Starter quiz
- In 'Small Island', what does Gilbert hope to be when he migrates to England?
- Doctor
- Lawyer ✓
- Teacher
- Bank Manager
- Surgeon
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- How does Gilbert perceive Arthur's gaze in Act 1 Scene 3 of 'Small Island'?
- With indifference
- As fixated on the color of his skin ✓
- As a sign of camaraderie
- As a gesture of respect
- That he is nosy
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- Which two words complete the description of Gilbert's room in 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1? "A __________, __________ realistic world."
- dim
- strikingly
- grey ✓
- dismal
- starkly ✓
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- Complete this description from 'Small Island', Act 2 Scene 1: “We hear a__________running over the roof of the room”
- 'rat' ✓
- In 'Small Island', what do the stage directions, "a single bed, a small table and two chairs - one of which has a broken leg and rests on an old book", suggest about Gilbert's living conditions?
- Bright and inviting
- Comfortable and spacious
- Luxurious and well-furnished
- Dilapidated and cramped ✓
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- Which answer offers the most sophisticated explanation of Edmundson's use of direct address in 'Small Island'?
- To entertain the audience.
- To foreground the experiences of marginalised people. ✓
- To ensure the audience can hear what is being said.
- To adhere to an unrealistic and melodramatic form.
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Exit quiz
- When planning for an essay on 'Small Island', what is the first step of the planning process?
- writing down all the quotations you know off by heart
- writing three topic sentences
- annotating the question ✓
- writing a thesis statement
- re-reading the text
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- What would be the key words in this essay question: how does Edmundson use the character of Hortense to explore the theme of hope?
- hope ✓
- character
- how ✓
- theme
- Hortense ✓
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- A pupil said, "Here is my thesis about betrayal in 'Small Island': Edmundson uses Act 2 Scene One to explore Gilbert's reality of the 'Mother Country." How would you correct them.
- This won't be a thesis until it includes quotations.
- This is a topic sentence, not a thesis. ✓
- Gilbert doesn't get to the 'Mother Country', so this thesis is incorrect.
- This is not a thesis as it is not supported by the entire text. ✓
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- In Act 1 Scene Six of 'Small Island', Gilbert reveals an idealistic view of London when he describes the Houses of Parliament as a...
- 'fairytale castle' ✓
- When writing about 'Small Island', you should start your essay with a thesis statement. This is...
- the overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text. ✓
- quotations which should be analysed and support the main argument.
- the last sentence of a paragraph that summarises the main ideas.
- the first sentence of a paragraph. It states the paragraph’s main idea.
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- Which word beginning with 'm' describes 'treating someone or a group of people as if they are not important.'?
- 'marginalise' ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A thesis statement is a clear, overarching argument.
- Topic sentences give focus to individual paragraphs.
- Select main quotations and supporting quotations to include in an essay.
- Main quotations should be analysed; supporting quotations don’t need to be analysed.
Common misconception
Planning is not necessary to write an effective response.
Not only is planning an efficient way to consider different questions and arguments, it also leads to more cohesive, well sequenced responses.
Keywords
Thesis - the overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text
Topic sentence - the first sentence of a paragraph- it states the paragraph’s main idea
Main quotations - these are quotations which support your topic sentence, and that require analysis
Supporting quotations - these are quotations which support your topic sentence, but don’t require analysis
Marginalise - to treat someone or a group of people as if they are not important; to place them outside of society
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