Term 1: The Arrival
Students will study Shaun Tan's graphic novel, 'The Arrival'. It will be used as a basis for developing inference and deduction skills, as well as providing inspiration for creative writing. Students will also explore immigration and situations surrounding refugees, looking at newspaper articles, poetry and non-fiction texts.
Students will also study the features of Sci-Fi and dystopian writing, focusing on how writers use ideas and settings to achieve their overall aims.
English Language: students will complete a range of reading and writing tasks linked to the topic of dystopia and Science Fiction.
Implicit
Suggested though not directly expressed.
Explicit
Fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal.
Infer
To derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence.
Deduce
To derive as a conclusion from something known or assumed; infer.
Protagonist
The leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work.
Empathy
The psychological identification with or experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.
Ambiguous
Open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal.
Immigration
To come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence.
Internal monologue
A form of stream-of-consciousness writing that represents the inner thoughts of a character.
Metaphorical
A figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance.
Interpretation
To give or provide the meaning of; an explanation of the meaning of another's artistic or creative work, or ideas.
refugee
a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster
Emotive
Something that causes the reader to feel an emotion
Perspective
The viewpoint or experience of a character
Flashback
Going back in time to a certain moment
Identity
the qualities of a person or object that makes them unique
Homesick
A longing or desire to be at home during a period of absence
Disorientated
Feeling confused or lost
Anxiety
Feeling worried or stressed
Separation
Being moved apart or away
Develop the individual:
Helping them to empathise with others, especially those less fortunate than themselves. By focusing on the plight of refugees, students will learn the causes behind why people flee their countries, and examine what we can do to help.
Create a supportive community:
Students will discuss the ideas raised in class and be asked to consider their own viewpoints in light of the class discussions we have.
Terms 2-3: Modern Novel: Remembrance
Students will study different aspects of WWI life and look at the novel 'Remembrance' by Theresa Breslin, to develop their skills in understanding writers' messages, linked to the context. We will explore the various experiences of WWI through the different characters in the novel.
In English Language, students will continue their studies of the Sci-Fi and dystopian genres, and complete some creative writing in this style.
In Term 3, students will move on to examining how writers sell an experience.
Term 3:
English Language: creative writing piece within the genre of Sci-Fi.
Literature: exploration of a key theme in the novel.
Bildungsroman
A type of novel concerned with the education, development, and maturing of a young protagonist.
trench warfare
Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied fighting lines consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are significantly protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery.
propaganda
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view
patriotism
the quality of being patriotic; vigorous support for one's country
conscription
Compulsory enrollment of persons for military or naval service; draft.
enlisting
To enroll, usually voluntarily, for military service.
expectation
The act or state of looking forward or anticipating.
cowardice
Lack of courage to face danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.
Atrocity
An evil act, normally involving physical violence
Desertion
Illegally leaving the army
Obedience
Following instructions unquestioningly
Flashback
Going back in time to a certain moment of event
First person perspective
A story told from a character's viewpoint
Injustice
Lack of fairness
Protagonist
The main character
Duty
a moral or legal responsibility
Tragedy
an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress
Develop the individual:
Understanding of an important part of British history, with an opportunity to create their own voice in response to this. The novel also covers ideas of loyalty, friendship and duty.
Create a supportive community:
Reading and discussing whole texts as a class encourages students to listen to each other's points of view and consider interpretations.
Term 4: Modern Drama: Frankenstein
'Frankenstein' (the play version by Philip Pullman). The play will be read, allowing us to explore the concept of nature versus nurture, as well as other themes in the text. Additional study of extracts from Shelley's original version will be used as a point of contrast, and challenge students to understand the complex language and ideas in the original. We will also use drama in the classroom to explore the form of the play.
In English language, students will build on their study of how writers sell an experience to their readers, and create their own writing in this style.
English Language: transactional writing to promote an experience.
English Literature: extract based question on writer's techniques in 'Frankenstein'.
Frankenstein
The surname of the scientist in Mary Shelley's novel.
Shelley
The surname of the author of 'Frankenstein'.
Gothic
A style of literature characterised by a gloomy setting, grotesque, mysterious, or violent events, and an atmosphere of degeneration and decay.
Romantic
A style of literature and art that emphasises imagination, emotion, and introspection, and often celebrates nature, the ordinary person, and freedom of the spirit.
nature
As a result of inborn or inherent qualities; innately.
nurture
Rearing, upbringing, training, education, or the like.
scientific
Of or relating to science or the sciences.
aesthetics
Relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beautiful and the ugly.
responsibility
The state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one's power, control, or management.
monstrous
Frightful or hideous, especially in appearance; extremely ugly; shocking or revolting; outrageous.
Horror
an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust
Ambiguous
Not clear or decided; being left for the reader's own interpretation
Prejudice
A preconceived opinion that is not based on fact or experience
Paternal
Fatherly, having the responsibility of a father
Vulnerable
Someone at higher risk of being harmed
Epistolary
A play or books that contains letters
Non chronological narrative
Doesn't follow a chronological narrative; uses flashbacks
Supernatural
Some force or thing beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
Repurcussions
The consequences of an action, normally resulting in something bad
Pathetic fallacy
Using the weather or setting to create a mood
Develop the individual:
Students will closely examine moral and ethical questions surrounding nature vs nurture, alongside what makes a person do bad things. Heavy emphasis is placed on the idea that people should not be judged based on their aesthetics. A mock trial also introduces students to the justice system.
Create a supportive community:
Collaboration towards whole-class role play; tolerance and understanding based on empathy.
Term 5-6: Inspiring Lives
Students will look at a range of ballad poetry and explore the conventions of the form. Within the unit, students will produce their own ballads in response to some of the poems covered. Students will also explore the features of biography and read a mixture of biographical texts.
Writing: students will create their own biography of an 'unsung hero'.
Literature: students will analyse a ballad poem.
Empathy
The psychological identification with or experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.
segregation
The act or practice of segregating; a setting apart or separation of people or things from others or from the main body or group; the institutional separation of an ethnic, racial, religious, or other minority group from the dominant majority.
discrimination
Treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favour of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit
racism
Hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
non-violent resistance
The practice of achieving goals such as social change through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political non-cooperation, or other methods, without using violence.
alliteration
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
hyperbole
Obvious and intentional exaggeration.
persuasion
The act of persuading or seeking to persuade.
emphasis
Special and significant stress of voice laid on particular words or syllables; stress laid on particular words, by means of position, repetition, or other indication.
anecdote
A short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature.
rhetoric
The art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing
rhetorical question
A question that is designed to make the reader/listener think and does not require an answer.
repetition
Saying/writing a word more than once
direct address
A technique used in persuasive speeches where the orator speaks to the audience directly.
Orator
a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled
Fact
something that is known to have happened or to exist
opinion
a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
emotive language
Emotive language is the term used when certain word choices are made to evoke an emotional response. Emotive language often aims to persuade the reader or listener to share the writer or speaker's point of view.
rule of three
The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that a trio of events, ideas or characters is more humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.
Develop the individual:
Students will explore historical segregation and the injustices of prejudice and racism. They will also engage with the current political climate, focusing in particular on happenings in the USA. Students will also have the opportunity to deliver solo speeches on topics they feel passionately about.
Create a supportive community:
Integration and tolerance are promoted; supportive audiences for solo speeches.