I found this article in Lapham’s Quarterly. It is required reading for anyone teaching or reading Huckleberry Finn for OCR: https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/rivalry-feud/loves-labors-lost Read More "On feuds: Twain is echoing real life"
Category: OCR English Literature
Thomas Wolfe: Unseen response
A model response to the Thomas Wolfe unseen 'The Far and Near' found here : 2 Passages for A level unseen practice. The passage opens with a description of the kind of Mid-Western setting which embodies the American Dream and the …
2 Passages for A level unseen practice
I watched the film 'Genius' recently which focuses on the life of Thomas Wolfe. Thus inspired, here are two Wolfe openings from short stories for A level Unseen Practice: Circus at Dawn by Thomas Wolfe THERE WERE TIMES IN EARLY …
On writing an unseen for OCR A level
This video captures a short session delivered as part of a revision class for my Lower 6th. We study US Literature in the OCR A level and the session is thus centered on this area. Read More "On writing an …
A level essay tutorial: Gatsby and the Dream….
A class discussion of a student essay presented by the author: Amman in lower 6th. A range of interesting ideas emerge. At around 50 minutes, it might make an interesting discussion point for a virtual lesson. Read More "A level …
Great Gatsby: Chapter 7. Echoes
A virtual school lesson in which my Lower 6th explore chapter 7 of Gatsby and begin to consider how the chapter echoes the earlier sections of the novel, with a sense of impending destruction.... Read More "Great Gatsby: Chapter 7. Echoes"
KEN BURNS documentaries: AO3 for US Lit students
The virus seems to have thrown few boons in our direction, but this is potentially brilliant. I have no idea how long it will exist, but this PBS documentary set is potentially wonderful. Ken Burns in the schoolroom Read More …
Read More "KEN BURNS documentaries: AO3 for US Lit students"
Introducing and Explaining the SCASI method.
I am a believer in this method for approaching A level unseens. I am not a knee jerk mnemonic lover, but this one works. Here I use a very short passage from Kate Chopin, The Awakening to introduce the concept. …
A short discussion: AO3 at A-LEVEL
This is a short discussion/lecture about the way that students can begin to consider the continuum of socio-historical context as they approach American Literature in the Lower 6th. https://jwpblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/us-lit-context-disucssion.m4a I am afraid it is mainly me, but it might …
The Othering of Gatsby.
I have been thinking a great deal about Gatsby recently - specifically why I find the text so distasteful. I think one reason is the 'Othering' which is such an important part of the narrative and is found in the …
English Teaching Resources 