1. Aims of the lesson To explore what the themes of the poetry might be To analyse the language and structure of Half- caste To write one paragraph in response to an exam question

2. Home Learning Use the internet to research the following poems: Half-caste by John Agard Parade’s End by Daljit Nagra Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson Our Sharpville by Ingrid de Kok Exposure by Wilfred Owen Catrin by Gillan Clark Your Dad did what? By Sophie Hannah The Class Game by Mary CAsey Cousin Kate by Christina Rossetti Hitcher by Simon Armitage The Drum by John Scott O What is that Sound by W.H. Auden Conscientious Objector by Edna St. Vincent Millay August 6, 1945 by Alison Fell Invasion by Choman Hardi Try the following sites to begin with: http://www.fairfieldenglish.or g/public_html/?page_id=530 http://www.fairfieldenglish.or g/public_html/?page_id=530 http://smartenglishrevision.w ordpress.com/tag/edexcel- poetry-anthology/ http://smartenglishrevision.w ordpress.com/tag/edexcel- poetry-anthology/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/school s/gcsebitesize/english_literat ure/poetryconflict/belfastcon fetti1.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/school s/gcsebitesize/english_literat ure/poetryconflict/belfastcon fetti1.shtml GOOGLE

4. Half-caste What does the term mean? Do you find it offensive at all? Why might some people see the term as offensive? Listen to the poem! What do you think the poem is about? What does Agard think about the term Half-caste?

5. Excuse me standing on one leg I’m half-caste. Explain yuself wha yu mean when yu say half-caste yu mean when Picasso mix red an green is a half-caste canvas? explain yuself wha yu mean when yu say half-caste yu mean when light an shadow mix in de sky is a half-caste weather? well in dat case england weather nearly always half-caste in fact some o dem cloud half-caste till dem overcast so spiteful dem don’t want de sun pass ah rass/ explain yuself wha yu mean when yu say half-caste yu mean tchaikovsky sit down at dah piano an mix a black key wid a white key is a half-caste symphony/ Explain yuself wha yu mean Ah listening to yu wid de keen half of mih ear Ah looking at yu wid de keen half of mih eye an when I’m introduced to yu I’m sure you’ll understand why I offer yu half-a-hand an when I sleep at night I close half-a-eye consequently when I dream I dream half-a-dream an when moon begin to glow I half-caste human being cast half-a-shadow but yu must come back tomorrow wid de whole of yu eye an de whole of yu ear an de whole of yu mind. an I will tell yu de other half of my story. How does Agard use language to convey his message?

6. Explain how Agard uses language to put his point across Agard shows both anger and humour in the way he responds in “Half-caste.” He speaks very aggressively to the reader using first person when he starts the poem “Explain yuself / wha yu mean.” These words show that he is challenging the reader and asks them to explain their behaviour. This also shows that he doesn’t understand why they use the term half-caste as it suggests that people of mixed race are inferior. Furthermore Agard uses humour to make a serious point when he says “Excuse me / standing on one leg / I’m half-caste.” This shows that he is trying to politely show that by using the term half caste, people are suggesting that people of mixed race are only half a person. Can you identify where I have: 1.Made a clear point? 2.Given evidence to support the point? 3.Explained how the evidence supported my point? 4.Showed how it reflects the poet’s point of view?

7. Now it’s your turn… 1)Did my partner give a clear point which used the key words of the question? 2)Did my partner integrate quotations effectively and set them out like the poem? 3)Did my partner analyse individual words and phrases? 4)Did my partner suggest how the language coveys the writer’s point of view? 5)Did my partner answer the question? /5