GCSE English Literature Contrast Poetry..DD on the edge please help!

[woesofme]

She’s doing Edexcel Conflict Poetry and just had her first breakdown. Says she can’t remember quotes for all 15 poems as well as the quotes for the 3 plays she’s doing. I really don’t know how to help her but could really do some advice as I don’t want her losing the plot this close to the exams.

I've often reminded students that quotations can be single words and marks are awarded for references as well as quotations (certainly for AQA and I think Edexcel is similar).

When my students are struggling I encourage them to learn a couple of key words/phrases and the big idea for the poems. If they can talk about themes and ideas then they will pick marks up still.

To add to this - I’m guessing that this is for an exam on Wednesday and after that she can forget the lot!!

good luck to her - sounds like a diligent student ❤️

I asked my ds teacher and the exam could feature ANY of the 15 poems so they need to know them all I was told. I think they actually select one of the poems for them to compare to anothet poem not ask them to pick their own from the 15 poems. That's what I believe but can someone come along and confirm?

I just think it's really really hard for these students. 15 is far too many.

The poem set in the exam is given to the student tho so they don't need to learn that one IYSWIM (obvs need to be able to discuss it but the text is there). They need a range depending on the theme of the set poem, hence learning 5-6 of them.

Ugh, DS1 has the same issue, bookmarking!

Can I ask a question please.. we have a grid with the different poem themes. If there's a comparison question and the student picks a theme that isn't the same 'in the grid' but manages to intemperate it in their own way to fit the theme does that count?

Yes @Proudcarerr. The grid will be something the teacher has created to help with revision, but there’s a line in the mark scheme that says something like “credit all valid interpretations” (or similar). Basically, so long as the pupil can support their ideas (e.g. with a quotation or well reasoned argument) their answer is ‘correct’.