‘Power and Conflict’ poetry: writing a sophisticated comparative response
I can explore nuanced similarities and differences between poems, supported with evidence and analysis.
‘Power and Conflict’ poetry: writing a sophisticated comparative response
I can explore nuanced similarities and differences between poems, supported with evidence and analysis.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Identifying nuances in theme and perspective will construct a purposeful comparison.
- Gather ideas for both texts before planning so you know which evidence you can use.
- Ensure your thesis statement summarises both poems, links to the question and focuses on the entirety of both texts.
- Topic sentences should be specific, precise and express duality.
- Evidence should be embedded into analytical paragraphs.
Keywords
Marginalised - treated as if less important
Thesis - the primary argument or central idea presented in a piece of academic writing
Topic sentence - a sentence that introduces the main idea or theme of a paragraph, guiding its content
Embedded - information or objects that are firmly and deeply fixed within something else
Tentative language - words or phrases that express a lack of certainty when presenting ideas
Common misconception
'My Last Duchess' and 'Checking Out Me History' are written over 100 years apart, thus won't make for the most effective comparison.
When looking at poems to compare, look closely at similarities between big ideas and you can find nuanced links between poems that are written in different socio-political contexts.
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: ‘Power and Conflict’ poetry: writing a sophisticated comparative response, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: ‘Power and Conflict’ poetry: writing a sophisticated comparative response, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Power and conflict poetry continued unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
structural evidence
language evidence
contextual evidence
form