- This topic has 61 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated July 17, 2024 by
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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s class we began our masterclass course, beginning today with Kurt Vonnegut. We learned about who he was and what the central tenets of his writing style are before reading an extract from his magnum opus, Slaughterhouse-Five. The class discussed his style before watching a video of him explaining the shape of a story. We then learned his eight tips for writing and finished by summarising what we had learned in preparation for the homework. Wonderful and zany work everyone- I really enjoyed your analyses of what makes Vonnegut a modern classic author and your insights into his minimalism and how it translates to a GCSE exam. Well done, see you next week 🙂
Slaughterhouse-Five link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/184345/slaughterhouse-five-by-kurt-vonnegut/9780385333849/excerpt
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Hi Beth!
Thank you so much for the amazing lesson! I found it really difficult to imitate his writing style, and would always catch myself slipping back in to the way I would write.
-Eva
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Hi Beth!
Thanks for the feedback 🙂
I was also wondering whether our writings for this course will be marked or not.
See you next lesson!
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s class we finished work on Vonnegut, thinking today about his theory of story shapes to help understand his wider philosophy regarding writing. We began by watching a TED-ED video introducing Vonnegut’s influence across literature before learning about his story shape theory, which the student used to create excellent sketched-out story arcs. We looked at some of his key writing advice, thought about why people are so inspired by him and discussed his philosophy towards life, learning about his opposition to pretension and his ideas about life’s purpose. Lastly, the class wrote some great sentences inspired by his ideas. Well done everyone- really fantastic work and great writing today, it was a joy to hear how you had taken his ideas and made them your own. Keep it up 🙂
Homework article: https://medium.com/constant-output-edtech/using-kurt-vonneguts-shapes-of-stories-to-write-better-plots-f67aa5e38e86
TED-ED video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwwK7NmfF9w
Advice from Vonnegut: https://lithub.com/kurt-vonneguts- greatest-writing-advice/
The interview he did with himself: https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/3605/the-art-of-fiction-no-64-kurt-vonnegut
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Dear Beth,
So sorry! I forgot to say here that I uploaded (for the previous lesson) – I wrote a note but then the internet went wonky… SOrry for any trouble!
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s class we began work on our second author, Margaret Atwood. We looked at her approach to emotive writing, thinking about character psychology and the way she frames it. We watched the masterclass video where she discussed emotional frameworks in writing and how to deal with emotionally draining scenes, before looking into her work and reputation as an author. We spoke about psychology and the interaction between reader and character through emotion. Finally the class learned about subtlety in emotive writing, which they debated beautifully. Amazing work everyone, I can’t wait to see what you come up with for homework. Excellent job today, see you soon 🙂
Homework prompt: Write about a frightening place. Your response could be real or imagined.
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Hey Beth!
So sorry for the late, hw, this one is for lesson 2.
I’m currently working on this weeks hw and will upload it later today.
Thanks for the wonderful lesson!
Vivienne
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we completed work on the Atwood masterclass, looking at emotion in writing and how she achieves this. We began by looking at a 40/40 Grade 9 GCSE response based on the homework question before considering ten key tips for emotion in writing. We learned about Atwood’s stories, reading an extract from The Handmaid’s Tale and thinking about how emotive landscapes are formed through colour imagery and narrative perspective. The class shared some really interesting ideas and responses which I was very impressed by and worked beautifully together to get to the bottom of emotive writing and its import. Amazing job guys, see you next week 🙂
P.S. I will attach the Atwood extract under the PPT
Atwood’s tips (for homework): https://bobbypowers.net/margaret-atwoods-top-13-writing-tips/
40/40 example piece: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5877072
Blog post on emotive writing: https://jerichowriters.com/emotions-in-writing/
How to use semicolons PDF: https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/english/_files/wc-punctuation.pdf
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s class we looked at our next author, Stephen King, thinking about character and dialogue. We learned about who he is as an author, thinking about how this feeds into his use of character. Next we looked at a video of his key writing tips and read an extract from a story of his, analysing the way he uses characters. The class used this as inspiration for their own amazing characters which they honed over the final fifteen mins- really excellent work on using King as inspiration everyone. Well done this week, keep it up and remember to take notes on the story you read for homework. Great job guys 🙂
P.S. Homework story is attached as a PDF
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Summary for Lesson 6
In today’s class we completed work on Stephen King, thinking about his characters, settings and ideas on plot. we began by discussing the homework short story the class read, sharing ideas on how he built atmosphere and description, before looking at the birth of the crumbling gothic mansion as a trope. The class then read some examples of famous protagonists from King’s work before using these to inspire their own characters which they came up with in groups. Finally we learned some last tips from King on plotting, structure and character which the students can use to help with homework. Well done everyone, creative and invigorating work today, in particular with your excellent group work. Keep it up and see you soon 🙂
Haunted house video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xvNhN1PsRw
Stephen King advice link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zioO9Be0-nQ&pp=ygUbc3RlcGVobiBraW5nIHdyaXRpbmcgYWR2aWNl
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Reedsy blog to read before homework: https://blog.reedsy.com/character-development/
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Dear Beth,
Homework uploaded, thanks for the stunning lesson! I was so split on what to write… It was so fun! 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s class we began work on our final author, Deborah Levy. We discussed narrative voice, comparing how she uses it in both fiction and autobiography and dug into the way she uses characters as her avatars. We discussed living autobiography and narrative voice, thinking about what it suggests. We then watched a video of Deborah Levy, looked at her writing advice and the class came up with autobiographical moments of their own to discuss. Well done everyone, really moving and poignant work today. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂
Levy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTxkwexPgNc
Homework article: https://www.theguardian.co m/books/2023/apr/04/ho w-deborah-levy-can-change- your-life
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s class we completed our study of Deborah Levy, thinking about how to utilise her ability to make the political personal and discussing techniques for narrative voice. We looked at an interview she gave, discussed the homework and thought about the way in which her early life features in her writing. We used this as inspiration for the classes’ own brainstorms on the personal & political and thought about setting. Wonderful ideas and contributions everyone- it was so great to hear your thoughts particularly when you were all sharing on how an author’s life can seep into their work. Really fab work today, well done 🙂
Interview from today: https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/writer-deborah-levy-on-asking-yourself-interesting-questions/
Narrative voice link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFgIi8VYoM&t=338s
Homework paper is linked below under the PPT
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s class we workshopped our English GCSE Writing skills, revising our work over this course. We began by discussing the features unique to each author we studied, with each member of the class discussing which author was their favourite and why. We read an Atwood poem and the class wrote pieces based on this, thinking about her use of grotesque and strange imagery to describe otherwise familiar scenes and ideas. We learned 8 tips for better writing and finally did a Q&A session on writing. Fabulous and imaginative work today everyone, really well done for all your in-depth analyses and ideas. It was wonderful to see you all, good luck revising for the mock and I’ll see you then 🙂
Writing tips video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91oqKU4xogg
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s class we completed our mini mock exams, using the four authors we have studied this course as inspiration. Excellent, creative and original work over the past ten weeks everyone- well done for all your writing, workshopping and group work. It has been so good working with you all and I look forward to reading your papers and seeing you next course! Have a lovely week & congratulations 🙂
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Dear Beth,
My computer just went bonkers and crashed 😭 But I finished the mock under 50 mins in my spare time, thank you for the awesome course! Mock uploaded. Hopefully my computer stays in the zone after this! 🤞 Have a lovely rest of Summer! ☀️
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