Strategies for improvement and ideas to enrich your learning

English

What should you do to improve your work in this subject?

The following points are based on securing a Level 7 in English. Should you be working below this, or exceeding this level, please refer to the criteria provided by your subject teacher.

Writing- Aim to:

  • Write confidently, adapting work appropriately and imaginatively to suit the purpose and the audience.
  • Develop character and setting within narrative writing.
  • Give clear points of view, and take into account different perspectives in your non-fiction writing.
  • Carefully craft your writing ensuring grammatical accuracy.
  • Spelling should be correct- even that of complex, irregular words.
  • Use paragraphing and correct punctuation to make the sequence of events or ideas coherent and clear.
  • Use paragraphing accurately to ensure a truly organised text that has a whole text cohesive feel.
  • Use a variety of punctuation effectively to aid meaning.

Reading: You should:

  • Articulate personal and critical responses to poems, plays and novels.
  • Show awareness of the thematic, structural and linguistic features of a range of texts.
  • Understand why some texts are particularly valued and influential; this is your literary heritage.
  • Select, synthesise and compare information from a variety of sources.
  • Select appropriate textual evidence to analyse and support points made. (Continue to develop your use of the PEE technique to fully analyse the language from your selected evidence).
  • Understand the ways in which meaning and information are conveyed in a range of texts.

Speaking and Listening: Aim to;

  • Speak confidently in all situations, even those that are new.
  • Use vocabulary precisely and creatively to interest listeners.
  • Organise speech so as to communicate clearly.
  • Make significant contributions to discussions and evaluate other people’s ideas.
  • Use Standard English confidently.
  • Use intonation to make your talk more meaningful.

Additional Enrichment Ideas

  • Take a trip to the theatre.
  • Always aim to do further research and reading about the topic that you are studying or on the work completed in class.
  • Vary the authors that you choose.
  • Deliberately choose a book from a genre that you do not normally read.
  • Deliberately choose a book that will ‘stretch’ you.
  • Collect vocabulary and make your very own personal vocabulary bank to use in your work.
  • Watch a film version of a favourite novel.

Recommended Reads

These are a sample of the books suggested by the School Librarian. A full list, along with a guide to more challenging books, can be found in the library or on Studywiz.

GIBBONS, AlanLegendeer Trilogy - Phoenix faces the evil Gamesmaster

SAGE,AngieSeptimus Heap books - spellbinding

Adventures.

HOFFMAN, MaryStravaganza - City of Masks - a magical time travel tale set in a parallel 16th century Venice - part of a series.

LE GUIN, UrsulaEarthsea novels- an ancient world of wizards and magic.

HIGSON, CharlieSilverfinetc - young James Bond adventures.

LAWRENCE, CRoman Mysteries series - murder mysteries set in Ancient Rome

HOROWITZ A.Stormbreaker - espionage, involving a 14 year old reluctant MI6 spy, Alex Rider (Choose any Horowitz books).

MUCHAMORE, RThe Recruit - first in an exciting series of spy stories, C.H.E.R.U.B. recruits children as spies.

THOMPSON, KCreature of the Night

CASSIDY, AnneLooking for JJ - explores circumstances surrounding a child murderess.

CHOLDENKOAl Capone Does My Shirts - poignant story of a boy living with his family in Alcatraz prison.

GRAY, KeithOstrich Boys - a journey of friendship.

HADDON, MarkThe Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time - a murder mystery told from the viewpoint of a 15 year old suffering from autism.

BLACKMAN, MNoughts & Crosses - issues of racism set in another time and place

DHAMI, NarinderBend it like Beckham - Jess, 18 and Indian, is determined to prove her parents wrong.

ELLIS, DeborahThe Breadwinner - a young Afghan girl pretends to be a boy to help her family.

COLLINSSuzzanneThe Hunger Games – a story of conflict and a battle for survival in one society’s brutal regime, played out as part of the annual hunger games.

RIORDAN Rick The Red Pyramid – two children with magical ability fight with ancient gods to right a wrong that affects the outcome of man’s survival.

Useful Websites

Films to Watch

  • The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
  • Twilight/New Moon (12)
  • Oliver Twist
  • Stormbreaker
  • Goodnight Mr Tom
  • Skellig
  • Millions
  • The Lord of the Rings
  • Shakespeare: The Animated Tales
  • Harry Potter series
  • Bend It Like Beckham
  • Sherlock Holmes (12)
  • BazLuhrman – Romeo and Juliet (12)
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (12)
  • The Hobbitt

Places to Visit

  • The Globe Exhibition – tour of the Globe Theatre.
  • RSC Stratford-upon-Avon, including Shakespeare’s houses and Gardens.
  • The British Library, Euston.
  • Any screen/theatre adaptations of novels/plays
  • Art galleries.
  • The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Great Missenden, Bucks.
  • Book events.
  • The local library.
  • School Book group.

English Year 9