GCSEWriting-Wed

Summary for Lesson 1

In today’s class we began our GCSE writing masterclass, beginning by focusing on George Orwell and his writing. We learned about Orwell’s life and the central theme of his work, considering aspects such as his political opinions and use of straightforward language. We read an extract from one of his essays, which the class used as inspiration for a piece of writing of their own. Finally we learned about the term Orwellian and what it means, digging into the way this links back to Orwell’s fame as an author. Wonderful work today everyone, very well done and see you next week 🙂

Link to Why I Write for homework: https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/why-i-write/

Orwell’s life and works video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvXU3vzHq8E

What Orwellian really means video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe64p-QzhNE

Homework

Summary for Lesson 2

In today’s class we continued work on Orwell and his essay Why I Write. We learned about the four arguments he makes for writing, spoke about the role of ego in writing, and watched a video dissecting this. We then analysed some of his quotations, discussing why we enjoyed them, spoke about his work on historical events and connected this to our own lives. We learned about his involvement in the Spanish Civil War and finally looked at the conclusion of the essay. Some nice work today everyone, well done and remember to keep sharing all your ideas, they are super when you do! Keep it up and see you next week 🙂

Video we watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoettzQlAvA

Homework

Dear Beth,

Here is my homework for this week.

Thank you,

Edward

Hi Beth, please see the attachment for my homework of Lesson 2. Sephi.

Hi Beth,
This is my homework
Alicia

Hi Beth,

Hope you are doing well, please find below the homework:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nZAVGh9ERx0_F8t_duCRR3zdtqGEJG4VfV4VS9BUX3s/edit?usp=sharing

Ray

Summary for Lesson 3

In today’s class we began work on Zadie Smith’s Something to Do, thinking about her reasons and philosophy behind writing. We began by watching a video with her talking about her work before reading the essay the class is based on and discussing. The class learned some of her top tips for writing before reading a passage from her novel NW and analysing it. Lastly they completed creative writing based upon Smith’s writing we had studied. Really well done today class, excellent ideas and analysis! You’ve all been fantastic today- keep it up and see you next week 🙂

Homework article: https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/09/12/zadie-smith-writing-that-crafty-feeling/

Homework

Summary for Lesson 4

In today’s class we looked at Zadie Smith, thinking about her style and use of the unexpected. We began by recapping the homework article on the psychology of authors before reading the opening to her debut novel. We looked at how she uses unexpected events to open a story up and used this as inspiration for the students’ own pieces. We then read a review of her essays on the Covid-19 lockdown and the class discussed this in pairs before we reflected on the question of whether it was too soon to write about lockdown at all. Lastly we read some of her pieces on the lockdown, ranging from the dark to the reflective to the funny. Fab work today everyone, well done for your perceptive ideas in response to Smith’s work. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂

Homework 

Dear Beth,

Here is my homework for this week:

They were walking to their doom. Completely oblivious to the fact that they were about to die, they walked, some ran, towards the stage that was hiding hell’s gates. Then, it started; there was cheering and a lot of whooping from the crowd. That whooping noise was one of the last things they would do; the man named Tom lit the fuse and the roaring flames of the fire swooped towards them.

“Yesterday, at the Glastonbury concert, an explosion happens during the main event. Luckily, no-one was killed but 13 people picked up 2nd degree burns.” The mission was a fail. Tom’s life as a hitman was over because he couldn’t kill a single person. Instead of being sad about losing his job, he was overjoyed because he actually hated being a hitman and instead wanted to be a police man. His parents had forced him to become a hitman because apparently, they read that hitmen make a lot of money. They thought being a hitman was a boxer not a person who kills people. Tom was going to live a normal life, have a family and be happy. But then, the door came flying off the hinges and Tom fell to the ground with a resounding thump, unconscious.

Tom woke up to realise he was in a corner of a bright room. Standing right in front of him, was the mafia boss who had ordered the attack. Unfortunately, Tom had failed so the mafia boss decided to punish him. He had Tom be given a gun and ordered him to shoot his rival, Pasolini Grancha. So Tom was taken to the rooftop of a large building, and was ordered to shoot Pasolini through the brain in the head. If he failed, his life would be over; if he didn’t he would be a hitman for the rest of his life.

Thank you,

Edward

Hi Beth, heres my HW for lesson 4. Sephi

Hi Beth

Please find my writing below. Have a good weekend!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C6U9b7POYi398JBIQE91HMy0LCn_Hl79_f6ZQGOU1yo/edit

Best Wishes

Daniel

P.S if you do not have access just let me know. I am not sure how to enable access without a request. Thank you

Summary for Lesson 5

In today’s class we had our penultimate writing lesson, working on revising the key elements of the writers we have studied and using them as inspiration. The class began by discussing Orwell & Smith, thinking about which they preferred and why and summing up their writing styles. We watched a video containing some fun tips for writers such as the rule of three & changing the weather, and the class created word maps based on extracts from Orwell and Smith’s novels. The class then wrote some beautiful pieces inspired by these word maps before having a final Q&A session as a class. Well done everyone, gorgeous work today. Good luck with the revision & see you next week 🙂

Video we watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvRt5rK1pq4

Homework

Hi Beth

Here is my writing exam. Thanks for the great course and have a great week!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-JIRYtWXgn_UIaGwYZv643rTkv5HZniwsy-LeE-4bcI/edit

Best Wishes

Daniel

P.S I did the Orwell prompt

Hi Beth,

Here is my mock. Thank you for an amazing course.

Thanks,

Edward

And this is the other page.

Summary for Lesson 6

In today’s class the students completed their mock exam, basing a piece of creative writing on a quotation from either Orwell or Smith. Diligent and fantastic work today everyone, I can’t wait to read what you’ve come up with. It’s been lovely working with you all over the past six weeks and I have really enjoyed this course we have been studying together. Very well done for your hard work and I will see you in the next course 🙂

Homework

Hello Miss, soryy for the delay. Here is my mock test.

Sephi.

Hello Beth,

Here is my writing. I’m very sorry about the delay, I could not get my Word to work. Thank you so much for the course!

Hi Beth,

Hope you are doing well, please find below the homework:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oZKlsMAeoo9hgtGSlCMlJnuQTKknoeBREoGRup_Zs1I/edit?usp=sharing

Ray