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Year 10
AQA

Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging

I can write an analytical essay about how Winsome Pinnock uses the character of Viv to explore ideas about belonging in ‘Leave Taking’.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging

I can write an analytical essay about how Winsome Pinnock uses the character of Viv to explore ideas about belonging in ‘Leave Taking’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Use the essay question as a planning tool by annotating its keywords.
  2. Create a detailed plan which includes a clear thesis, and focused topic sentences.
  3. A thesis is your overarching argument.
  4. A topic sentence states the paragraph’s main idea.
  5. Essays should follow a structure: introduction, main body paragraphs, conclusion.

Common misconception

All planning should be in note form.

Foundations of your essay - thesis and topic sentences - should be written in full so you know they are powerful, precise and purposeful.

Keywords

  • Thesis - The overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text.

  • 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.

  • Belonging - The feeling that you are accepted in a group, community or society.

  • Specific - A precise detail.

Consider the time your class needs to both plan the essay (first practice task) and write the essay (second practice task). Use this to inform your planning for this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.

Content guidance

  • Contains strong language
  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Viv is one of the five characters in 'Leave Taking'. What do we find out about her over the course of the play?
She is pregnant.
Correct answer: She is disillusioned with the education system.
She migrates to Jamaica.
Correct answer: She goes to university to pursue Black Studies.
She becomes a playwright.
Q2.
Viv appears in five of 'Leave Taking's' eight scenes. Match her scenes to their plot points.
Correct Answer:Scene One,Attends an obeah reading with her mum and sister

Attends an obeah reading with her mum and sister

Correct Answer:Scene Two,Studies whilst her mum prepares for the Pastor's visit

Studies whilst her mum prepares for the Pastor's visit

Correct Answer:Scene Three,Tells her mother she wants to take a gap year

Tells her mother she wants to take a gap year

Correct Answer:Scene Four,Has a heart to heart with Enid following her mother's death

Has a heart to heart with Enid following her mother's death

Correct Answer:Scene Five,Tells Del she skipped one of her English exams

Tells Del she skipped one of her English exams

Q3.
In 'Leave Taking', Viv is presented as a very successful and academic student. Why, though, is she dissatisfied with her education?
She would rather be out partying.
She wants to go to school in Jamaica.
Correct answer: She can't see herself in the materials she is given in school.
Correct answer: School increases her sense of being out of place in Britain.
The work is too hard, which is why she skips one of her exams.
Q4.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Viv complains to her mother that she spends "my life bent over books that have to do with me."
Correct Answer: nothing, Nothing, nothing., "nothing", Nothing.
Q5.
In Scene Five of 'Leave Taking', Viv tells Del that she skipped one of her exams. One reason for doing this is, she says, "no matter how hard I search for myself in them books, I'm there."
Correct Answer: never, "never", Never, Never., never.
Q6.
'Leave Taking' is a play concerned with the idea of belonging. But it is also concerned with its opposite: the feeling of dislocation. What does dislocation mean?
A feeling of disloyalty.
A feeling of migration.
Correct answer: A feeling of being in the wrong place.
Correct answer: A feeling of unsettlement.
Correct answer: A feeling of being out of place.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Starting with the first element, put the essay structure for analytical writing on 'Leave Taking' in chronological order.
1 - introduction
2 - main body paragraph 1, starting with a clear topic sentence
3 - main body paragraph 2, starting with a clear topic sentence
4 - main body paragraph 3, starting with a clear topic sentence
5 - conclusion
Q2.
When writing essays on 'Leave Taking', you will include a thesis. Where should your thesis be found?
at the start of each paragraph
at the end of each paragraph
Correct answer: in your introduction
Correct answer: in your planning materials
in your introduction, and then repeated, word for word, in your conclusion
Q3.
Essays are made up of different elements. Match each element to its definition and purpose.
Correct Answer:introduction,moves from the general to the specific, includes your thesis

moves from the general to the specific, includes your thesis

Correct Answer:topic sentence,first sentence of each paragraph stating its main idea

first sentence of each paragraph stating its main idea

Correct Answer:analysis,exploration of moments, quotations and methods from the text

exploration of moments, quotations and methods from the text

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,last sentence of each paragraph; focus on writer's intention

last sentence of each paragraph; focus on writer's intention

Correct Answer:conclusion,moves from the specific to the general; focus on the writer

moves from the specific to the general; focus on the writer

Q4.
When you read an essay question on 'Leave Taking', what is the first step of the planning process?
making a list of all the dramatic methods you can remember
re-reading the text
starting the essay, refining ideas in the editing stage
writing a thesis statement
Correct answer: annotating the question's keywords
Q5.
When planning an essay on 'Leave Taking', you should complete a detailed plan. Match each section of the planning grid to its definition.
Correct Answer:thesis,overarching argument supported by the whole text

overarching argument supported by the whole text

Correct Answer:topic sentence,first sentence of the paragraph stating your main idea

first sentence of the paragraph stating your main idea

Correct Answer:supporting details,references to the text

references to the text

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,final sentence of a paragraph, concluding your idea

final sentence of a paragraph, concluding your idea

Correct Answer:conclusion,sums up your essay's overall thesis

sums up your essay's overall thesis

Q6.
A pupil drafts a sentence answering a question about Viv in 'Leave Taking': "Pinnock reveals Viv's unhappiness with the education system in Scene Two." Is this a topic sentence, or a thesis statement?
thesis - it is about the character of Viv and no-one else
thesis - it begins with Pinnock's name showing she crafted the character
neither - this is analysis because it refers to a particular scene
Correct answer: topic sentence - it is focussed on one clear idea
Correct answer: topic sentence - one idea supported by a moment in text rather than whole text