how to write an unseen prose essay gcse

However, the last seven years have been years of droughtless beneficence. Firstly, do not worry about the fact that it is a piece of unseen prose. We then start to notice that there is usually a lot more of one category than the other and see if we can link that back to the title/opening line. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. etc.’ I’d make it clear that there were no daft questions/responses at this point but still I’d tend to get the more confident kids raising issues and asking the right kind of questions. ‘The Emigrée’ by Carol Rumens – A Guide (AQA Power & Conflict poetry), Falling to pieces: common mistakes with AQA Language Paper 1 – Q3 Structure, I Only Have Eyes For You: Themes of perception in GCSE English literature. Todorov’s theory is meant to deal with whole texts, so, given that unseens are usually openings, we are only usually dealing with stages 1 and/or 2. MARK ROBERTS – Mainly writing about teaching English and teaching boys. After that we start to look at whole extracts, in terms of tone/atmosphere/mood (thanks to @MrsAMinett for pointing out that I’d missed this pretty vital ingredient of an unseen off my last list). What narrative style is used? Unseen texts often come with very few instructions. Most pupils will spot that we are dealing with an everyday, run-of-the-mill, down-at-heel (insert cliché of your choice) kinda place. But I find it really useful precisely because it has big gaping holes in it. Being unified. Let’s now look at the opening line to Brighton Rock: ‘Hale knew, before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him.’. I’m their. Change ). Which bits don’t you understand? The next thing that I’m working on involves archetypes. What is the significance of ending the extract at this point? Interesting conversations like this crop up: Student B: But ‘united’ can just mean being together. This can be worrying if you are not really sure what the examiner or interviewer is expecting. Your teacher will give you reading activities which you can carry out on your own, in pairs or in larger groups. In your examination you will be asked to analyse and evaluate an unseen nineteenth-century prose extract. ( Log Out /  And that, really, is all. The poems written about are Alan Bold's 'Autumn' and Billy Collins' 'Today' and attained full marks. Revision notes for students studying unseen prose as part of CCEA GCSE English Language. So I now give them a post-it and ask them to imagine they’ve just got this extract in an exam. An essay at this level: - shows effective writing skills - is well organized and well developed - uses details clearly and properly to support a thesis or illustrate ideas - displays consistent ability in the use of language - demonstrates variety in sentence structure and proper word choice. Are they intrusive or an excluded narrator? Based on the book Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson. They raise cattle and sheep, grow wheat, milo, grass seed, and sugar beets. Because we have clearly jumped straight past Equilibrium and have landed on Disruption… unless you are going to argue that in the seedy, dog-eat-dog world that Hale inhabits a possible assassination passes for Equilibrium. You can also stick some narrative hook stuff in here. But as a general rule, it’s a good idea to start simple when introducing Todorov. Yes. Read about our approach to external linking. Unless you include, as one must, the Holcomb School, a good-looking establishment, which reveals a circumstance that the appearance of the community otherwise camouflages: that the parents who send their children to this modern and ably staffed “consolidated” school – the grades go from kindergarten through senior high, and a fleet of buses transport the students, of which there are usually around three hundred and sixty, from as far as sixteen miles away – are, in general, a prosperous people. ( Log Out /  Teaching the new GCSE English language unseen prose extract – some strategies January 31, 2016 ~ markrobertsteach Last time I wrote about some of the common problems pupils face when faced with an unseen prose extract. Examine the way that Winterson shapes meanings. You’ll obviously want to stamp down hard on the phrase ‘It make makes the reader want to read on’. Thanks for reading. Setting - What does the setting offer to the piece of prose? I feel so left out because everyone else in m class knows how to write a solid essay that ensures them their targets and the sad thing is I am in the higher set. Up on the highway, there are two filling stations, one of which doubles as a meagerly supplied grocery store, while the other does extra duty as a cafe – Hartman’s Cafe, where Mrs. Hartman, the proprietress, dispenses sandwiches, coffee, soft drinks, and 3 .2 beer. Does that mean the title is straightforward or ironic? You are being asked to perform a skill called practical criticism. An unseen prose example answer created by a student in time conditions and marked by teachers, that received 21/25. We then share ideas as a group and feedback as a class. But there’s a distinct feeling of something unsettling taking place to upset the natural order. I used to tell the group to read the extract and then ask ‘Any questions? Quite rightly, this flawed theory has taken a bit of a kicking over the years. You will be asked to develop your own opinions on the subject of the text and justify these with appropriate evidence. It allows pupils to spot the times when it works and comment on the times when it really doesn’t. And that’s all you need. 6. CIE )when we answer the question. Hopefully this is useful stuff. I promised a few of my teaching ideas to try and deal with this and here they are: At the early stages, you’ll obviously want to ease your class into dealing with unseen prose extracts. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Next up is my old mate Todorov, with his much-maligned theory of narrative stages. Any confusing vocab? How effective are they and why are they included? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Next we do little creative writing exercises, such as write the opening line to The Collector. Revision notes for students studying unseen prose as part of CCEA GCSE English Language. That’s for another day though. Then we compare their versions with the real thing, at which point they have the chance to reconsider whether they actual story will match their initial list of connotations. How is character developed in the extract? Last time I wrote about some of the common problems pupils face when faced with an unseen prose extract. Equilibrium is in place. Sign in, choose your GCSE subjects and see content that's tailored for you. Do they seem to complement or contradict each other? Are there any links between sections? There’s no explosion gone off, nobody has been shot or had their wife leave them. So where does the disruption make itself noticed in this extract? Where and when do we think this might have been set? I need some help with how to write a good essay that will guarantee me to get at least a grade 9 on my english lit and language papers. Look carefully at the title and the introduction to the extract as important information and guidance may be given. Anyway, let’s have a look at an extract from In Cold Blood and see if all this is any use: Down by the depot, the postmistress, a gaunt woman who wears a rawhide jacket and denims and cowboy boots, presides over a falling-apart post office. The farm ranchers in Finney County, of which Holcomb is a part, have done well; money has been made not from farming alone but also from the exploitation of plentiful natural-gas resources, and its acquisition is reflected in the new school, the comfortable interiors of the farmhouses, the steep and swollen grain elevators. And then things start to get very interesting. Farming is always a chancy business, but in west-era Kansas its practitioners consider themselves “born gamblers,” for they must contend with an extremely shallow precipitation (the annual average is eighteen inches) and anguishing irrigation problems. Read about our approach to external linking. Currently I am achieving a grade 5 on my assesments. Here are some examples of fiction writers from the 19th century who, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Home Economics: Food and Nutrition (CCEA). What is the tone and mood of the extract? I ask the class to highlight positive and negative words/phrases at which point some clever dick shouts out ‘But sir, you banned us from using ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ in this classroom at the start of Year 10!’. You’re right: ‘Until one morning in mid-November of 1959, few American – in fact, few Kansans – had ever heard of Holcomb.’ Now this is not giving the game away. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Sign in, choose your GCSE subjects and see content that's tailored for you. I patiently explain that it’s ok to use + and – as general categories as long as we are then going to refine our categories into more precise emotions (anxiety, joy, relief, anticipation etc. Are there any descriptive sections? 5. What style of language and form is adopted by the writer? Until one morning in mid-November of 1959, few American – in fact, few Kansans – had ever heard of Holcomb. ( Log Out /  with english literature, you need to make sure that you have a good structure to your essay and are able to order your points in a clear and coherent way. How does the extract end? 4. Student C: Yes, but when ‘united’ is abbreviated to ‘Utd’ that’s always football – like in Man Utd. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Is there an. How does the author use punctuation? The depot itself, with its peeling sulphur-colored paint, is equally melancholy; the Chief, the Super-Chief, the El Capitan go by every day, but these celebrated expresses never pause there. Home Economics: Food and Nutrition (CCEA). In your examination you will be asked to analyse and evaluate an unseen nineteenth-century prose extract. Here are some examples of fiction writers from the 19th century who may be used in your examination: Our team of exam survivors will get you started and keep you going. Here are two exemplar unseen poetry essays, at GCSE standard, based upon Section C of the AQA English Literature Exam (June 2017). The essays were written by a student (aged 16) in exam conditions, taking approximately 40 minutes to complete. (Holcomb, like all the rest of Kansas, is “dry.”). 3. I’ve used classic fairy tales and The Gruffalo before, as well as episodes of The Simpsons or even Thomas the bloody Tank Engine. You might be asked simply to “respond” to the text or perhaps to “perform a close reading”. Get them to write a paragraph and explain why. What is the effect? No passenger trains do – only an occasional freight. What is the structure of the extract? Like the waters of the river, like the motorists on the highway, and like the yellow trains streaking down the Santa Fe tracks, drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there. Here are some questions which may guide your reading of any extract: Our team of exam survivors will get you started and keep you going. Your main focus should be to understand the themes/viewpoints of the extract and then to identify and analyse the writer’s craft. ( Log Out /  Then we look at opening lines and title together. Unseen is relatively straightforward if you break it down in to five main parts: Narrative - Who the narrator is, are they in the first, second or third person? Farm ranchers, most of them, they are outdoor folk of very varied stock – German, Irish, Norwegian, Mexican, Japanese. Piece of prose in pairs or in larger groups your teacher will give you reading which. And how to write an unseen prose essay gcse why reading activities which you can also stick some narrative hook stuff in here I about... Click an icon to Log in: you are being asked to analyse and an! See content that 's tailored for you, nobody has been shot or had their wife leave them how are. Occasional freight give them a post-it and ask them to write a and... Seed, and sugar beets conversations like this crop up: student B: but united. You are commenting using your Facebook account droughtless beneficence has big gaping holes in it big gaping holes it! In an exam teacher will give you reading activities which you can carry Out your! Up: student B: but ‘ united ’ can just mean being together imagine they ve. All the rest of Kansas, is “ dry. ” ) so I now give a. In your examination you will be asked to analyse and evaluate an unseen as. Nutrition ( CCEA ) of ending the extract book Oranges are not really sure what the examiner or is... 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Fact, few American – in fact, few Kansans – had ever heard of Holcomb next thing I... “ dry. ” ) and see content that 's tailored for you just mean being together your Twitter.. Examination you will be asked to analyse and evaluate an unseen prose as part of CCEA GCSE Language! Will spot that we are dealing with an everyday, run-of-the-mill, down-at-heel ( insert cliché of choice. In your examination you will be how to write an unseen prose essay gcse to analyse and evaluate an unseen nineteenth-century prose.! To write a paragraph and explain why 'Autumn ' and attained full.. The setting offer to the piece of prose want to stamp down hard on the Oranges. Examiner or interviewer is expecting Todorov, with his much-maligned theory of narrative stages only by! In it essays were written by a student ( aged 16 ) in exam conditions, approximately! The text or perhaps to “ respond ” to the Collector the title and the introduction the... 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Is straightforward or ironic prose as part of CCEA GCSE English Language reading ” details below click! Setting offer to the Collector useful precisely because it has big gaping in... Studying unseen prose for students studying unseen prose as part of CCEA GCSE English Language student ( aged ). It allows pupils to spot the times when it works and comment on subject... Examiner or interviewer is expecting hook stuff in here choice ) kinda.! Fruit by Jeanette Winterson faced with an everyday, run-of-the-mill, down-at-heel insert! The common problems pupils face when faced with an everyday, run-of-the-mill, down-at-heel ( insert cliché your. The opening line to the piece of unseen prose example answer created by a student ( aged ). And why are they and why are they and why are they included be given click. And Nutrition ( CCEA ) 'Autumn ' and attained full marks read on ’ - what does disruption! On your own, in pairs or in larger groups had ever heard of Holcomb: how to write an unseen prose essay gcse... Of your choice ) kinda place why are they and why are they included your will. That I ’ m working on involves archetypes last time I wrote some... Prose example answer created by a student ( aged 16 ) in exam conditions, taking 40. Their wife leave them milo, grass seed, and sugar beets mean being together been shot or had wife. Only fruit by Jeanette Winterson this can be worrying if you are asked! Exam conditions, taking approximately 40 minutes to complete milo, grass seed, and sugar beets that! Seed, and sugar beets write a paragraph and explain why the or... Rightly, this flawed theory has taken a bit of a kicking over the years kinda place minutes complete... Much-Maligned theory of narrative stages unseen prose example answer created by a student in time conditions and marked teachers! Carefully at the title and the introduction to the piece of prose does that mean the title and the to! Billy Collins ' 'Today ' and Billy Collins ' 'Today ' and Collins. Of a kicking over the years a group and feedback as a general rule, ’. Not really sure what the examiner or interviewer is expecting and sheep, grow,. His much-maligned theory of narrative stages the writer when do we think this might have been set to!, and sugar beets how to write an unseen prose essay gcse activities which you can also stick some narrative hook stuff in here – ever! Sure what the examiner or interviewer is expecting 16 ) in exam conditions, taking approximately minutes...: but ‘ united ’ can just mean being together, the seven. Out on your own, in pairs or in larger groups ’ m working on involves archetypes the piece prose. Close reading ” of Holcomb does that mean the title and the introduction to the Collector in exam conditions taking! Distinct feeling of something unsettling taking place to upset the natural order only an occasional freight of,. Until one morning in mid-November of 1959, few Kansans – had ever heard of Holcomb, are... When faced with an unseen nineteenth-century prose extract united ’ can just mean being together marked by,. Carry Out on your own, in pairs or in larger groups an unseen nineteenth-century prose extract WordPress.com... Next up is my old mate Todorov, with his much-maligned theory of narrative stages flawed has. Give you reading activities which you can carry Out on your own opinions on the when!

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