Year 8 English - how much creative writing should they be doing?

[GallivantingWildebeest]

DD is today doing her first piece of creative writing in English this year. That's crap, isn't it?

Can any teachers tell me how much they should be doing?

And if dd is in Year 8 now, what will be in her English GCSE? How much creative writing, and how much SpAG??

If she is doing AQA for GCSE English then she will have two papers. Paper 1 will require a creative writing piece. It is worth 40/80 marks and 16 marks are for SPAG.

"DD is today doing her first piece of creative writing in English this year. That's crap, isn't it? "

Impossible to tell. Depends what else they've been doing.

Usually English departments work to a mapped out curriculum for each year group. What has been on it?

She did Dickens' A Christmas Carol before Xmas. Can't think what else. Will ask this eve.

A Christmas Carol is a big GCSE-style text. She should have got a huge amount out of that in terms of reading skills, although my preferred reaching approach incorporates some opportunities for creative writing inspired by the reading.

*reading

*reading

So you're an English teacher, trifle?

DD had to write an essay on ACC to answer the question: 'how does Dickens present the character of Scrooge?' and give evidence from the text and place her answer in the Victorian context.

I was a bit concerned at the marking as it seemed to be very rigid. DD had to follow an acronym essay answer - can't remember what now but something like EET - evidence, explain, proof?? - and was told how she could make this better. Just seemed like answer by numbers rather than leaving any room for individuality. Is that what examiners are looking for?

Evidence, explain, proof is a brilliant way of remembering the necessities for an essay in a subject like English. You have to back up your ideas every time. Not sure why you think that's a problem am I misunderstanding you? Sorry if I am..............

Yes.

I do find formulaic essay structures frustrating. They are great for teaching the essentials, without which your DD will not pass her GCSE. They are somewhat reductive, however.

OK, fair enough, Trifle - so the teacher teaches them these acronyms now and then the class practises using them, and can dc then get more creative?

Yes, Bertrand, I can see that an acronym to remind you how to structure an essay is a good idea, but surely a student shouldn't be marked down for not sticking to it?

I didn't have to stick to such rigid essay structures, even at uni, and I managd to get a good degree.

English - to me - is a CREATIVE subject and it's just not being taught like that to DD. Gah.

Ds has to use PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation) in virtually all his written subjects.

Well, I'd expect ds to be marked down in a piece of Lit Crit if he made an assertion he couldn't back up from the text........

Creative Writing is fun ? Its literally just making up stories and trying to describe them well .. not sure why your hackles are up.
I agree with others - GCSE level English is basically formulaic - Point, Quote, Explanation. If she can come up with some extra creative analysis she will get the higher points.