AWE Club – Online English KS3 Information

Join at the start of any Half Term

Wednesday
Same content as Thursday

Thursday
Same content as Wednesday

Friday
Different content to Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday and Thursdays lessons are repeats of each other but Fridays are a different lesson so that children can attend twice a week if they wish.

Course Description

This course is for general KS3 English providing essential skills needed to progress to GCSE and IGCSE. KS3 English will introduce students to a range of different texts, both fiction and non-fiction, with the aim of developing the skills required for a successful progression to (I)GCSE English language and literature. Where possible there are cross-curricular links to subjects such as history and citizenship. There are various different themes for example Gothic and Detective fiction which the students enjoy. See example below of a Gothic half term.

Gothic: We have focussed on the gothic genre and have carried out a study of the features of the genre in not only literature but also film and architecture. We have now branched out so that students gain an understanding of how a writer structures a story to involve and engage the reader. Using this genre, we will consider the following over the next few weeks:

• Beginnings and endings
• Setting and atmosphere
• Character and suspense
• Narrative devices
• Attention to detail – Julia will look at a painting that fascinated and inspired many gothic writers
• Language for effect – while most of the extracts studied on this course are fictional, Julia will also look at persuasive language in leaflets

ZOOM

Julia uses an online classroom in ZOOM. Julia will send you an email with the links to join her classes. You need to follow the instructions she provides at least 48 hours before your first lesson in order to have everything set up correctly. You will need to download Zoom and send a contact request to Julia’s Hummingbird email address. If you are having problems setting up Zoom please let Julia know and she will help you.

Full Course Details

Gothic

• Features of the gothic genre (literature, film and architecture)
• Plot – planning the parts of a story and plot diagram
• Beginnings and endings
• Setting and atmosphere (link with film shots)
• Character and suspense including creating and developing characters
• Dialogue – play scripts, direct and indirect speech
• Narrative devices
• Attention to detail
• Language for effect – how publicity is written to suit its audience
• Planning a story

Detective Fiction:

• Features of the detective genre
• Solving a mystery – reading between the lines and Van Dine’s ‘rules’ for a detective story
• Character – investigating the character of a detective. Using extracts from A Study in Scarlet and A Pocketful of Rye to examine the difference between showing and telling a reader about a character.
• Creating tension
• Plot – solving a mystery
• Openings – how to grab the reader’s attention from the beginning of the story
• Building description – using techniques such as contrast, unattributed dialogue, comparison, personification, repetition and a low-key ending
• Clues – how to give clues in a detective story to engage the reader
• Understanding the author’s craft

News

• Presenting the news
• Features of a newspaper front page
• Structure of a newspaper article
• Audience
• Reading for meaning
• Recounting events
• Role play
• Point of view
• Bias
• Arguing a case
• News quiz

Poetry

• Through the poetry of Benjamin Zephaniah, students will examine poetic form, rhyme, repetition, understanding and responding to ideas, poetic techniques, language choices, audience, point of view and writing about a poem.

Taking Action

• Finding information
• Target audience
• Identifying the main points and getting your point across
• Note making and organising ideas
• Developing an argument
• Drafting, revising and proofreading
• Designing a leaflet

Romeo and Juliet

• Plot
• Characters
• Themes
• Language
• Directing a scene
• Planning an essay

Reality

• TV and real lives
• Extraordinary lives
• Narratives
• Biased texts
• Expressing your points of view

Biography and Autobiography

• Reading – skimming and scanning
• Researching
• Note making
• Fact and opinion
• Gathering evidence
• Preparing an essay
• Reading for meaning: a case study – Steve Irwin

Writing from Different Cultures

• Features of writing from different cultures
• Youth culture in Britain

Advertising

• What is advertising?
• Persuasive language
• Target audience
• Developing an argument
• Planning a letter

Drama

• Playscripts
• Dramatic techniques
• Settings and openings
• Plot
• Characters
• Comedy
• Understanding the author’s craft – a look at Gregory’s Girl

Genre

• Science Fiction
• A look at HG Wells

History of Language

• From non-verbal communication to slang

The Language of Warfare

• Fiction
• Poetry
• Speeches

Travel Writing

• Features
• Writing to inform and guide
• Recount writing
• Description
• Author’s point of view
• Different views of the same place
• Travel articles
• Composition

Communication

• Forms
• Safety and privacy
• Level of formality
• Subject-specific language
• Research
• Presenting a balanced analysis

Short Stories

• Structure
• Openings
• Stories from other cultures
• Conflict and climax
• Endings
• Universal themes
• Planning your own short story

Magazines

• Audience and purpose
• Visual language in Magazines
• Front covers
• Writer’s point of view
• Language and audience
• Exploring purpose and audience
• Planning a magazine article
• Editing and proofreading

Poetry through the ages

• A selection

Non-fiction

• Reading non-fiction texts: a selection

Reading

• Select and retrieve
• Infer and deduce
• Structure
• Language
• Overall effect

Grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary.