1. Writing about poetry in the exam
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
TO READ, UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO TEXTS
TO ANALYSE LANGUAGE USING TERMINOLOGY
TO SHOW UNDERSTANDING OF TEXT RELATIONSHIPS

2. Writing an effective answer in a short space of time requires organisation and skill. You need to:
Understand the question
Plan your response
Use quotations and textual references
Make detailed comparisons between two poems

3. Understanding the question
Whatever the exam question is, your answer should always:
Refer to two poems only – one that is printed in the exam paper and one chosen by you
Compare the two poets’ treatment of a theme or idea that will be stated in the question
Write about poetic techniques and language features.

4. Example
Compare the ways in which the poets present views of marriage in ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ and one other poem from the Love and Relationships cluster.
Question element
Task
Compare
Remember to cover both what is similar and what is different
The ways in which the poets present
Views of marriage
In ‘The Farmer’s Bride’
And one other poem from the cluster

5. Paired Work Break down this question in the same way:
Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about love in ‘I think of thee!’ and one other poem from the Love and Relationships cluster.
Extension: choose any theme from the cluster and write your own question. Assign a poem to your question.

6. The Exam
You will have about 40 minutes to produce and answer in the exam.
Plan your answer so that it is full and well-shaped.
Look at your planning sheets and consider how they could be helpful.

7. Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about relationships between people in ‘Mother, any distance’ and one other poem from the Love and Relationships cluster.

8. The opening is important. here's an example of a good opening:
Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about relationships between people in ‘Mother, any distance’ and one other poem from the Love and Relationships cluster.
The opening is important. here's an example of a good opening:
Write an opening of your own for any of the questions we’ve discussed.

9. Peer Assess Swap your openings and give effective feedback.
Once you’ve responded to your feedback, consider how you might use quotations and textual references in your answer.

10. Options
A block quotation:
An embedded quotation:
Paraphrasing:

11. Activity
Turn to ‘Neutral Tones’. Imagine you are making a point about Hardy’s deliberate refusal to allow any colour into the scene he describes. Introduce that point and support with a block quotation.
Can you try the same with an embedded quotation.
Finally, close your anthology. Paraphrase without looking at your previous work. Can you remember the quote?

12. Sort your word clouds into language used for similarity comments and language used for difference comments.

13. Independent Learning
Compare the ways poets present ideas of loss in ‘When We Two Parted’ and one other poem from the Love and Relationships cluster.
Annotate the student response sheet, highlighting where the theme is referred to and where comparisons are made.
Write the rest of this answer. Use a quotation or reference in each paragraph.