Short Story reminder sheet

Please also refer to the specifications for English Literature Poetry and Prose and for English Unit 2, which you have in your files.

Used for English and English Literature. Remember that in English Unit 2 you use the second six stories only. In English Literature you use all the stories.

Both English and English Literature want you to explore how an idea/ theme/ situation/ relationship is developed in two stories. Both may expect you to show perception about the cultural difference as shown in stories. This needs to be integrated into your analysis of the stories.

English - 35 minutes - Choice of two questions

The questions expect you to demonstrate awareness of 'distinctive aspects of texts from different cultures and traditions by exploring the ways in which writers use language and structure to create character/ setting/ theme.' i.e. culture tends to be implicit or explicit in the question.

English Literature: 40-45 minutes - Choice of three questions

The questions expect you to make 'comment, criticism [= discussion of how rather than judgement] and analysis [and] will invite reference to relevant contextual features' - i.e. opportunity to demonstrate that you've understood the significant features of this different society.

In both papers there will be a passage-based question. Read the question carefully to see whether your whole essay should focus just on the passages or whether wider reference is needed. You may find opportunities to make passing references to other parts of the story, so long as they are relevant and you don't just tell the story. Avoiding narrative/ description is most important. Always focus on what idea you are wanting to present.

5-point approach to initial thinking and planning

1 theme/ topic - how central is it? does it relate to other themes in story?

2 how do the characters show it?

3 what is the importance of setting (including cultural setting)

4 language - description/ dialogue/ authorial comment/ thoughts - how do they make the theme (or whatever the essay question wanted) evident?

5 what does comparison of the stories reveal (about question topic)

Year 7 Reading List

With the Easter holidays rapidly approaching what could be more pleasant than a little trip to the library? Here are a few suggestions of what to get out:


Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Pig Heart Boy - Malorie Blackman

Kezzie - Theresa Breslin

Cosmic - Frank Cottrell Boyce

Scarlett - Cathy Cassidy

Airman - Eoin Colfer

Lion Boy - Zizou Corder

Heartbeat - Sharon Creech

Bollywood Babes - Narinder Dhami

The London Eye Mystery - Siobhan Dowd

Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz

The Star of Kazan - Eva Ibbotson

The Divide - Elizabeth Kay

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - Judith Kerr

The Garbage King - Elizabeth Laird

Skulduggery Pleasant - Derek Landy

Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian

Stop the Train - Geraldine McCaughrean

Girl, Missing - Sophie McKenzie

The Wind Singer - William Nicholson

Wolf Brother - Michelle Paver

The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

Montmorency - Elanore Updale

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

Year 8 Reading List

With the Easter holidays rapidly approaching what could be more pleasant than a little trip to the library? Here are a few suggestions of what to get out:


Clay - David Almond

Cosmic - Frank Cottrell Boyce

Hero.com: Rise of the Heroes - Andy Briggs

Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman

Kezzie - Theresa Breslin

Airman - Eoin Colfer

A Gathering Light - Jennifer Donnelly

The London Eye Mystery - Siobhan Dowd

Anila’s Journey - Mary Finn

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

I, Coriander - Sally Gardner

Diamond of Drury Lane - Julia Golding

Apache - Tanya Landman

Skulduggery Pleasant - Derek Landy

The Garbage King - Elizabeth Laird

Back Home - Michelle Magorian

Girl, Missing - Sophie McKenzie

The Wind Singer - William Nicholson

Pirates! - Celia Rees

Mortal Engines - Phillip Reeve

Finding Violet Park - Jenny Valentine

HIVE - Mark Walden

Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

Year 9 Reading List

With the Easter holidays rapidly approaching what could be more pleasant than a little trip to the library? Here are a few suggestions of what to get out:


The Stuff of Nightmares - Malorie Blackman

Exodus - Julie Bertagna

The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly

Bog Child - Siobhan Dowd

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

The Red Necklace - Sally Gardner

Against the Storm - Gaye Hicyilmaz

The Dream Merchant - Isabel Hoving

The Secret Countess - Eva Ibbtoson

Life on the Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers

Lost Riders - Elizabeth Laird

Just Henry - Michelle Magorian

The Declaration - Gemma Malley

The Kite Rider - Geraldine McCaughrean

Blood Ties - Sophie McKenzie

Ways to Live Forever - Sally Nicholls

What Was Lost - Katherine O’Flynn

Life as We Knew It - Susan Pfeffer

The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

Creature of the Night - Kate Thompson

The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien

Broken Soup - Jenny Valentine

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

Year 10 Reading List

With the Easter holidays rapidly approaching what could be more pleasant than a little trip to the library? Here are a few suggestions of what to get out:


City of Light - Lauren Belfer

Exodus - Julie Bertagna

The Alchemist - Paul Coelho

The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly

Bog Child - Siobhan Dowd

The Flight of the Maidens - Jane Gardam

Chocolat - Joanne Harris

The Silent Shore - Ruth Elwin Harris

The Dream Merchant - Isabel Hoving

A Company of Swans - Eva Ibbtoson

Life on the Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers

Lost Riders - Elizabeth Laird

The Declaration - Gemma Malley

The Eclipse of the Century - Jan Mark

Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell

Ways to Live Forever - Sally Nicholls

Life as We Knew It - Susan Pfeffer

The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett

Sovay - Celia Rees

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien

Queen of the Big Time - Adriana Trigiani

Digging to America - Anne Tyler

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

World Book Day

World Book Day is coming this Thursday. To discover more, see videos, read extracts and find out about competitions click here.

Kipling and Indian Literature

There was an interesting discussion yesterday about Rudyard Kipling on The Today Programme. The BBC describe it in this way:

British author and poet Rudyard Kipling is known for his love of India, but his reputation in the country remains controversial.

Plans for a museum commemorating Mr Kipling's Mumbai home have been shelved over concerns that it would be politically unpalatable, as he was a renowned imperialist, fierce opponent of independence and a chronicler of the British Raj

Andrew Lycett, Mr Kipling's biographer, and Aravind Adiga, and Indian journalist and author who won the 2008 Man Booker prize for his works The White Tiger, reflect on Mr Kipling's relationship with India.

Tune in for some great American literature

There are some interesting programmes being broadcast in the next few days on BBC Radio 4. Mark Lawson's History of Modern American Literature sounds like it will be worth listening to. And if you fancy a modern American Book at Bedtime there are some great ones coming up too. There are also feature length interviews with American authors now online.

If you just want something to read then look at this useful article from The Guardian.

Our Newest Society

OK, so it doesn't really look like this. The Lower 6th Literary Society is actually dynamic, forward-thinking and vibrant. And it's just been founded so come and join us on Friday lunchtimes at 1.15 in the Undercroft. We'll be looking at J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye when we've had chance to (re)read it but before that it's a case of bring and share. Oh yes, and there'll be cake.

Matilda

Some of you may have listened to BBC radio's major dramatisation of Roald Dahl's Matilda this Christmas. If so you may have recognised the voice of Miss Honey, played by Emerald O'Hanrahan, one of our former students. Emerald has starred in a number of BBC productions recently so keep an ear out for her. If you missed the broadcast you can at least still enjoy the book.

Websites - Books: Books - Websites

Want to find a good book but don't know where to look? You might want to check out these websites from Booktrust, Oxford University Press and the Guardian

Three authors for the price of one!

Erin Hunter is not an author, as you might expect, but three authors (Kate Cary, Victoria Holmes and Cherith Baldry) who have taken the name of Erin Hunter and written a series of books called Warrior Cats. There are over thirty books so far and they are still more to come.


Our Year 7 blogger tells us that you have to like cats and know a little about them if you are going to understand what's going on. She explains that when reading the books it's like you are watching what's happening, as you can hear what the cat is thinking. Erin  Hunter is her favourite author and she can highly recommend the whole series.

Great Expectations

There have been numerous adaptations of Great Expectations. I would like you to compare the opening of the novel with the openings of these two (rather different) adaptations: David Lean's classic 1946 film and the much more recent BBC version. Try to ignore the rather irritating subtitles!

In your files you should write up to a side of A4 explaining the differences between the two versions, the aspects of the original novel they emphasise, and any aspects of the novel they seem to neglect.

Charles Dickens

If you have finished looking at the previous post on Great Expectations you might want to look at this animation about the life and work of Charles Dickens.

Now have a look at this animated timeline to fill in a few more details. If you have time create a timeline of your own.