Hello, my name is Ms. Grant.

I'm so glad you've decided to learn with me.

Today we're in the modern text first study unit, and our modern text is "Leave Taking".

Today we are going to write an essay on this play, a play you know so well.

I cannot wait to hear all of your fantastic ideas, but as well to see your planning and editing process.

I'm gonna be your support and guide as we work through today's lesson together.

Let's get started.

So by the end of today's lesson, you're going to have written an extended and developed response about "Leave Taking".

Now I always love reading a text for the first time and thinking what's going to happen? Which characters do I like? What do I think are the main themes? But I also love writing about a text.

I find it such a rewarding, such a fulfilling experience.

It is hard, it can be challenging, but I think that's part of the joy of writing about a text, especially a text as rich as "Leave Taking".

So I'm really looking forward to today's lesson, hearing all of your fantastic ideas and seeing your planning and editing process too.

Now we've got some keywords which are gonna help unlock our learning today, and they are thesis, Eurocentric, dislocation, belonging, and specific.

So thesis, this is the overarching argument to an essay and it's supported by the entire text.

So today, when you write your essay on "Leave Taking", you are gonna start off with a really powerful thesis.

Eurocentric, when there is a focus on European culture or history, ignoring or excluding cultures and history from the wider world.

Dislocation, a feeling of being out of place or in the wrong place, which is a feeling a lot of our characters have in "Leave Taking".

Belonging, the feeling that you're accepted in a group, community, or society.

Again, a very important idea to Pinnock in "Leave Taking".

Lots of our characters are searching for a feeling of belonging.

And specific, which is a precise detail, and that's gonna be really important when we come to be writing our essay.

This word "specific" is gonna help us refine our essay writing.

So our lesson outline for today, we're gonna start off by thinking, well, how do we use the question as a planning tool? Sometimes it can be quite daunting to get an essay question, but we are going to annotate it and see how it can be used as a planning tool to set us up for success for the entire essay.

And then we are gonna draught the essay, and you'll see that word draught there.

So you don't need to be worried that the first time you write an essay needs to be absolutely perfect.

Writing is a craft, it's a skill, and it's difficult.

So the first draught of something, there will be lots and lots of great work in there, great ideas, but you will also want to return to it and refine it.

So let's start off with using the question as a planning tool.

So today you're gonna plan and write a response to this essay question.

How does Pinnock use Viv to explore ideas around belonging in "Leave Taking"? So really rich, a really exciting question.

Now, Andeep has annotated of the question.

Here are his annotations so far.

He's annotated how to remind himself that he must look at Pinnock's dramatic methods.

He's annotated Viv to remind himself that he must explore this character, and he's annotated the word belonging to remind himself that he must explore this theme.

So some quick annotations there, but very important, and absolutely setting Andeep up for success when he writes his response to the essay question.

Now Andeep develops his annotations with some questions.

So for the word how, he knows he needs to explore Pinnock's dramatic methods, and he asks himself, well, which methods and quotations best help me understand Viv's sense of belonging? He's annotated the word Viv.

He knows he needs to explore this character.

But he's asked himself, what are the key points in the play that help me understand Viv's sense of belonging? And he's annotated the word belonging.

He knows he needs to explore that theme.

And he's asked himself, well, where else do we see this theme? What is Pinnock's viewpoints? Some really careful questions there from Andeep to help him use the question as a planning tool.

Now I'd like you to discuss how would you answer Andeep's questions? Pause the video, set yourself up for success for this essay by answering Andeep's questions.

How would you answer these questions so that you've got some great ideas in response to this essay question? How does Pinnock use Viv to explore ideas around belonging in "Leave Taking"? Pause the video and discuss the question now.

Some beautiful discussions.

They're really nice to see people reaching for their play, as well finding those best quotations and just making sure they're completely accurate.

We've got a range of ideas, which means I'm really excited to read your essays because we'll have a range of arguments about how Pinnock does actually use Viv to explore ideas about belonging in "Leave Taking".

Remember, there is no right answer here.

It is how you interpret Pinnock's intentions for this character and for this theme.

So some ideas you might have had.

Well, for which methods and quotations best help me understand Viv's sense of belonging, you might have thought about Brod in scene one.

Sorry, not Brod in scene one.

When Viv references Brod in scene one, saying, "Uncle Brod says you don't know who are you are less you've been there," and she's talking about going to the West Indie.

She says to Del that she would like to go there, and we can see that it's important to her sense of identity, her sense of who she is.

But also this quotation from scene four, which I had a lot of people turning to.

It is a really key quotation for the text.

And I know that I would rely on it in lots and lots of different essays, not just one necessarily about Viv and belonging.

But Viv complains that she spends her life bent over books that have nothing to do with me.

She shows that disconnection from her Eurocentric education and it's a real powerful sense of frustration for her in the play.

So I would agree that those two quotations could be really, really helpful in response to this essay question.

If we're looking at Viv and what are the key points in the play that help me understand Viv's sense of belonging, well, perhaps skipping an exam in scene five, that fight she has with Del, that quite surprising fight in some ways.

And also the surprising action from her, from this very academic student who seems to have tried to keep the peace with Enid throughout, she's now done something very rebellious that she knows will definitely hurt her mother.

So this is an important moment for Viv, an important plot point that you might want to analyse.

And then also the resolution to Viv's character arc.

So we know that at the end of the play we find out in scene eight that she's going to university to pursue Black Studies.

Well, how does this help us understand Viv's sense of belonging and the ending that Pinnock might want for this character? How should we interpret that? And finally, looking at this theme, well, where else do we see this theme explored? And what is Pinnock's viewpoint? Well, perhaps you might want to look at Del's anger at the racial discrimination that she and her sister face in 1980s Britain.

And the idea that Pinnock explores difficulties of being a second generation immigrant, the Eurocentric education system in Britain and in Jamaica.

So these are just some of the ideas that you might have wanted to explore.

They are not the right ideas.

There are no right answers to this essay question.

There's not a specific answer that I'm looking for, but it's your own interpretation of "Leave Taking" as a whole, this character as a whole, and this theme, this central theme, the idea of belonging as a whole.

So if you want to note down any of those ideas you think, yes, that would really work for my particular thesis, then do, but do not worry if your ideas are very different to some of the annotations that Andeep has on the board.

Now, Andeep has done some annotation.

He's developed those annotations and now he's turning his attention to his planning grid, and here is his planning grid.

Now each section has a purpose.

So the beginning section, the thesis, that is where he's going to note down his overarching argument supported by the whole text.

And Andeep is gonna write that in full sentences so that he can really rely on it when he starts writing his analytical essay.

Andeep is gonna plan for three topic sentences.

Now a topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph and it states the paragraph's main idea.

And again, Andeep will write that in those in full sentences so he's got really solid foundation for his essay.

Then Andeep is going to find supporting details.

Now these are references to the text which support your topic sentence, and they can be written in note form and they'll include main quotations that you want to analyse and supporting quotations which you will embed into sentences.

So everyone who grabbed for their "Leave Taking", their script when we were doing the annotation, the discussion task earlier, again, that's gonna stand you in really good stead for finding those details that you will want when you are completing your own planning grid.

And then Andeep is gonna think about his concluding sentence, which is the final sentence of a paragraph, and it concludes the paragraph's main idea.

And finally, he will turn his attention to his conclusion and that will sum up his essay's overall thesis.

So this planning grid is an incredibly helpful tool in order to prepare for writing an essay on "Leave Taking".

It's what you turn your attention to after you've done those initial annotations on the essay question itself.

So Andeep starts by drafting his thesis statement and three topic sentences so he knows that that's what his planning grid is pushing him to do, so he's gonna start off with his thesis statement and three topic sentences.

Now, comparing thesis statements to topic sentences can be a useful way to understand the purpose of each.

These are the foundations of your essays and understanding what thesis statement is, and topic sentences is really gonna set you up for success for the essay.

So a thesis statement is the overarching argument for the entire essay, whereas a topic sentence explains the purpose of an individual paragraph.

A thesis statement is supported by the entire text, whereas a topic sentence can be supported by moments in the text.

And finally, a thesis statement is found in your introduction, whereas a topic sentence is found at the start of each main body paragraph.

So these are the differences between these two important moments, these two important ideas that you will use in any analytical essay that you write, not just on "Leave Taking".

Now I'd like you to consider the thesis statement in contrast to the topic sentences below.

And I'd like you to discuss what are the differences.

So we've got two thesis statements and two topic sentences.

I'd like you to pause the video, read through each, and then consider what are the differences between the thesis statements and the topic sentences.

Pause the video and complete that discussion task now.

Some really careful reading there of those thesis statements and those topic sentences, showing a fantastic understanding of the difference between these two items that you should include in every analytical essay that you write.

Let's have a look at some of the ideas that you might have explored.

So this thesis statement here, Pinnock presents Viv as the most curious and least conflicted about her cultural identity.

She knows it is the key to unlock her sense of belonging.

So that's an idea that this student has had.

Now this idea is supported by the whole text.

So you could read all eight scenes of "Leave Taking", think, yep, that idea certainly stands up to scrutiny across the whole text.

Let's look at the topic sentence.

While this student has written, "Pinnock uses the opening two scenes to establish Viv's desire to know about her Jamaican heritage." Now this is focused on specific scenes in the text.

It can't be a thesis statement because the student is just looking at two scenes, but it makes a really, really strong topic sentence because they could develop that idea in an individual paragraph.

Our next thesis statement.

Pinnock presents Viv as conflicted.

Aware of her sense of dislocation, her duty to her mother's wishes is at odds with Viv's duty to herself, her past and her future.

So a very different argument to the thesis statement above, but still a very, very strong one.

And again, this thesis statement is an idea supported by the whole text.

Again, you could read all eight scenes of "Leave Taking" and say, yeah, this idea stands up to scrutiny for all of those eight scenes.

Our final topic sentence.

Pinnock uses Viv to explore the Eurocentric British education system and its impact on second generation migrants.

Well, again, this topic sentence is focused on a specific idea in the text, the Eurocentric education system.

So that paragraph will develop and explore just that idea, the Eurocentric education system.

So there you can see the differences between topic sentences and thesis statements, where thesis statements stand up to scrutiny across an entire text.

It's an idea supported by the entire text, whereas a topic sentence focuses on a specific idea or a specific scene.

Now let's make sure that we have got a really secure understanding of the idea of a thesis because you are going to be writing your own thesis shortly in answer to the question about Viv and ideas around belonging.

So Lucas has written, "Like many of the characters in 'Leave Taking', Pinnock presents Viv as longing to escape.

For Viv, this escape is from the education system, a system which, despite her success, only increases her sense of dislocation in Britain." Whereas Yun's written, "Whilst the end of scene two seems focused on Del and Enid's violent conflict, Viv's clear sense of dislocation is just as powerful, if expressed more gently." Now, which of these students has crafted a thesis statement? Pause the video and select your response now.

Well done if you selected Lucas who has written a thesis.

Yun has written a really, really nice topic sentence, but it is not a thesis because he's focused just on scene two.

It is not an idea supported by the entire text, whereas Lucas's idea is supported by the entire text.

Now I'd like you to plan your answer to this question.

How does Pinnock use Viv to explore ideas around belonging in "Leave Taking"? You had a fantastic discussion earlier in this learning cycle with your initial ideas, and now we've got a really secure understanding of thesis statements and topic sentences so you can use those to build a really strong foundation for your essay.

The planning grid is on the board to guide you and I can already see people reaching for their "Leave Taking" scripts in order to find those fantastic references and to really secure their ideas.

So I'm gonna meet you back here shortly after you've created a really strong plan in answer to this question, how does Pinnock use Viv to explore ideas around belonging in "Leave Taking"? Good luck.

Embrace the challenge and I'll meet you back here shortly.

Pause the video now.

Beautiful to see people planning so carefully and showing off their fantastic knowledge of the difference between thesis statements and topic sentences.

I can see some really interesting ideas for individual paragraphs, but also some great ideas about Viv and how Pinnock uses her across the play to explore ideas around belonging.

Now I'd like you to self-assess your plan.

We've got to make sure it's really, really strong before we begin writing the essay itself.

So self-assess your plan using the following questions.

One, do you have one thesis written in full sentences which is supported by the whole text? Make sure it is written in full sentences so that you can just use that when you start writing your analytical essay.

Two, do you have three topic sentences which will explain.

Which explain what each paragraph will be about? Three, do you have two to three quotations or references from the text to support each topic sentence so you can build your analysis around them? Four, do you have a concluding sentence which will finish your paragraph and explore Pinnock's intentions? And five, finally, do you have ideas for your conclusion which will link to your overall thesis? So just return to your plan, cast your eyes over it so that you can feel really confident before we start writing the analytical essay in learning cycle two.

Pause the video and assess your plan now.

Fantastic to see people holding up their plan to such careful scrutiny so that they know they can rely on it when they start writing their analytical essay.

All right, we're gonna move on to our second learning cycle.

We're gonna draught the essay.

Remember what I said before? That writing can be difficult and so I purposefully use this word draught so the idea that what you put down onto paper, you don't need to worry that it is the absolute final final.

You can always edit your work, but we are gonna start writing.

Using that plan from learning cycle one, we are gonna draught a first draught of this essay.

So just before we start, let's think about the overall essay structure.

Now it can look like this.

You've got your introduction, which is a three-part structure moving from the general to the specific.

And it should include your thesis statement, which you've already written in learning cycle one.

Then first point, second to third point, and third point, this is your.

These are your individual paragraphs, your main body paragraphs.

So they'll include a topic sentence, supporting detail with methods identified and analysed, links to context, and a closing sentence.

So you planned for those in learning cycle one.

And then your conclusion.

Now your conclusion, like your introduction, will follow a three-part structure, and it'll move from the specific to the general.

It will summarise your main argument and leave an impactful closing statement.

So that's roughly what your essay structure will look like.

Introduction, main body paragraphs, and conclusion.

So I'd like you to have a look at this section of Andeep's essay.

He used his planning grid to start writing his essay.

And we've got a section of it here, and I'd like you to let me know, is it the introduction, a main body paragraph, or conclusion? And I'd like you to justify your answer.

So read through that section of Andeep's essay and then think, is this the introduction? Is it a main body paragraph or is it a conclusion? And remember, you must justify your answer.

Pause the video and complete this check for understanding now.

Well done for reading through the section of Andeep's essay so carefully and really thinking, well, which section of the essay is it? Because you've showed off brilliant understanding there, I know that you will write your own essays with similar really powerful structure just like Andeep.

So what we've got here is a three-part introduction.

And we know it's an introduction because it includes a general statement about the text.

"Pinnock's "Leave Taking" explores feelings of belonging and its opposite dislocation." It's got a general statement about the focus of the question.

So Andeep has written, "Whilst Viv's sense of dislocation is presented as quieter than her sister Del's, it is just as profound," which means just as deep.

And then finally, we've got and Andeep's thesis.

"Arguably, Pinnock presents Viv as conflicted.

Aware of her sense of unbelonging, her duty to her mother's wishes is at odds with Viv's duty to herself, her past and her future." So we've got a three-part introduction there.

So when you are writing your introduction, you can think about Andeep and think, well, I know I need to have a general statement about the text, a general statement in relation to the question, and then I can put in my specific thesis, which you planned for, of course, in learning cycle one.

Now, I would like you to use your plan from learning cycle one to write your essay, answering the question, how does Pinnock use the character of Viv to explore ideas around belonging? Now, I've left the structure of the essay on the board there to guide you, and, of course, you have your plan and your copy of "Leave Taking" next to you.

So you've got all the tools to draught a really, really fantastic essay.

Good luck.

Embrace the challenge and I'll meet you back here shortly after you have written your essay.

Give yourself time, give yourself space, give yourself time to focus and really enjoy exploring all of your fantastic ideas about this essay question.

Pause the video and write your essay now.

Really beautiful to see people writing their essays, putting their thoughts down onto paper.

I always so enjoy reading a text for the first time with students and then exploring it in more detail.

But the essay writing process, the planning, the writing, the editing is such a source of pleasure for me as well, to see all these different ideas from the text and to also see your fantastic understanding of what an analytical essay actually is.

It's a complicated idea.

It takes time to to develop your skills in this area.

So it's always really, really fun to see students engage in that so carefully.

Now, before we celebrate your fantastic work, I'd like you to read through your full essay, and using the diagram below, assess whether it follows a clear structure.

So do you have your introduction? Have you got your main body paragraphs, and have you got your conclusion? So pause the video, read through your entire essay and make sure that it follows a clear, logical structure just like the one on the board.

Pause the video now.

Well done for also approaching this vital step of the essay writing process, the editing with such care and with such energy.

I can see people labelling bits of their essay saying, well, I can see here I've got my introduction.

I can see here I've got my main body paragraphs.

I can see here I've got my conclusion.

In summary, use the essay question as a planning tool by annotating its key words.

Create a detailed plan which includes a clear thesis and focused topic sentences.

A thesis is your overarching argument.

A topic sentence states the paragraph's main idea.

An essay should follow a structure, introduction, main body paragraphs, and conclusion.

It has been such a pleasure seeing you write these essays and plan for these essays today and see all of your really interesting ideas about how Pinnock uses Viv to explore ideas of belonging.

Well done for embracing the challenge, and I look forward to seeing you next time.