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Inspiring Young People

Year 8

In the second year of English, students will continue to hone their reading and writing skills through the study of subject content that presents greater depth and challenge.  In English Literature, set texts have been chosen that will explore universal themes in power, social inequality, hypocrisy, loyalty and love.  Technical accuracy and features of Standard English will continue to be taught explicitly in English Language, as well as developing the students’ ability to refine their writing by examining different ways to structure and to craft their language use in fiction writing and the art of rhetoric in their non-fiction editorial writing.
English

 

Content to be studied

Method of assessment

Autumn 

Fiction Reading and Creative Writing Unit: Dystopian will read and study the late 21st Century Young Adult novel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, with a focus on genre, characterisation, structure and the manipulation of reader response.

 

Transactional and Persuasive Writing: Inspired by the content of The Hunger Games pupils will write two pieces of transactional and persuasive writing.

 
  1. Baseline Writing Assessment: A piece of descriptive writing based on the use of setting in The Hunger Games.
  2. A critical essay exploring the reader response to the relationship between Katniss and Peeta is presented.

 

Stretch and challenge: Literary essay evaluating structural devices.

 

  1. A persuasive letter
  2. A guide

Spring

Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet This is Shakespeare’s most well-known tragic tale of illicit love, with spectacular dramatic scenes.

 

 

 

 

 

Family Relationships Poetry A selection of pre and post 1914 poetry on the theme of the relationships between parents and caregivers is taught, with a focus on contemporary poets.

 
  1. Character study costume design task.
  2. Critical essay on the relationship between Romeo and Juliet.

Stretch and challenge: Extended discussion of the theme of romantic relationships in the balcony scene and the rest of the play.

 

  1. Literary essay analysing the presentation of family relationships in an unseen poem.
  2. Stretch and challenge: Comparative essay discussing two unseen poems.

 

Summer 1

Non-Fiction Reading and Writing: In preparation for the summer examination pupils will read and analyse a range of contemporary non-fiction texts and develop their skills in magazine journalism.
  1. Reading comprehension.
  2. Comment article.
  3. Summer exam preparation.

 

Summer

2

Creative Writing - Tales with a Twist: Pupils will study a selection of stories with unexpected endings with a focus on how the narrative twist has been crafted by the author. Pupils will then write their own tale with a twist.
  1. Writing of their own narrative with an unexpected ending.

Each Term

In addition to the core topics listed above, spelling, punctuation and grammar are taught in a lesson dedicated to it each fortnight.
  1. Spelling Test
  2. Grammar Hammer

 

 

         
   

How will I know if my daughter is achieving this?

The English Department assesses students in a classroom context in an Assessment Booklet [this remains in school but is available to be viewed at Parent’s Evening or by appointment].  Here the class teacher will determine whether your daughter’s skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening tasks are developing, secure or excellent.  Detailed diagnostic feedback is given, which celebrates achievement and explains the next steps to be taken.  Feedback will address both content and technical accuracy in spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary. 

Your daughter is expected to read and act on these recommendations and to take responsibility to make progress towards meeting them on their next piece of work.  The class teacher will also monitor your daughter’s draft book, to check that the school’s expectations for presentation and technical accuracy are being adhered too.  The Progress Guide at the front of their draft book provides a record of your daughter’s academic progress in their Assessment Booklet.

Finally, at the beginning of each academic year, your daughter will undertake literacy screening in spelling, reading and free writing to monitor their progression in these core English skills.  You will receive a record of their results by letter in October of each year.  If your daughter is not making expected progress, a programme of Literacy Intervention will be offered.
 
 

How can I help my daughter?

Promoting reading for pleasure is the most vital form of parental support the department asks for.  At this age, you may begin to find encouraging your daughter to read a challenge.  However, the Young Adult market is currently thriving and a trip to a bookshop which encourages active browsing is the best way to help your daughter find a genre of novel that will inspire her.  Current film adaptations are a good way to promote books to reluctant readers.  whatkidsarereading.co.uk provide an annually updated report on the reading habits of children of all ages.

Your daughter will also have a spelling test every fortnight, which you can help her to prepare for.  Please see your daughter’s Google Classroom to access both the recommended reading lists and spelling tests for each year group in Key Stage 3.  Here you will also find links to useful websites. 

Finally, increasing your daughter’s cultural experiences through theatre, cinema, book festivals or author trips is a wonderful way to enhance their love of literature.  The Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre and The Royal Ballet and Opera stream their current performances live throughout the year, which offers world class theatre experiences for a fraction of the cost at The Light Cinema in New Brighton or Picturehouse at Fact in Liverpool.  An additional resource is Digital Theatre +, where students can watch a wealth of recorded productions at home.
 
   

Enrichment opportunities

World Book Day Art Exhibition and competition

National Poetry Day workshops and poetry competitions

Theatre Trips to see the set texts are offered when feasible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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