Hello and welcome.

Thank you for joining me today.

I'm Mrs. Butterworth and I will be your English teacher for this lesson.

Now, today's lesson focuses on creating comparative analytical paragraphs.

Now, this can be quite a tricky thing to do, but in this lesson we will go through this step-by-step and look at some different structures and different strategies that will help you to write the best comparative analytical paragraphs.

So shall we get started? So in this lesson, you will write comparative paragraphs exploring the presentation for exploration and survival within the texts.

Now, before we delve into the lesson, let's look at some key words that you may notice popping up throughout.

So we need to make sure we understand what these mean.

These words are systemic, sexism, prevalent, subverting, and methods.

Now, systemic is quite a tricky word and this refers to the patterns or structures deeply embedded within social institutions, norms and attitudes.

So it's sort of like thinking about an ingrained way of thinking.

So you may have yet heard the term systemic racism or systemic sexism.

We've also got the word sexism here, and this is discrimination, prejudice, or biassed based on someone's gender.

Now, in the texts that we are looking at today, both Nellie Bly and Megan Hine describe experiencing sexism where they are, and even systemic sexism.

We've also got this word prevalent.

Now, prevalent is something that is widespread, common or frequently encountered.

So you may hear that word in the lesson to describe the most prevalent idea, so the most expected idea.

We also have this word subverting.

And subverting means to challenge or overturn established norms, expectations or authority.

So with regards to this lesson, if we think about Nellie Bly, she really subverts the societal expectations of a 19th century woman, okay? So really think about how these women are challenging and subverting traditional gender roles.

And then finally, we get methods.

Now, another way to think of methods is like tools, so a writer's tools.

So methods refers to everything that a writer uses to create their work.

So structure and language choices are the most significant examples.

So when we're talking about methods, we are thinking about those tools, the language and structure and those sorts of things that writers use.

So let's look at how our lesson is going to go today.

So we're gonna start by considering planning, so looking at our topic sentences and how we select quotations.

And then we're going to move on to look at main body paragraphs and how we write those.

So let's start with that topic sentences and selecting quotations.

So first let's look at our essay prompt, here it is.

So you are going to compare the presentation of exploration and survival in "Around the World in 72 Days," and "Megan Hine, the woman who keeps Bear Grylls alive." Now, both of these texts are available in the additional materials, so make sure that you have them to hand.

So Jacob prepares to answer this essay prompt.

So what he does, first of all, is he annotates the question, okay? This is a really good thing to do when you first see an essay prompt 'cause it kind of forces you to read the question in detail and to make sure you fully understand the expectations.

So let's look at Jacob's annotations.

He underlines the word compare because it tells him that he needs to think about the similarities and differences, presentation, so this is asking him what methods would be the most interesting to compare, and then he's underlined exploration and survival.

So what is the focus of the question? So here we've got Jacob's questions and I'd like you to discuss how you would answer those.

So what are the similarities and differences? What methods would be the most interesting to compare? And what is the focus of the question? So we just wanna start thinking about how we could potentially answer this essay prompt.

Okay, so pause the video so you can discuss how you would answer Jacob's questions.

Pause the video now.

Okay, so we've started thinking about some of those initial ideas.

So drawing on those two texts and thinking about the methods, thinking about their similarities and differences and thinking about how they present ideas of survival and exploration.

So after annotating the question and thinking about it, Jacob draughts two comparative topic sentences and he follows these steps.

So the first is he starts by creating a topic sentence that states the paragraph's main idea.

So let's look at this.

So both Bly and Saner use their text to explore the experiences of women in the world of exploration and survival.

So you can see here he's comparing straight away by saying, "Both Bly and Saner," so he's referencing the writer, and then he's also referencing words from the question, so exploration and survival.

So it's a really good topic sentence because it's talking about experiences, it's talking about words from the question, and it's comparing from the start.

He then develops this topic sentence by stating a clear idea about text one.

So he's focusing on text one.

So he says, "Bly focuses on her own experiences and that of an investigative journalist." So you can see again how that links to that first sentence.

He then compares text two to text one.

So he says, "By contrast, Saner's article focuses on the life of a survival expert." So you can start to see how this introductory paragraph is setting up Jacob's argument.

You can see what it is he's going to explore as he goes through his response.

So this is a really good way to introduce your comparative response.

So now you need to have a go.

So using the steps and doing exactly what Jacob did, I would like you please to write two sets of comparative topic sentences about the two texts.

So you've got the three steps there and some sentence starters.

And you also have the text in which you are comparing.

Don't forget to think back to your initial discussions as well.

Okay, so make sure you've got everything you need to complete this first little task, and you'll need to pause the video to get this done.

Off you go.

Okay, let's just feed back some of those responses.

So Jacob has given us another response.

So let's see where he meets the checklist.

So he creates a topic sentence starting with both.

"Both Bly and Saner foreground women's experiences in a male dominated space." He then goes on to write a sentence about text one.

"Bly reveals her frustration at the systemic sexism prevalent in journalism in the 19th century." And then he goes on to compare text two to text one.

"By contrast, Saner celebrates the achievements of Megan Hine." Okay, so I just want you to spend a few minutes to identify where you have met the checklist.

So make sure you have done those three things, those three sentences to write a really good introductory topic sentence and topic paragraph, okay? Pause the video and get checking.

We have written some really lovely comparative topic sentences, so we now need to think about what the next part of the process is.

So we're gonna use Jacob as an example.

So we know his next step is to find quotations to prove each comparison.

Now, when we're thinking about picking and selecting quotations, you should select quotations that are rich in methods so you can analyse them.

I always talk about finding the juiciest quotes because the juiciest quotes will have things like language devices or rhetorical devices.

It will have really interesting word choices to zoom in on, analyse, or maybe it has an interesting sentence or structural feature.

But you want to pick quotes that you can say a lot about.

You will also need to make sure that you select more than one quotation from each text.

So remember, we are dealing with two texts, so make sure you get quotations from both.

And then when we're in our planning phase, you need to make sure that you've made short notes about how you will explore each quotation.

So this means that when you come to write up the main body of your paragraph from your plan, you know exactly what it is that you want to talk about or write about.

So here is the start of Jacob's plan.

So we have his topic sentence, "Both Bly and Saner foreground women's experiences in a male dominated space," so Jacob's chosen that topic sentence.

And then we have the next part where he begins to find the evidence for that topic sentence.

So he's focusing on "Around the World in 72 Days" and he's picked the quotation, "I was afraid that he would think the idea too wild and visionary." And his note says it focused on adjectives, afraid, wild and visionary.

And, "Bly understands societal expectations of women and their limits, she knows she's subverting these." So what I would like you to do first is I would like you to consider this first note and discuss what is powerful about Jacob's first note and what are his next steps.

Okay, pause the video and we'll discuss together in a moment, off you go.

Okay, thank you so much for your suggestions.

So let's just feed back some of those ideas.

So lots of you have picked out that Jacob quite rightly has used terminology, so he's identified some keyword types, he says adjectives.

So that's a really good note to remind him what he needs to write about when he comes to write up his response.

He's then also just reminded himself why he has picked this quote and how it links to his topic sentence.

So it's all about societal expectations, how Bly is challenging those.

So we can see here that he's made an excellent note that allows him to link that evidence to the topic sentence and also the wider question.

So in terms of next steps, what Jacob would need to do is he would now need to consider the other text, so the article about Megan Hine, and find a quotation that he can use as a comparison.

So that would be his next steps.

And then he might want to consider finding some more quotes from both texts, 'cause remember, we're looking for multiple quotations from both texts.

Okay, so when selecting quotations, you should, what is the third item missing from this checklist? Okay, who can remember? Should we look at the answer? Okay, great, you should make short notes about how you will explore each quotation, and this is a very important step in your planning because it will just help to make writing your response a lot easier.

Okay, so we are onto our first practise task.

The first thing I would like you to do is I would like you to look in those texts and select the quotations which will support both of your topic sentences that were written earlier, focusing on the topic of exploration and survival.

So you've already written your topic sentences, you just need to select the quotations that go with them.

Then you need to identify their methods, exactly like Jacob did when he identified the use of adjectives.

And then you need to make short notes about their effect or what these quotations tell you.

So again, exactly like we've just looked at in Jacob's example.

Okay, so you'll need to pause the video to give yourself plenty of time to complete this.

Hopefully you've got everything you need to do this task well.

And when you are ready, pause the video and get going.

Excellent work, everyone, and some really interesting quotations being selected.

What I would like you to do now, please, is I would like you to self-assess your quotations by asking and answering these questions.

So you'll need to check through those quotations and ask, do you have more than one quotation to analyse from each of your texts? Have you identified the method or methods you wish to explore? Have you made short notes about each quotation so you know what you might say about it? So pause the video to give yourself time to self-assess and check through your quotations.

You may wish to add to your quotations or make some changes as a result of this.

Okay, pause the video and off you go.

So here we are at the second part of our lesson.

So we have focused on our planning.

We now know what we are going to write about.

So now we need to consider the main body of our essays, the main body paragraphs, and how to write these.

So should we keep going? So Jacob writes the start of his first main body paragraph.

So let's read this through together.

So both Bly and Saner foreground women's experiences in a male dominated space.

Bly reveals her frustration at the systemic sexism prevalent in journalism in the 19th century.

By contrast, Saner celebrates the achievements of Megan Hine.

In "Around the World in 72 Days," Bly reveals that she is afraid to put forward her idea of exploration, revealing her awareness of societal expectations and the disapproval she will receive.

Bly uses the adjectives wild and visionary to describe her idea, emphasising her position as a woman who subverts and challenges gender stereotypes.

There is a juxtaposition between her choices in the adjectives afraid and visionary, representing the struggles she faces both internally and externally.

Well, what a fantastic first paragraph.

So let's just have a look at what Jacob has done here.

So you may have recognised these topic sentences that he wrote in the first part of the lesson.

So we've got the topic sentence there.

He then goes on to use quotations from across the text, and you'll notice that Jacob's actually used very short embedded quotations.

And then he's also identified the methods.

So we've got the adjectives, how Bly is using adjectives, how she's using descriptions, she describes, and then finally that use of juxtaposition.

So he's identified the methods as well in this paragraph.

So I now want you to discuss what does Jacob need to do next? Pause the video so you've got time to discuss your ideas or just think quietly to yourself.

So what does Jacob do next? Off you go.

Okay, so let's see what he needs to do next.

So Jacob continues his paragraph, developing the comparison.

So well done to everyone that noticed that he needs to start comparing and bringing in the other text.

So again, let's just read this through together.

Saner is more celebratory and lighthearted in tone.

Writing in 2016, the attitude towards women explorers has shifted from that of the 19th century.

Saner continually uses lists throughout the article, which evoke awe and emphasises the magnitude of Hine's achievements, detailing everything from killer snakes to gun-toting opium farmers.

Likewise, Saner indirectly quotes Grylls as saying Hines is stronger than 99% of the men he knew, revealing her immense ability.

Despite their achievements, both writers hint at the systemic sexism and challenges they face in a male dominated realm.

Again, another fantastic paragraph from Jacob.

So let's just check what he's done here.

So we can see that he compares throughout and he uses those words, those evaluative terms, like is more and less.

So Saner is more, and there's that comparison there both writers hint at and then where they're writing from their perspectives, 2016 and the 19th century.

So there's that constant comparison of the two texts.

Jacob has done really well at continuing to focusing on the analysis of methods.

So he talks about tone, he talks about the use of lists, he talks about the use of indirect quotations, and he explains how the writer is using this in comparison to the other.

So there's a really good level of analysis here in relation to the writers' methods and comparison to the other text.

And this all links to the topic sentence as well.

So the idea of systemic sexism, the idea of how both writers are exploring these issues.

So particularly in that last sentence there, we can see Jacob linking back to his topic sentence and the focus in the wider essay question.

Okay, so over to you, you need to pick A, B, C, or D.

What is true of comparative analytical paragraphs? Is the true answer A, B, C, or D? Okay, quite a tricky one, so who's feeling confident? Should we look at the answer? Fab, the answer is B.

You should compare throughout the paragraph, not just in the topic sentence.

And this is a really important point.

So yes, your topic sentence should introduce a comparison, but when you come to start analysing the methods, make sure you are still comparing those as well.

So we have reached our second and final practise task.

Okay, so this is over to you now to do some writing.

So you've already written your topic sentences, so use your topic sentences and your selected quotations.

So you've done lots of the hard work.

I'd like you please to write two comparative paragraphs in response to the essay prompt.

So let's just remind you of that.

So compare the presentation of exploration and survival in "Around the World in 72 Days," and "Megan Hine, the woman who keep helps keep Bear Grylls safe." So you've got your essay prompt there, and you are using your topic sentences and your quotations to write your comparative paragraphs, okay? So you may want to follow Jacob's structure.

So your comparative topic sentence, your analysis of text one, your comparison and analysis of text two, exactly like we just looked at, and then your concluding sentence, which links to the topic sentence.

You may want to look back at Jacob's model and Jacob's response to help you if you get stuck.

So that's all there to help you, but otherwise you should have everything you need to get this task done.

So pause the video so you've got plenty of time to do your best work, and I look forward to seeing these comparative paragraphs.

Okay, let's get going and pause the video.

Wow, what hard work I can sense, that is just fantastic.

As I said at the beginning of the lesson, writing comparative paragraphs, analytical paragraphs can be quite tricky, but lots of you have found using this structure much easier.

So that's fantastic.

So the more you practise this structure using these strategies, the easier these paragraphs will become.

Because it isn't just for this essay question.

This can be adapted and used in other comparative responses too.

So like I say, practising your planning and practising your writing is a great way to get better at these things.

So let's just reconsider the final section of Jacob's paragraph.

Okay, we'll read it through together.

So, "Saner is more celebratory and lighthearted in tone, writing in 2016.

The attitude towards women explorers has shifted from that of the 19th century.

Saner continually uses lists throughout the article, which evoke awe and emphasise the magnitude of Hine's achievements, detailing everything from killer snakes to gun-toting opium farmers.

Likewise, Saner indirectly quotes Grylls as saying Hines is stronger than 99% of the men he knew, revealing her immense ability.

Despite their achievements, both writers hint at the systemic sexism and challenges they face in a male dominated realm." Okay, so just remember that he compares the texts throughout.

He continues to focus on the analysis of methods, so he uses terminology to identify some specific features, and then makes some analytical comments.

And then finally, that last sentence in particular links back to that topic sentence and the essay question as a whole.

So what I would like you to do, please, is I'd like you to focus on the final section of your paragraph, which focuses on text two.

And I'd just like you to spend a few moments identifying where you have met the checklist.

You may wish to take this opportunity to add to your paragraph or maybe even rewrite some sections of your response.

But now it's about just taking a few moments to self-assess and check through your work using that checklist.

You are definitely going to need to pause the video to give yourself time to do this.

Okay, pause video, and off you go.

Well done, everyone.

We have reached the end of the lesson and you have worked incredibly hard.

As I keep saying, writing comparative analytical paragraphs can be very tricky.

So the amount of effort that you have put in to achieve this has been absolutely great and will mean writing them in the future just gets easier and easier.

So let's just remind ourselves of everything we have been through today.

So we know that the opening of comparative paragraphs should start with a topic sentence, which states the paragraph's main idea.

We know that the next sentences of a comparative paragraph could focus on the differences between the two texts, that including multiple quotations from both texts is key to a comparative paragraph, comparing the methods writers have used can help to develop the comparison, and then final, that all important final sentence of a comparative paragraph should link to the topic sentence.

So again, a very well done.

I cannot wait to do this all again soon with you all.

So please do join me again for another lesson.

But until then, goodbye.