Starter quiz
- In 'Small Island', which character is scared they will be left behind?
- Celia
- Gilbert
- Hortense ✓
- Elwood
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- Which word beginning with 'A' describes the hope or ambition of achieving something.
- 'aspiration' ✓
- Which one of these sentences does not use a fronted adverbial to develop the comment?
- For example, "I cannot be the fool who is left behind again."
- More specifically, it reveals the connection between identity and ambition.
- Hortense and Gilbert make a pragmatic decision to marry. ✓
- Additionally, Michael punishes Hortense for what she has done.
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- Which one of these sentences does not use a comparative conjunction?
- Similarly, Hortense also believes that Michael is coming to rescue her.
- Gilbert expresses his concern over marrying Hortense, saying "it's a tough one". ✓
- However, Elwood appears much more cynical.
- Whereas, Mrs Ryder sees the hurricane as an exottic experience.
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- Starting with the first, put these events from Act 1 of 'Small Island' in chronological order.
- 1⇔Hortense and Mrs Ryder react differently to the hurricane
- 2⇔Michael leaves to join the RAF
- 3⇔Gilbert joins the RAF, but it does not live up to expectations
- 4⇔Hortense and Gilbert marry. Queenie and Michael have a relationship
- 5⇔Gilbert leaves for England aboard HMT Empire Windrush. Queenie is pregnant
- Complete this quote from Act 1 Scene 7 in 'Small Island': "England is my ..."
- 'golden life.' ✓
Exit quiz
- What are the key words in this essay question: How does Edmundson explore the themes of power and identity in Act 1 of 'Small Island'?
- How ✓
- Does
- Power ✓
- Identity ✓
- Act 1
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- Match the key words from the essay question to what it is asking you to do.
- How⇔Analyse Edmundson’s use of language and structure ✓
- Edmundson⇔What are the writer’s intention? ✓
- Power and identity⇔What ideas are there around these concepts in Act 1? ✓
- What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
- To introduce the main characters
- To provide supporting detail
- To state the overarching argument supported by the entire text ✓
- To conclude the essay
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- What is the function of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
- To summarise the entire essay
- To state the paragraph's main idea ✓
- To provide examples and evidence
- To conclude the paragraph
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- Which of these create a checklist for an excellent thesis statement?
- Start of essay ✓
- Focusses on a character
- Supported by whole text ✓
- Establishes overarching argument of essay ✓
- Offers a quote
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- Match the features of an essay to its description.
- Thesis statement⇔Overarching argument, supported by the whole text. ✓
- Topic sentence⇔It states the paragraph’s main idea. ✓
- Supporting detail⇔References to the text which support your topic sentence. ✓
- Main quotations⇔Quotations which support argument and require analysis. ✓
- Concluding sentence⇔The final sentence of a paragraph. ✓
- Conclusion⇔Sums up your essay’s overall thesis. ✓
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Annotating an essay question is a good way to understand the focus.
- A thesis is a clear overarching argument supported by the whole text.
- An effective thesis statement will focus on the big ideas and make reference to the whole text.
- Topic sentences start each paragraph and will focus on a specific character or moment in the text.
Common misconception
That planning is not something that needs to be practiced.
What are the benefits of practising planning over writing whole essay responses? Not only is planning a very important part of the writing process, but an efficient way to practise essay writing.
Keywords
Idealistic - viewing something as perfect even if the reality suggests something different
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
Aspiration - a hope or ambition of achieving something
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