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AQA English Language, Paper 1: Explorations in creative reading and writing

Year group: Year 10 and Year 11

When taught: Year 10 Winter Half Term 1. Revision will also take place throughout Year 11

What are we learning?

Writing

  • Students will be learning how to craft a piece of fiction (description or narrative) using language and structural devices.
  • Students will also utilise ambitious vocabulary, punctuation and variety to enhance their work.

Reading

  • Students will learn how to identify implicit and explicit information from a fiction source.
  • Students will learn how to analyse the language and structure used by a writer and explore how this affects the reader.
  • Finally, students will learn how to effectively evaluate a text, using evidence and analysis to support their responses.

Why is this important to know?

  • Students will learn how to express themselves through a fictional piece of writing allowing them to enhance their creativity and independence.
  • It is important that students are able to interpret the written word for basic information but also interpret what is not said.
  • Fundamentally, analysis asks students to think ‘WHY?’.

Where does this link into our past and future learning?

  • This links to previous creative writing opportunities in KS3 where students have learnt how to construct a detailed description and narrative.
  • Students have also learnt the skill of identifying langugage and structural features in a text, analysing these features in detail.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • You will sit 2 assessments – a Section B assessment followed by a Section A assessment.
  • Section B will ask students to write a creative piece, either a description or a narrative.
  • In Section A, students will be given an unseen source and will answer 4 questions on its construction.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?

  • In Section A responses we are looking for detail and development. Can students think of a number of interpretations and inferences surrounding the writers’ choices?
  • In Section B, a strong piece of work would be a short but well-constructed piece of fiction. It must include a variety of language devices, structural devices, ambitious vocabulary and ambitious punctuation.

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

  • Read widely!
  • Whilst reading for pleasure, take an extract from your book and analyse the language and structure used by the writer. Always think, WHY?
  • When creative writing, think of adopting a particular style or genre to make your piece more compelling.

Supporting document/links:

  • Knowledge organiser