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Christmas Carol. Tell me the must knows please!

23 replies

Bea822 · 08/05/2023 20:57

My ds is quite capable however failed in his mock for Eng Lit. Want to get a 4. Haven't got long to go but can someone give me ideas on what would be the essentials to learn for Christmas Carol and Macbeth please which is next week!

OP posts:
Bea822 · 08/05/2023 21:02

Title was meant to say 'please can anyone tell me the must knows' sorry sounded quite abrupt!

OP posts:
bobisbored · 08/05/2023 21:08

gps.hslt.academy/english/

Go onto this link and scroll down to the bottom. There are some help pages for the GCSE texts. I just happened to find it when looking for poetry help the other day and thought it looked good. Hope it helps.

Bea822 · 08/05/2023 21:18

bobisbored · 08/05/2023 21:08

gps.hslt.academy/english/

Go onto this link and scroll down to the bottom. There are some help pages for the GCSE texts. I just happened to find it when looking for poetry help the other day and thought it looked good. Hope it helps.

Thanks very much!

OP posts:
bestbefore · 08/05/2023 21:20

Look up mr everything English on YouTube..

ladybirdpoppy · 08/05/2023 21:20

Check out Mr Bruff videos on You Tube. Short tutorials with key quotes, language techniques.

clary · 08/05/2023 23:04

Is this AQA OP or Edexcel (or another board of course)? It makes quiet a difference as the exams are structured differently.

But for ACC AQA if he is hoping for a 4, he will have and extract which he can use to support, and a theme to discuss. So in 2019 it was about how Dickens uses the ghosts to change Scrooge's attitudes. For a level 4, a student would need to know the key elements are the structure of the story (which in ACC is fairly formulaic), how the characters change and develop, a bit about context (treatment of the poor, social attitudes in the story - charity - and lack of NHS for example). Some short quotes are good.

Why did he do badly in his mocks? Did he not write enough, write too much but not to the point, fail on some specific aspect (story, structure, character)?

Agree that the videos and resources linked are also very good. He can do this - and remember if he is hoping for a 4, keep it simple and achievable.

Bea822 · 09/05/2023 07:48

I've looked and it's AQA.
It's the only mock he failed, got a 2. Hoping for a 4.

OP posts:
Bea822 · 09/05/2023 08:08

clary · 08/05/2023 23:04

Is this AQA OP or Edexcel (or another board of course)? It makes quiet a difference as the exams are structured differently.

But for ACC AQA if he is hoping for a 4, he will have and extract which he can use to support, and a theme to discuss. So in 2019 it was about how Dickens uses the ghosts to change Scrooge's attitudes. For a level 4, a student would need to know the key elements are the structure of the story (which in ACC is fairly formulaic), how the characters change and develop, a bit about context (treatment of the poor, social attitudes in the story - charity - and lack of NHS for example). Some short quotes are good.

Why did he do badly in his mocks? Did he not write enough, write too much but not to the point, fail on some specific aspect (story, structure, character)?

Agree that the videos and resources linked are also very good. He can do this - and remember if he is hoping for a 4, keep it simple and achievable.

Thank you.

This is very helpful.
He's learnt 3 quotes this weekend relating to scrooge.

OP posts:
PianoLeGrande · 09/05/2023 09:11

@Bea822 Right, the best thing you can do right now is look at the mark scheme, understand what gets marks because it comes under certain categories. I have said this before under a lot of different user names. This is a game, you have to know what gets you points. The mark scheme has the point information. You hit all categories they have to give you those points. If you have a printer it helps to print off the relevant pages. Here are all the past papers

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702/assessment-resources

On the left hand side choose "exam series" just means which year. I have picked 2018 paper 1 mark scheme which covers Shakespeare and 19th Century text which your son picks A Christmas Carol. (Macbeth is also in this mark scheme but I will do ACC because that is one my children studied)

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2018/june/AQA-87021-W-MS-JUN18.PDF

Look at page 6, this might horrify you but your son should have been told all of this in school. Print that off. Then look at page 18 which shows the ACC question and see it listed out under each AO category. It should now make sense what they are looking for. Do the same with the other mark schemes for paper 1, you can narrow it down by mark schemes only. Obviously you can do this for paper 2 as well for whatever they are doing on that one. The question papers will show what extract or poem was used.

AO3 is context, when was it written? ACC was just after a government report was commissioned to look into the living conditions of the working poor. Dickens's father was put in a debtor's prison. The people this book is aimed at are the rich, the factory owners, employers of people, Scrooge has but one employee, he changes his life with a pay rise, a tiny one to him but life changing to Bob as TT lives. Fezziwig treats his staff well, opens the door to everyone for the party "In came the boy from over the way, who was suspected of not having board enough from his master; trying to hide himself behind the girl from next door but one, who was proved to have had her ears pulled by her mistress" both are mistreated by their employers. Scrooge has a generous employer in contrast and this sets an example for the reader. This is a work of fiction, contrived characters to make the reader feel a particular way. Reference the reader/audience.

Don't forget half term for studying for exams after that whatever they may be. There is a whole week. Quotes, he doesn't need the whole quote just bits of it that he can drop into sentences ie from above that the boy is mistreated and that he doesn't "have enough board" and that the girl has her "ears pulled" by her mistress. I hope that helps in some way. I loved English.

Assessment resources

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702/assessment-resources

Bea822 · 09/05/2023 10:22

PianoLeGrande · 09/05/2023 09:11

@Bea822 Right, the best thing you can do right now is look at the mark scheme, understand what gets marks because it comes under certain categories. I have said this before under a lot of different user names. This is a game, you have to know what gets you points. The mark scheme has the point information. You hit all categories they have to give you those points. If you have a printer it helps to print off the relevant pages. Here are all the past papers

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702/assessment-resources

On the left hand side choose "exam series" just means which year. I have picked 2018 paper 1 mark scheme which covers Shakespeare and 19th Century text which your son picks A Christmas Carol. (Macbeth is also in this mark scheme but I will do ACC because that is one my children studied)

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2018/june/AQA-87021-W-MS-JUN18.PDF

Look at page 6, this might horrify you but your son should have been told all of this in school. Print that off. Then look at page 18 which shows the ACC question and see it listed out under each AO category. It should now make sense what they are looking for. Do the same with the other mark schemes for paper 1, you can narrow it down by mark schemes only. Obviously you can do this for paper 2 as well for whatever they are doing on that one. The question papers will show what extract or poem was used.

AO3 is context, when was it written? ACC was just after a government report was commissioned to look into the living conditions of the working poor. Dickens's father was put in a debtor's prison. The people this book is aimed at are the rich, the factory owners, employers of people, Scrooge has but one employee, he changes his life with a pay rise, a tiny one to him but life changing to Bob as TT lives. Fezziwig treats his staff well, opens the door to everyone for the party "In came the boy from over the way, who was suspected of not having board enough from his master; trying to hide himself behind the girl from next door but one, who was proved to have had her ears pulled by her mistress" both are mistreated by their employers. Scrooge has a generous employer in contrast and this sets an example for the reader. This is a work of fiction, contrived characters to make the reader feel a particular way. Reference the reader/audience.

Don't forget half term for studying for exams after that whatever they may be. There is a whole week. Quotes, he doesn't need the whole quote just bits of it that he can drop into sentences ie from above that the boy is mistreated and that he doesn't "have enough board" and that the girl has her "ears pulled" by her mistress. I hope that helps in some way. I loved English.

Thanks SO much for helping and taking time to help. I shall look at all of this. Thank you!

OP posts:
clary · 09/05/2023 11:21

Good post from @PianoLeGrande but both En Lit exams are before half term (I'm sure the ops son knows this tho!).

It's a good idea actually to leave any post half term ones now abd focus on the,May ones IME

Bea822 · 09/05/2023 11:32

clary · 09/05/2023 11:21

Good post from @PianoLeGrande but both En Lit exams are before half term (I'm sure the ops son knows this tho!).

It's a good idea actually to leave any post half term ones now abd focus on the,May ones IME

Yes,

Paper 1 next week is Christmas Carol and Macbeth is that right?

OP posts:
clary · 09/05/2023 12:13

Bea822 · 09/05/2023 11:32

Yes,

Paper 1 next week is Christmas Carol and Macbeth is that right?

Yeps and then inspector calls and war poetry (most likely choices!) are on ? 24 May I think.

Bea822 · 09/05/2023 12:23

clary · 09/05/2023 12:13

Yeps and then inspector calls and war poetry (most likely choices!) are on ? 24 May I think.

Yes, he's doing those. Fab thanks

OP posts:
PianoLeGrande · 09/05/2023 13:29

@Bea822 and @clary sorry, I meant the half term week means you can push some subject papers back until then prioritising what is needed before half term. Not necessarily English Lit. But it does mean if they hate it it is over and done sooner.

The AO bits are the key, there are quote banks online, a quick google will find them and he will know more than he thinks because it is fairly short and should have been done to death in school. The best advice I can give you as a parent is to help him know what order things happen in the books, whether Macbeth or ACC or AIC. That way when it says the extract and elsewhere in the book they can methodically go through the book to find Scrooge's fear, ie right at the start with returning home, then Marley's visit etc, right through the other scenes.

clary · 09/05/2023 14:22

Ah @PianoLeGrande then I very much agree. Ds2 abandoned history about now and went back to it in half term (no idea when history exams are this year btw, that’s just an example).

Agree v much also that order of events in text is key, esp if aiming for a 4. ACC v structured (ghost by ghost) and Macbeth also with killing after killing.

For AIC he needs to have the order of revelations clear - who hears about the girl and what is their reaction. How does this change? That sort of thing.

DoverWight · 09/05/2023 14:38

Try searching for gcse podcasts on it, they can be a great way to absorb information. And bbc bitesize www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zg8qfrd/revision/1

lemonyellows · 09/05/2023 15:02

Live stream on Christmas Carol tonight at 7

PianoLeGrande · 09/05/2023 16:28

Again, I agree with @clary it doesn't have to be complicated just know what order events happen in makes it easier in the exam to work through it mentally. AIC what order does the inspector speak to people in terms of their actions? Eric is the only one to commit an actual crime (steals money) the rest are just morally wrong.

Mr Salles is an incredible source of information on YouTube. You can watch/listen to him on a faster playback speed. Your son can watch that whilst on the toilet, whilst eating breakfast, whilst getting dressed, even in the shower if he is careful with his phone. Multi-task!

And the best of luck to him. A mock does not determine his final grade, he does. If he feels unsure about the rest of the book concentrate on the extract, find something about language in there, try to hit all the AOs. If you have any more questions, English lit, lang, whatever, post here or on secondary. MN is a great resource.

Shanksponyorbust · 09/05/2023 16:43

The most my DS had in his English lit mocks was a 3 and he came out with a 6. Look at the mark scheme of a recent past paper and teach him how to answer those questions as he needs to know the technique for each question to maximise his marks.

Talking it over with him will find out what quotes he knows and what he thinks about different themes and characters.

Get the Christmas Carol an essay writing guide for gcse by accolade press as this talks about the main themes and how to answer the questions. I read it and then discussed with DS to find out what he knew and where his gaps were.

LilylilyDaisy · 09/05/2023 16:50

This might be obvious, but have you got the York Notes GCSE study guide books for those texts?

They lay out very clearly the plot, characters, themes etc. Could help get it all straight in his head.

LilylilyDaisy · 09/05/2023 16:52

Also, get a big sheet of paper (or a roll of lining wallpaper, or four A4 sheets stuck together) and do a mind-map for each book. Some find these very useful for visualising what they need to know.

doingwhatican · 09/05/2023 20:52

If you can allow for heavy swearing, this is actually very funny and accurate.
Warning - this is not for everyone - the Thug Notes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBRPUUSHQY

also - I’m a big fan of audio books. Hugh Grant does a wonderful version of it on Audible. My 9 year old loved it.

A Christmas Carol - Thug Notes Summary & Analysis

Get the Thug Notes BOOK here! ►► http://bit.ly/1HLNbLNJoin Wisecrack! ►► http://bit.ly/1y8VeirFrom plot debriefs to key motifs, Thug Notes’ A Christmas Carol...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBRPUUSHQY

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