Year 8 - English
A written analysis of 'The Tell-Tale Heart'
A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore the Gothic. They start by learning what the Gothic is, before reading extracts from 'Frankenstein' and 'Jane Eyre', practising descriptive writing and reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart'. They finally learn how to write opinion articles and then write their own.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to confidently draft, and redraft a written analysis of a literary text.
Key Notes
- It is important to consider the first version of your work a first draft and not the finished essay.
- Redrafting your critical writing is just as important as redrafting your creative writing.
- A clear and concise essay focuses on the writer's use of methods.
- Successful essays offer a comprehensive explanation and exploration of the effects the writer's methods.
- Short, embedded quotations make your essay more concise and coherent.
Vocabulary To Learn
- redraft: rewriting your work to improve it
- methods: any conscious choice the writer makes - this could be using a simile or choosing a specific word
- concise: using as few words as possible to express as much meaning as possible
- tentative: not absolute, certain or agreed
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students think that the first version of their work is the finished piece.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
It is important to consider the first version of your work a first draft and not the finished essay. Redrafting your critical writing is just as important as redrafting your creative writing.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'redraft'
rewriting your work to improve it.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students think that the first version of their work is the finished piece. Correction: Redrafting work improves its quality, depth and coherence. Students should be encouraged to appreciate, and embrace the value of redrafting their work.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context Study Guide
- A written analysis of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract Study Guide
- Analysing effective opinion articles Study Guide
- Analysing the atmosphere at Thornfield Hall in 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Context for Gothic literature: science and religion in the 19th century Study Guide
- Editing descriptive writing based on 'A monster within' Study Guide
- Exploring the character of Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Frankenstein's reaction to his creation Study Guide
- Frankenstein's regret and the scientific revolution Study Guide
- Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Improving your opinion article on Gothic literature Study Guide
- Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Organising our gothic writing to build tension Study Guide
- Planning a cohesive argument about 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- Planning a Gothic description inspired by 'A monster within' Study Guide
- Planning a written analysis of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Planning an opinion article about Gothic literature Study Guide
- Reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night Study Guide
- Reading an extract from Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Regret in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Symbolism in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- The creation of suspense in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- The structure of an opinion article Study Guide
- Using 'Jane Eyre' to inspire our use of gothic vocabulary Study Guide
- Using description in functional writing Study Guide
- Using figurative language to create a gothic atmosphere Study Guide
- Using semantic fields to create a gothic atmosphere Study Guide
- Writing a gothic description Study Guide
- Writing an opinion article on Gothic literature Study Guide
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