following essay topic:

How far do you agree with the view that "Larkin's presentation of love and relationships is always pessimisitic?"

In your answer you should either refer to 2 or 3 poems in detail or range more widely through the whole collection.

(I think it's better to focus on 2-3 poems in detail)

See you Thursday!

Week 5: Fine-tune your revision

2 weeks to go :)

As mentioned in class, I was quite pleased with your timed in-class essay results, however you have another similar test again on Thursday 15th May. Please prepare thoroughly for it, and take into account my feedback from your last essay, particulary my comments on AO4 - this appears to be a weakness for many students.

• Find your critic, memorise their quote, include it in your essay
• Demonstrate wider reading (of the poems and Larking himself).

Please continue with your own revision, and practise! practise! practise! timed essays at home :)

PS. Prepare Task #2 from last week's homework (questions based on a poem you're finding difficult to understand) fro Monday's lesson. That way we can tackle areas of concern :)

Help with to the sea!

Craig F, and I are finding 'To the Sea' quite hard and we don't really understand the poem well.

If anyone has any good ideas Craigy and Me would LOVE to know =(

Week 4 - 'To the Sea' homework (2 tasks)

Just 3 weeks to go :)

Well done on sitting your in-class essay. It's important to practise timed essays so you know how hard you need to work in the exam :)

Have a look at this website for some excellent resources on Larkin - it should really help you over these final few weeks of revision: http://www.northallertoncoll.org.uk/english/litcontent/PHILIP%20LARKIN%20-student%20handbook%20mod%203.doc

Please complete the following two tasks for next lesson, Thursday 8th May (we miss Monday's class owing to the Bank holiday):

Task 1:
Prepare a close reading (your own analysis in essay form) of the poem 'To the Sea' identifying the techniques, attitudes and ideas conveyed by Larkin in the poem.

Use the following list as an aid to your study:

a) Consider the use of iambic pentameter. Is it applied rigidly or flexibly? What effects are achieved by the use of iambic pentameter?
b) Discuss techniques that help to establish the poem’s rhythm, e.g. enjambment, placement of caesura, alliteration and assonance paying particular attention to the effects achieved by Larkin’s use of sibilance.
c) Consider Larkin’s use of cadence, particularly the idea of falling cadence.
d) What is the intended effect of the parenthesis in the second stanza?
e) Consider the notion of Larkin as a detached observer. How does he feel about the scene that he is describing? You should be able to detect a range of attitudes in this poem.
f) How does Larkin invest the first stanza with a sense of timelessness?
g) Consider the use of enjambment between the first and the second stanza, what is the effect of this?
h) Are there any ways in which the rhythm of the second stanza echoes that of the first?
i) How does Larkin present the futility of human existence in this poem?
j)List the language from the poem that you think best evokes a sense of the passage of time.
k)What effects do you think Larkin is striving to achieve by the long sentence from lines 11 – 22?
l) How would you say the tone of the poem shifts after this long sentence?
m) How does Larkin’s convey the sense that he no longer feels a part of this seaside scene?
n) Consider the repetition of the image of the ‘steamer’ in the first and last stanzas. What differing effects are achieved by its use?
o)How does Larkin utilise the technique of framing in the first and last stanzas?
p)What is your understanding of the poem's final sentence?

This list is intended as a guide, not a tick list. Above all, it is your own original ideas that count most!

Task 2:
Choose a poem that you feel you do not know well and try to devise your own list of questions for that poem that you feel would help you to open up the poem for you.

Week 3 - Summer Term

Please be aware of the remining time-frame for your exams so you can organise your study schedule accordingly. We have just 4 weeks to complete our preparation!

Be familiar with all assessment objectives!

Exam dates in Week 7:

• Wednesday 21 May - Unit 1: The Modern Novel 1hr Spies
• Wednesday 21 May - Unit 3: Texts in Context 2hrs (Section A: Drama 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Section B: Poetry High Windows)

You are allowed to take copies of your Unit 3 texts in to the exam, but you cannot take your Unit 1 text.

The aim of Unit 3: has an emphasis on the context of the writer, the context of the reader, and
how the interpretation of text changes through time and according to circumstance.

The unit assesses the Assessment Objectives 1, 2i, 3, 4 and 5i, with special emphasis on Assessment Objectives 4 and 5i. Assessment Objective 4 is specifically tested in all the questions on the twentieth century texts. Assessment Objective 5i is specifically tested in all the questions on the pre-twentieth century texts.

For those who missed the essay topic from last week (due today), here it is:

Discuss Philip Larkin's use of imagery in his anthology High Windows. (You should look at three types of imagery, and refer to p33-35 in the booklet for help).

Essay on social and historical context

“Phillip Larkin’s Poetry is preoccupied by the concerns of his social and historical context”

simply put - Help

Help

I'm finding it really hard to find good critic views on Larkin.

Any one got anything good ?

Trees notes

I missed the lesson when we did tree's, could someone please post the notes, thanx sophie

GAH the essay!

ive picked my poems, but the question is weird, i would usually go through the poems explaining key bits, but this essay is about S/H and tbh all i can see that needs doing is saying where the poem gets its S/H influence from and what connotes it, i somehow doubt i can make it too 1000 words, any suggestions?

Term 2 Week 10

Many thanks to Paul, Ben, Grace, Craig, Jessie, Lauren, Charlie and Alice who attended today's AS English Enrichment. I hope the session was beneficial to you; I just wish more of you attended.

I'd love to hear any feedback from you (via a comment).

Philip Larkin Essay #4 - due 10/4/08.

Make sure you address all aspects of the marking criteria, expecially AO4... you will need to read widely to understand how other's have understood and interpreted Larkin's poetry (ie include and respond to a literary critic's comment).

I will be paying particular attention ot essay structure when marking this essay.

Have a super holiday and a well earned rest....but make sure you review your Larkin poems!

Going Going

my notes for going, going are rather thin, can anyone help me out?

cheers Ben

Dublinesque

Did I miss anything on thursday, I think it was dublinesque...

If so can anyone post notes on it! =)

Thanks

Also I'm sure I havent got my remark of King Lear, I'll swing by on tuesday

Homework from Mrs Latif...

I heard that there was some homework to do for the next lesson but didn't get a sheet. Can someone please let me know what it is in detail? 

And when was it given, as far as i'm aware, it was given today for some reason...?

Week 9 - Important info on 'King Lear' coursework

I apologise for the late notice, however following Damon's query today I have just learned from Ms Good that your final submissions for your 'King Lear' coursework is due on Thursday 13th March '08.

Underline your typed question at the top of the page. Double-space your essay.

Should anyone require assistance, I will make myself available in Room #203 Tuesday afternoon (tomorrow) until 4:30pm for consultation.

Make certain you meet the demands of the marking criteria in your essay.

Please have your essay ready to submit for Thursday (no extensions).

Useful Larkin Websites

Have a browse through the following websites:

www.literaryhistory.com/20thC/Larkin.htm
www.philiplarkin.com
www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=179
www.todayinliterature.com/biography/philip.larkin.asp
www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0828895.html
www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2624

Homework on Going, Going

I didn't write anything in my diary, if we didn't have any please tell me, same for if we did. DANKE!!

In Response To Beau

high windows i dont think is a good example of the theme being about growing old, high windows (the poem) displays more the separation or isolation of Larkin (or the persona) the tree i feel is better for the theme of growing old, the other theme i am going to write about is separation and isolation, that theme is in livings II, High windows or Friday night in the royal station hotel is a good one. Another theme that you might wanna do is the theme of death in his poems, like the explosion, sympathy in white major etc. :D

Essay

i dont no what other poems to write about in my essay, ive already got High Windows to show how the main theme of Larkin poetry is about getting old, but i dont know what one to do to show that the main theme isnt just about gettin old. any help please.

Im in :)

Huzzah.

Can somebody help me before tomorrow?

I wasn't in on Monday or Tuesday as I was ill. Was there any homework I didnt find out about and need to know of? If there was could you let me know by before 8pm, because I don't particulalry want to be doing it at about 11 o clock to night....

Cheers
Charlie

English Enrichment - Make a note to attend in your diary!

Monday 10th March Room 111 (1:30 – 2:10pm)
Research skills and effective study notes
Facilitator: Miss Good


Monday 17th March Room 203 (1:30 – 2:10pm)
Structuring and writing essays
Facilitator: Mrs Robb

If you're interested in improving your English skills, then come along :)

The Lost Larkin Tapes

I've found the Radio 4 broadcast with Larkin reading his poems.

LOST TAPES CLICK HERE

Enjoy!

Thanks alot!!!

Many thanks for all the help with Sad Steps it was much appriciated!

Additional notes on 'Sad Steps'

Have a look at the following website to aid your understanding and appreciation of 'Sad Steps'. It directs you to see the relationship between Larkin's poem, and its predecessor in Elizabethan poet Philip Sidney, especially concerning the imagery of the moon. You should use this to update your notes on this poem. What connections can you make?

Could everyone post a sentence about this please.

http://www.literaryconnections.co.uk/resources/larkin.html

I hope this helps, Paul.

Essay # 3 - Larkin (Texts in Time)

Past Paper question: January '07

How far do you agree with the view that "growing old is the main theme of Philip Larkin's High Windows"?

In your essay you should refer to either two or three poems in detail, or range more widely over the whole collection.

Date due: Monday 10/3/08 Please refer to handout in class (Tuesday) for marking criteria.

[I would strongly urge you to focus on 2 - 3 poems in detail as this will allow you to demonstrate your detailed knowledge of the poems. Perhaps you could briefly mention 1 or 2 other poems).

The Explosion notes

Hi, I wasn't in last Thursday can someone please post the notes for The Explosion, thank-you Sophie

In reply to Craig's Poetry ask

This is only for you Craig!!!

From The Branch That Got Cut Short: By Paul Newbegin

From the branch that got cut short:
could have grown an acorn
BUT
Out of a van, came a nasty man
With a pair of those big scissors in his hand
Chop, Chop, Chop
The tree could of taken in lots of CO2
But now It’s totally out of view
The kids also have nothing to do
As their
Tree house got cut down by the nasty man too!
Chop, Chop, Chop.

Sad Steps

Erm I was wondering if I could have a little look over a different set of notes on 'Sad Steps'.

Mine are a bit poor,

I didn't particularly 'Get' that one.

Fantastic work Craig!

Well done to Craig for taking the initiative and setting up this blog for us! This will be an invaluable tool for us to share our ideas, questions, and resources, and to check homework, research assignments, and a forum to discuss all aspects of our Sixth Form studies.

Keep tuned into the blog - I look forward to hearing your poetry presentations on Phillip Larkin in class tomorrow.

Again - thanks Craig!

Hello

I'd just like to welcome you all to the A-Level English blog. This blog is intended to aid you with your A-Level work assisted by our teachers and the students who you work with. Please do not hesitate to ask questions, this is what this blog is all about and whilst it aids you, it also may aid someone else who may not be brave enough to ask for help.Other information will be made available ASAP. I'm just in the process of gathering it.