Hello, it's Mrs. Butterworth here and I am ready to get started with today's English lesson.

Now in this lesson we are focusing on some essay writing skills.

Now, I know for some of you this can be quite daunting or it can feel even quite overwhelming, but this lesson is all about breaking some of those components down.

So in this lesson we'll focus just on the introduction and conclusions of an essay.

And like I always say, the more you practise these essay writing skills, the easier essay writing will become.

So should we get started? So in this lesson you will create sophisticated introductions and conclusions for an essay about the Birlings and the theme of responsibility.

Before we delve into the lesson, let's look at those all important key words.

The words for today are thesis, theme, timeless, lots of Ts there, and universal.

Now a thesis will be very important for our introduction because this is the overarching argument to an essay supported by the entire text.

So if we're writing an introduction, we'll need to have a thesis in there.

We'll also be thinking about themes.

So an idea that is explored multiple times in a text.

So today we'll be thinking about the theme responsibility in "An Inspector Calls." We've also got these words here, timeless and universal.

Now timeless is a text that remains relevant no matter the time period.

So arguably "An Inspector Calls" is a timeless text because the themes it refers to, it doesn't matter what time period that people are looking at them, they remain timeless.

And likewise universal is an adjective used to describe a text, which regardless of time period or circumstance, audiences can relate to.

So again, we can perhaps think of "An Inspector Calls" as being universal.

So lots of people will understand the themes in there.

So the outline of our lesson looks like this.

We're going to start with our introductions to an analytical essays before moving on to our conclusions to analytical essays.

So I think it's clear by now that you are going to write an introduction and conclusion to this question in today's lesson.

So our question is, "How does Priestley use the Birlings to explore ideas around responsibility in 'An Inspector Calls'?" So Izzy here has already begun by annotating the question.

So she's annotated and underlined that key word "how" to remind herself that this is all about exploring Priestley's dramatic methods.

She's also underlined the Birlings to remind herself that this is the key character or key characters.

Okay? So Izzy may choose to focus on one or maybe more of the Birlings for this essay.

And then we have the key theme underlined by Izzy here, which is responsibility.

So she's underlined those key words and reminded herself of what she needs to do with them.

So introductions can follow a three part structure.

So this is how I like to think of it.

So it moves from the general to the specific.

So it looks a bit like this.

So you can see the general there.

So the bigger ideas.

Moving down to the specifics, you can see how that triangle represents the kind of structure of the introduction from the general to moving down into the specific.

So the three part structure starts with a sentence.

The first part is a sentence about the text as a whole.

You then move on to make a sentence about the given theme or character.

So in this case we'll be thinking about the Birlings and responsibility.

And then finally the specific is your thesis statement.

So you are really thinking about your argument, the themes in the question and how you are going to discuss or argue that in your thesis statement.

So reminder of our question, "How does Priestley use the Birlings to explore ideas around responsibility in 'An Inspector Calls'?" So we have Izzy's first draught of an introduction here.

So let's read Izzy's introduction together.

So it says, "Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls' was written in 1945.

The Birlings are central characters and used to explore many themes.

Arguably they show the different generations." Now let's look at the feedback Izzy was given.

Now this introduction is fine, but I think this feedback will help her to make it even better.

So that first sentence is too general.

It doesn't really link to the question.

So Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" was written in 1945.

It doesn't really tell us much else.

She hasn't really thought about the Birlings carefully enough.

So we know that they are central characters and they explore many themes.

But what do we know about the Birlings specifically in relation to the question? So ow can we make that sentence link to the question? And then finally, that last sentence isn't quite a thesis.

So Izzy needs to justify her idea more carefully because they show the different generations, she could perhaps say how she's going to explore that or how this links to the idea of responsibility.

So Izzy redrafts her introduction based on the feedback.

So in a moment I'm going to ask you to discuss, how has Izzy responded to her feedback? So what has she done to make her introduction better? But before you do that, let's read it through together first.

"Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls' explores the importance of social responsibility.

The Birlings reveal the rejection of collective responsibility in the upper classes, particularly from the older generation.

Arguably, Priestley shows the different generational attitudes towards responsibility and its role in society." So pause the video and discuss, how has Izzy responded to her feedback? How has Izzy improved that introduction? Pause the video.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

Off you go.

So lots of you agree that Izzy's done great work here improving her original introduction.

So we can see here that Izzy has changed her first sentence.

It is a general statement, but it is relevant to the question.

So explores the importance of social responsibility.

So you can see it's general, but it's linking to the question.

And then we get this statement about the Birlings.

But again, it is relevant to the question.

So the Birlings reveal the rejection of collective responsibility in the upper classes, particularly from the older generation.

So again, it's talking about the character and the theme from the question in a general way, which is much better to what Izzy was doing beforehand.

And then this lovely thesis that we can see that can be developed in the essay.

So arguably Priestley, so she's referencing the writer's name, and Priestley's intention.

So Priestley shows the different generational attitudes towards responsibility and its role in society.

So she's, you can see here how this clearly sets up an argument.

We can see that Izzy's thesis is telling us that she's going to explore the two generations of the Birlings and the different attitudes towards responsibility.

Okay, so we have our three part structure here.

I would like you please to identify the sections.

So what do the sections need to do? So you'll need to identify A, B, and C.

Pause the video and come up with your answers.

Okay, so I'm gonna give you the answers now.

Hopefully you have something similar.

So A begins with a sentence about the whole text.

B is a sentence about the given theme or character.

And finally, C, of course you know by now, it is that all important thesis statement.

Well done everyone that got that right.

Okay, so first practise task is to write your very own introduction.

So you're writing your introduction in relation to this question.

"How does Priestley use the Birlings to explore ideas around responsibility in 'An Inspector Calls'?" So remember you're using that three part structure.

You've got that sentence about the text as a whole, a sentence about the given theme or character, and then your all-important thesis statement.

Okay? Think back to Izzy's example to help you.

Make sure you have everything you need to complete this task.

And when you're ready, pause the video, and get those introductions written.

Good luck, and off you go.

Well done and thank you so much for your hard work.

Like I said at the start, the more you practise this, the easier it will become because you'll know what the structure is.

You won't have to think too much about the structure because you would've done it many times.

So keep practising with this.

What I would like you to do now is look at your introductions and just spend a few moments self-assessing those, just to make sure that you have that three part structure.

So check through, do you have a general statement about the text which links to the question? Okay, do you have a general statement about the Birlings which links to the question, in this case responsibility? And do you have that all important thesis which you can develop throughout your essay? So think back to the feedback that Izzy was given, look at your own introductions and just check through them.

You'll probably want to pause the video to give yourself time to do this.

Okay, off you go.

Okay, good job everyone.

We are already at the second part of our lesson.

So we have a beautiful introduction, I hope, for our essay.

Now we're going to be thinking about conclusions and how we can write one of those.

Okay, so before we jump in to writing our conclusions, I would just like us to think about the following question.

So what themes might make "An Inspector Calls" universal and timeless? So we've got keywords there, haven't we? Universal and timeless.

So hopefully you can remember back to those keyword descriptions and what they are.

So I'd like you please to discuss what themes might make "An Inspector Calls" universal and timeless.

Pause the video so you can discuss your answer to this question.

If you're working on your own, you may want to think quietly to yourself or even jot down some ideas.

Okay, off you go.

Okay, fantastic.

Should we share some ideas together? Okay.

So some of the themes you may have come up with are things like social responsibility, a universal and timeless theme is something that even we can relate to nowadays.

Class.

Guilt.

Guilt is an interesting one.

'Cause again, that is universal and timeless, isn't it? Even nowadays we can empathise and understand the idea of guilt.

The abuse of power, prejudice, generational conflict.

So why might "An Inspector Calls" be considered timeless and universal? So I'd like you please to select your answer, A, B, or C, now.

Well done to everyone that's selected C.

So many of its themes remain relevant.

So that's why lots of people choose to teach and study "An Inspector Calls" because it is considered timeless and universal, that its themes are still relevant to today's society.

Whilst an introduction moves from the general to the specific, a conclusion moves from the specific to the general.

So it's the opposite to an introduction if you like.

So if you see here we have another triangle, but it's different this time 'cause it's the other way round.

So you can see we move from the specific to the general.

So what this means is in your conclusion you should have a specific response to your thesis.

So you can even use words from your introduction to respond to that.

So that first sentence is really specific and links to your thesis.

Then you want to focus on the writer's overall purpose.

So think about why Priestley may have chosen that theme or what Priestley wants to say about that theme.

In this instance, we're thinking about responsibility in "An Inspector Calls." So that would be a part of your conclusion.

And then also a final sentence about the impact of the text today.

I love this sentence to finish off an essay and I'll show you what it looks like in a moment.

But yeah, why this text might be considered timeless and universal.

That final sentence is all about the impact of the text today.

Okay, so Izzy again has offered her conclusion, which is great.

So let's have a little look at Izzy's conclusion here.

And I'm gonna remind you of the essay question again.

So "How does Priestley use the Birlings to explore ideas around responsibility in 'An Inspector Calls'?" So "Priestley effectively uses the Birlings to critique the rejection of responsibility, especially within the upper classes." So you can see how that links back to Izzy's thesis.

"Through the generational divide, he emphasises the need for change, contrasting with the stubbornness of the older generation with the younger characters' potential for growth." So that important phrase there is "Through the generational divide he emphasises." So you can see how it's linking to Priestley's purpose there, what Priestley is trying to do.

And then finally that last sentence, "The play's exploration of social responsibility remains relevant, challenging modern audiences to reflect on their own accountability." So I said I really liked that last sentence, didn't I? So yeah, it's about what makes this text important today.

So it's a nice way to finish your essay.

So again, we can see that there's that specific response to the thesis.

There's a focus on the writer's overall purpose and then finally the impact of the text today.

Okay, so we have our three part structure there for our conclusion, but which part of the conclusion is missing? So we have our specific response to your thesis, focus on the writer's overall purpose, what is missing? Can I have your answer now please? Okay, well done everyone that said the impact of text today.

Okay, so you have written your introduction and now it's time to consider writing a conclusion.

So remember we're focusing on the question, "How does Priestley use the Birlings to explore ideas around responsibility in 'An Inspector Calls'?" Now you will need to look back at your introduction because you haven't written the whole essay yet.

So you will need to look back at the introduction to inform this conclusion.

Okay? So remember you are going from the specific to the general.

You've got that specific response to your thesis, the focus on the writer's overall purpose, and then finally the impact of the text today.

Okay? So when you are ready and you have everything you need, pause the video and write your conclusion.

Off you go.

Well done everyone, some excellent conclusion writing there.

Now one thing I will say is that writing these introductions and conclusions is a really good thing to practise.

'Cause what you'll start to find is that you actually use words and phrases in other instructions and conclusions.

So you'll find that these will be relevant to other essay questions and other essays.

Okay? So as I keep saying, the more you practise this, the easier future conclusions, introductions, essays will become.

So I'd like you now just to spend a few minutes self-assessing your conclusion, again using the three part structure to guide you.

So you have the diagram there.

I would like you please to self-assess your conclusion.

So I would pause the video to give yourself plenty of time to do this.

So pause the video and self-assess.

Off you go.

Well done everyone.

Here is the end of the lesson.

So well done for writing an introduction and conclusion.

You should be really proud of yourself and what you've achieved.

So let's remind ourselves of everything we know.

We know that an introduction and conclusion can follow a three part structure.

An introduction could start with a general statement about the text.

An introduction could then have a more specific statement about the focus of the question, followed by a thesis.

And then finally a conclusion could consider the timeless nature of the text.

Well done everyone.

I know essay writing can be tricky, but you've done really well and I look forward to doing more with you soon in the future.

Goodbye.