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Year 11
Edexcel

Writing an extended and developed response on Edexcel's 'Belonging' poetry

I can create a written response which meets a success criteria.

Download all resources
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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Writing an extended and developed response on Edexcel's 'Belonging' poetry

I can create a written response which meets a success criteria.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An excellent introduction could start with a brief summary of each poem.
  2. An introduction should then have a more specific statement about the focus of the question, followed by a thesis.
  3. Topic sentences need to be clear, comparative and linked to the question.
  4. Comparative conjunctions should be used to compare language, form and structure of poems.
  5. Context can be used to develop arguments.

Common misconception

Analytical paragraphs should lead by comparing how the writers use language, form and/or structure.

The best comparative analytical writing begins by exploring connections between the key ideas or attitudes in a poem, supported by analysis of how writers use language, form and/or structure to convey these ideas or attitudes.

Keywords

  • Subtle - less obvious; nuanced; complex or understated

  • Comparative vocabulary - words and phrases used to signpost similarities and differences

  • Tentative language - language which indicates a suggestion or idea (as opposed to a fact)

  • Discourse markers - language used to signpost different parts of a text (e.g. in conclusion)

  • Redraft - rewriting parts of your work to include missing elements or upgrade the quality of your response

Use a range of different coloured pens/highlighter to encourage pupils to colour-code their work, identifying strength and areas for improvement.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the Edexcel GCSE Poetry Anthology ('Belonging' cluster).

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

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.
Match the components of a single paragraph outline with their definition.
Correct Answer:topic sentence,explains the focus of the paragraph

explains the focus of the paragraph

Correct Answer:supporting detail,analysis of language, form and structure

analysis of language, form and structure

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,summarises the paragraph

summarises the paragraph

Q2.
What word beginning with 'C' refers to the quality of being clear and easy to understand?
Correct Answer: clarity
Q3.
An effective concluding sentence should …
rephrase the topic sentence.
give your opinion about the text.
Correct answer: have a sharp focus on the writer's intentions.
Q4.
Instead of choosing poems based on the time they were written or their style, it's better to compare poems based on their presentation of key ...
Correct answer: themes.
forms.
events.
characters.
Q5.
A word or phrase used to link ideas and signpost the direction of the writing is called a ...
comparative conjunction.
Correct answer: discourse marker.
rhetorical question.
correlative conjunction.
tentative sentence.
Q6.
Which of the following is example of a comparative conjunction?
consequently
most effectively
Correct answer: however

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is tentative language?
language used to embed a quotation into a sentence
language used to signpost similarities and differences
Correct answer: language which indicates a suggestion or an uncertain idea (as opposed to facts)
Q2.
When choosing a poem to compare to the one you've been given from the Edexcel 'Belonging' anthology, which of the following is important to consider?
Correct answer: which other poems have similar themes or messages to the one you've been given
which other poems use a similar structure or form
Correct answer: which other poems explore similar attitudes or emotions
how the similar the poets were as people
Q3.
Which of these would you expect to see in an effective introduction to an answer comparing two poems?
a brief summary of what you like about each poem
evidence from both poems
Correct answer: comparative language
analysis how writers use language, form and/or structure
Q4.
A good topic sentence will begin by ...
exploring the wider context of each text.
Correct answer: comparing key ideas in the texts.
Correct answer: using discourse markers such as 'Firstly ...' or 'Furthermore ...'.
'feature spotting' important similarities in the way the poets use language.
introducing key quotations from each text.
Q5.
When writing a literature essay, context should be used ...
in every paragraph.
Correct answer: where it is relevant to the point you are making.
the first sentence of your response.
Correct answer: the conclusion when you are considering why a writer made certain choices.
as little as possible.
Q6.
A good conclusion will ...
avoid linking to wider context.
Correct answer: summarise the comparisons you made throughout the response.
list some extra points you didn't get to include in the rest of the response.
Correct answer: avoid making new points or introducing new quotes.