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Year 10 - English

Writing a comparative response on the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology

'World and Lives'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'World and Lives' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in a thematically linked order so they can complete comparative lessons at key points in the unit.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write an successful answer comparing two poems from the Worlds and Lives anthology.

Key Notes

  • Topic sentences must be comparative when comparing texts.
  • Comparisons should be made between ideas, intentions, themes, and messages.
  • Correlative and comparative conjunctions are a good way to signpost your comparative writing.
  • Within paragraphs, evidence can move back and forth between the two poems and be linked with connectives.
  • Drawing a direct comparison of quotations should take place at least once across the essay.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • discourse marker: a word or phrase used to link ideas and signpost the direction of the writing
  • comparative: measured or judged by estimating the similarity or dissimilarity between one thing and another
  • inference: a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
  • topic sentence: explains the focus or main idea of an analytical paragraph

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • That you should write about each poem separately.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Topic sentences must be comparative when comparing texts. Comparisons should be made between ideas, intentions, themes, and messages.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'discourse marker'

a word or phrase used to link ideas and signpost the direction of the writing.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: That you should write about each poem separately. Correction: While writing about one poem at a time is one way to approach a comparison, it's usually more effective to weave your comparisons of the poems through the whole answer.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.