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’.
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’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Use the essay question as a planning tool by annotating its keywords.
- Create a detailed plan which includes a clear thesis, and focused topic sentences.
- A thesis is your overarching argument.
- A topic sentence states the paragraph’s main idea.
- Essays should follow a structure: introduction, main body paragraphs, conclusion.
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.
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.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging, 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 Leave Taking: a sense of belonging unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Attends an obeah reading with her mum and sister
Studies whilst her mum prepares for the Pastor's visit
Tells her mother she wants to take a gap year
Has a heart to heart with Enid following her mother's death
Tells Del she skipped one of her English exams
Exit quiz
6 Questions
moves from the general to the specific, includes your thesis
first sentence of each paragraph stating its main idea
exploration of moments, quotations and methods from the text
last sentence of each paragraph; focus on writer's intention
moves from the specific to the general; focus on the writer
overarching argument supported by the whole text
first sentence of the paragraph stating your main idea
references to the text
final sentence of a paragraph, concluding your idea
sums up your essay's overall thesis