How to Write A Conclusion for an Essay: for English Exams, for Coursework: GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level (ish)

by melaniewp | May 11, 2013 | 11+, Common Entrance, Conclusion, GCSE, How to Write an Essay, IGCSE, KS3

You’ve sweated ink all over the page for the last forty five minutes and now you’re losing the will to live. What next? The conclusion, of course! Here are some quality tips from the masters at major public schools.’Make sure you finish...

Frankenstein Extract for Common Entrance, 11+ and KS3, The Gothic

by melaniewp | May 7, 2013 | 11+, Common Entrance, Comprehension, Creative Writing, Frankenstein, KS3, Mary Shelley, The Gothic

This is a short extract from Frankenstein which I use with students for comprehension, how to create character, setting and mood. I’ve explained the difficult words in brackets so it can be used with students age 11 up.It was on a dreary night of November that I...

Creative Writing ‘Before the Storm’: Story or Writing to Describe for GCSE Controlled Assessment or IGCSE Coursework: English Language Exam

by melaniewp | May 6, 2013 | Common Entrance, Creative Writing, GCSE, IGCSE, KS3, Model Essays

This is a creative writing / descriptive writing piece to help with the GCSE and IGCSE English Language exam, for non-fiction (autobiographical) writing, and fiction. If you’re super bright, or applying for a scholarship, you may also find this helpful for...

Analysis of the Character of Prospero: Magic, Civilization and Power in the Tempest All Quotations by Act, Scene and Sorted by Theme

by melaniewp | May 5, 2013 | Common Entrance, GCSE, IGCSE, KS3, Model Essays, Prospero, Shakespeare, The Tempest

Typical Cambridge IGCSE questions on Prospero in The Tempest focus on power, control, magic and civilization. You might even be asked the horrible question: Why is Prospero’s character so interesting?Caliban describes Prospero as a controlling, tyrannical man; other...

The Monkey’s Paw Short Story W.W. Jacobs

by melaniewp | May 5, 2013 | Common Entrance, Creative Writing, KS3, Short Stories, The Monkey's Paw, Third Person

This story is scary. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…The Monkey’s PawW.W. Jacobs, 1902WITHOUT, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess,...

Gifts of the Magi, O. Henry, Short Story in Third Person Omniscient

by melaniewp | May 5, 2013 | Common Entrance, Creative Writing, KS3, Omniscient Narrator, Short Stories, Third Person

The Gift of the MagiO. HenryOne dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent...