GCSE English Session 1

Who am I? Naomi Goodhew

Starter Please fill in the form with as much information as you can Please use complete sentences and be detailed

Objectives Overview of the course Our expectations and your expectations Discuss and take notes on how we write to describe Plan and write a piece of descriptive writing

Our expectations Bring your book with you- or leave it here Bring a pen to class Mobile phones in your bag Any issues – let me know before class Be prepared to learn – “I can” instead of “I can’t do this.” Be positive Study – if you don’t study, you won’t pass! Learn from the past! I only see you for 3 hours a week. This is a revision class.

Your expectations What do you expect from us as an English department? Take 5 minutes to write some expectations down on the sticky notes in front of you. When you have finished, put them on the flip chart paper,

AQA English Language 2017-18

No foundation or higher tier This means that everybody will be sitting the same paper and you can achieve anything from an grade 1-9 The equivalent of a C grade is a 4 or 5 Those who have just come from school, you will have sat the 1-9 exam We need to get your ‘3’ up to a ‘4’ or higher.

What skills do you need to demonstrate? All texts in the examination are UNSEEN You will be assessed on: READING Inference skills Commenting on language and techniques the writer has used WRITING Writing to suit a purpose using appropriate SPAG and layout

Paper 1 50% of GCSE grade Section A: Reading One fiction text from either 20th or 21st century. 40 marks available 1 short form question (4 marks) 2 longer form questions (8 marks each) 1 extended question (20 marks)

Paper 1 50% of GCSE grade 1 extended writing question Section B: Writing 1 extended writing question 40 marks available 24 marks for content 16 marks for accuracy (SPAG) Choice of two descriptive pieces

Paper 2 50% of GCSE grade One non- fiction text (19th Century) Section A; Reading One non- fiction text (19th Century) One non- fiction text (20th or 21st century) 40 marks available 1 short form question (4 marks) 2 longer form questions (8 marks and 12 marks) 1 extended question (16 marks)

Paper 2 50% of GCSE grade 1 extended writing question Section B- writing 1 extended writing question 40 marks available 24 marks for content 16 marks for accuracy (SPAG) This will be linked to the 2 reading sources in section A

Timings Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes 15 minutes reading time is recommended

Exam dates 5th June paper 1 8th June paper 2 DO NOT BOOK ANY HOLIDAYS! IF YOU MISS AN EXAM YOU HAVE WASTED A WHOLE YEAR!!! There is an early sitting date in November- depending on your progress in the next couple of weeks, this could be an option for some of you

Speaking and Listening Graded as; Pass Merit Distinction Last week before Christmas – week beginning 11th December.

Mock exams We will sit some mock exams before you sit your exams in June Why do we sit mock exams?

Our plan is to diagnose what areas you need to work on to help you achieve your desired grade We will be giving you a task today and in the next session

Describing How do we describe? In your groups, write down all the skills you use to describe on the paper in front of you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCdRFMp8Xwo

Task 4 You’ve just woken up. It’s 10am and all is quiet which is unusual on a Saturday morning. You have an uneasy feeling about it being quiet, so you go outside to see if anyone else is awake and out there. There isn’t. Your mind is racing. Why is it quiet? Where is everyone? Why are there cars and bikes in the middle of the road abandoned? Describe what you see just like the character in 28 Days Later. Use the senses to help you describe. Tell me how you are feeling? Scared? Excited? Write me between a page and two pages on the paper provided to you. Good luck.

Read through your work How could it be improved? Look at the cards to see if you can use more ambitious vocabulary