1. Bold Girls
Rona Munro

2. We are learning to:
Write an effective CEL on the play ‘Bold Girls’ by Rona Munro.

3. What should our CEL focus on?
With regards to Bold Girls, you should be focussing on aspects such as:
The use of tension
The theme of truth / escapism
Relationships between the characters
Scene 4 (this is where all the “truths” are revealed)
Remember: You cannot just memorise an essay and hope your question comes up. Ensure that you use the knowledge you possess in order to answer the question!

4. Introductions
Remember the elements that must be present within an introduction:
Title
Author / Playwright
Genre
Summary 3-5 lines maximum
What your essay will attempt / explore
Reference to question

5. Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.

6. For example:
‘Bold Girls’ by Rona Munro is a play in which there is a scene that involves tension. Munro uses numerous techniques to convey the tension between the characters in Scene four of her play. This is where Cassie confesses to Marie about her affair with Michael, Marie’s husband and this, in turn, proves to be the climax of the whole play. To study how the tension is built up, it is necessary to look at Cassie’s confession to Marie; Cassie’s confrontation with Nora; the setting and the use of Deirdre as a catalyst.

7. Group Task – 7 minutes
Write an introduction for Bold Girls using the following question:
Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.

8. Peer Assessment – 4 minutes
Swap introductions with another group.
Tick the mention of the following criteria:
Title
Author / Playwright
Genre
Summary
What your essay will attempt / explore
Reference to question
If a section of this has not been done – make a note of this on your peer’s paragraph.

9. Feedback

10. Main Body
This is where the main discussion of your essay will take place.
It MUST be structured efficiently, otherwise it will read as though your are “waffling” on.
Remember to use…

11. P.E.A.R
Point: This is where you tell the marker what you are going to be discussing
Evidence: This is your quotation. This backs up what point you are trying to make in your point
Analysis: This is where you analyse your quotation. What techniques have been used? What does this quote reveal about characterisation/plot/setting/theme? How does it effect the play as a whole?
Refer to Question: This is where you link this discussion back to the question. It is here you are showing the marker that you are answering the question!

12. For example:
The scene where Munro reveals the most tension is scene four, where Cassie confesses to Marie that she was having an affair with Michael. This tension has been building up throughout the play with Cassie, hinting that Michael was not such a perfect husband as Marie believes. She tells Marie earlier, ‘sure he was hardly ever here when he was alive.’ Throughout scene four, Munro makes Cassie’s dialogue more direct and blunt, ‘not much perfect about him’. She talks about men going with women for sex and claims ‘they’re all the same’ and says specifically about Michael, ‘all the times he made a fool of you to your face and making a fool of you with all those women.’ The climax finally occurs when Cassie’s hinting stops and she confesses the sordid truth. Marie claims that ‘Michael would no more lie to me than you would, Cassie’ and Cassie replies, ‘well, we both did…..we were both lying to you for years.’ She goes on to explain the details of the affair and the stage directions state that Marie has frozen, showing that the tension has reached its peak.

13. P.E.A.R
Point: The scene where Munro reveals most tension is scene four, where Cassie confesses to Marie that she was having an affair with Michael. This tension has been building up throughout the play with Cassie hinting that Michael was not such a perfect husband as Marie believes.
Evidence: She tells Marie earlier, ‘sure he was hardly ever here when he was alive.’
Analysis: Throughout scene four, Munro makes Cassie’s dialogue and hints more direct and blunt; ‘not much perfect about him’. She talks about men going with women for sex and claims ‘they’re all the same’ and says specifically about Michael, ‘all the times he made a fool of you to your face and making a fool of you with all those women.’ The climax finally occurs when Cassie’s hinting stops and she confesses the sordid truth. Marie claims that ‘Michael would no more lie to me than you would, Cassie’ and Cassie replies, ‘well, we both did…..we were both lying to you for years.’
Refer to Question: She goes on to explain the details of the affair and the stage directions state that Marie has frozen, showing that the tension has reached its peak.

14. Main Body Paragraphs – 5 mins
Think about what we would discuss in our paragraphs.
As a group – mind map what we would discuss in our main body for that question.
Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.

15. Feedback

16. Main Body
Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.
MB 1: Discuss how Deirdre in Scene 3 has caused a chain of events in Scene 4
MB2: Cassie v.s. Nora
MB 3: Cassie v.s. Marie
MB 4: Marie v.s. Deirdre

17. Group Task – 10 mins
As a group, select one of those Main Body paragraphs and write it using the PEAR structure.
Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.
Point: This is where you tell the marker what you are going to be discussing
Evidence: This is your quotation. This backs up what point you are trying to make in your Statement
Analysis: This is where you analyse your quotation. What techniques have been used? What does this quote reveal about characterisation/plot/setting/theme? How does it effect the play as a whole?
Refer to Question: This is where you link this discussion back to the question. It is here you are showing the marker that you are answering the question!

18. Peer Assessment – 5 mins Swap paragraphs with another group.
Using highlighters, highlight the use of POINT, EVIDENCE, ANALYSIS and REFERENCE TO QUESTION. Remember, you also have to refer to the play as a whole.
If a section of this has not been done – make a note of this on your peer’s paragraph.

19. Feedback

20. Conclusions
Remember that a conclusion will sum up what you have discussed throughout your essay.
Do not mention anything in your conclusion that you did not discuss in the remainder of the essay.
Reference to the question!

21. Example
Munro creates tension throughout the play using many techniques such as… and by using the character of Deirdre as a catalyst; she evokes a rising tension that builds to a climax in scene four, when Cassie confesses to Marie about her affair. This becomes the turning point that forces Marie to engage with a truth she is trying to escape from.

22. Group Task – 5 minutes As a group, write an effective conclusion.
Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.

23. Peer Assessment Swap conclusions with another group.
Tick the mention of the following criteria:
Summed up the contents of the essay/discussion
Personal Response
Reference to Question
If a section of this has not been done – make a note of this on your peer’s paragraph.

24. Homework
For homework, I want you to plan and write an essay on Bold Girls using the following question:
Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up.
Show how the suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.