tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168843722495893082024-03-18T00:06:14.936-07:00Learning from my mistakes: an English teacher's blogXris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.comBlogger402125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-85949455624563235422024-03-10T05:30:00.000-07:002024-03-10T05:30:05.376-07:00Symbolism, structure and chat <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is that annual time of year where I teach Question 3, the structure question, to students. The more I teach this question, the more I think we need to work more on symbolism in English. And, to an extent teach them the background knowledge to identify those symbols. Symbolism is what we think we do a lot in lessons. We look at poems and explore the symbols through similes, metaphors and personification in them. Yet, when we take out metaphorical language, students find it really hard to spot and discuss them. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-da6f529a-7fff-27cd-be00-6ca893e831f0"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Every play studied has lots of symbolism embedded in it yet symbolism tends to be isolated to the language. A character giving a soliloquy on stage on their own is a symbol of isolation. A scene set inside can be a symbol of secrecy and a lack of transparency. A scene set at night symbolises something bad, sinister or that something is ending. An Inspector Calls being set at night is symbolic. It is all leading to a new ‘dawn’. There’s a reason it is set at night. The end of the old ideology. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The problem we have is that students can’t get their head around the idea that symbolism is often not linguistic or figurative. It is structural. I think over the years we have become too focused on identifying techniques to the point that we have missed something powerful within our subject. The meaning around all choices a writer makes. Over time, we have subconsciously created a hierarchy around choices that sensible choices around structure, positioning or content are neglected for something with a name. Something easily nameable. Something easily tested. Something easily taught. In fairness, something that is easily explained, but not something that is easily explored. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Symbolism is fuzzy. In one context, an object can symbolise and then in another it can symbolise something completely different. Take the colour red. It can symbolise paradoxically positive and negative things. It can represent love and passion, but also it can symbolise death and danger. Our job is to help students see that duality and how it fits in the context of things at the moment. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The reason Question 3 is such a difficult question is that you cannot explain it fully, because it is a question about exploring. It is why we see so many people tripping up on it. Let’s teach them about cyclic structures because we can explain that. That generates lots of students explaining a cyclic but not of them explore it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Let’s have a look at things in one of the past papers. The following images are from the ‘Labyrinth’ paper. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 166px; overflow: hidden; width: 444px;"><img height="166" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/5EWaruXmPqfncDnChzDaF1xs-66fy9Tf89_eXsmp_xLgxCO2W01W2xUAvSpuos8YSBaG57osfyAsANvK-Aue036vHiyXWSwNiKCEs8sMJ9HiOuu-Jzz-7u8L7WBEOjkrnQFjospSaHDADUreuMbHwrg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="444" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The bottle of water is often skipped when students read this paper. However, structurally the bottle symbolises so much about the character. Water is a symbol of life. Here we see that character’s full potential and her hope at the beginning. At the end of the extract, we see how that hope and potential is running and at risk. One last drop represents her one last hope that she has in the situation. Yes, there is a cyclic structure, but in terms of storytelling there is so much going on here. The bottle is a symbol of her hope. The story is structured around her lack of hope or the slow dwindling hope she had. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We can take that further in looking at other things described. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 465px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="465" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/fEdycdryAHE3fONdFMJYjyKSMvPNR5lkTP6xncRJssFMGPxDFcy7-ReqXSOqS3sAE9BBurq8tUJZ8UyZUJLim_aHJjOw64eet8mJvryWQ5hBXQwuziWUR_SNroMlbcwkDsF1T2t0Jkyh8rxa05KPh-Q" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Each one connects to the character’s personal journey. Usually students focus on the reader and how the reader feels, when actually they’ve missed the character and forgotten about the reader’s interaction with the character. The images above are all about lots of big things. They symbolise how things are against Alice. She is looking for something small and the odds are stacked against her. The plane is a symbol of her imminent journey home. The mountain is a symbol of the challenge before her. The flowers are a symbol of her but also her hope: small, delicate and time-sensitive. The boulders are a symbol of another obstacle, like the mountain, that is in her way. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 143px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="143" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/qrTNHfN9O36XBblM9-ZxCU3UsJeabUaAp4qdxgUFknQTYBuSMCbhuyH9eFlCrW064WIsdEH_A2Ba9dSJ1mnvWYsfSBnja3Yyd5VorGeIooYOAIoggC9hezP3hZhhOlGAyVwC2e6N7AVmdtOa6VFOAO0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then, we can see how the whole thing is put together. She starts with optimism, but that is slowly dwindling as the story progresses. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That exploration is really important, but we aren’t allowing students to do it enough. Here is another example I used with students. This goes alongside the ‘Silk Factory’ paper. Here what is interesting is the use of domestic imagery and symbolism. It is used in the story to convey a sense of safety. We have repeated references to domesticity which provides us with comfort and a level of expectation. That is contrasted with the dangerous elements in the garden. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 324px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="389.3446226897968" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/uBbHs0jaMp1-QUoPlz27-TwuZJARZyV8f-LJHqV2kcKc0ngPM3kGX5I47T_bFrsLf1ulhXlTE8ixx6UA2ywS6v20WgpXbLPp1tpFdYmesJFdkgOYqxWMPvnrw6whVMx9hclW_ktVBR3w0FC9opvduWc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -65.34462268979681px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I think we need to get exploration back into the classroom. We’ve become too obsessed with explaining that we’ve got ourselves in knots over it. Look at how our analysis has become knotted with paragraph structures. PEEL. PEE. PEETAL. What/How/ Why. Our discussion in the lessons has placed emphasis on the concrete. What technique does the writer use? Why has the writer used it? We’ve moved away from abstract thinking and that’s where symbolism comes in. You can teach explanations, but the student independently explores in English - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with a little direction from the teacher.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Building confidence in exploration starts with talking. Getting students to talk about images amongst themselves and exploring what they could mean is paramount. That talk gives them experience and confidence. The melting pot of ideas.<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wv9b10gqx02s1u2pj0vsj/Question-3-Discussion-Tool.docx?rlkey=433333wbon5v11s4rt99626r0&dl=0" target="_blank"> Here’s a little discussion sheet I have created for Year 10 as we explore this question. </a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB1gpx2CSf5NVBF60R1ULdOP_yYhl8UJNf3CsAUTVfJdccZ5LUwf_aV1H5S1weqBxvBLGXMOwM8m7xi7aAU7pHzy2GPs7nXLnNRtJlM56_0JtXuSdy32GLXkQLCAc_WTQx4OHU_v3jHBJwKscDevl6Iy0LuetHTQBjr0lOXEhcUFuvzS8S4qQw-Bok01J6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="940" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB1gpx2CSf5NVBF60R1ULdOP_yYhl8UJNf3CsAUTVfJdccZ5LUwf_aV1H5S1weqBxvBLGXMOwM8m7xi7aAU7pHzy2GPs7nXLnNRtJlM56_0JtXuSdy32GLXkQLCAc_WTQx4OHU_v3jHBJwKscDevl6Iy0LuetHTQBjr0lOXEhcUFuvzS8S4qQw-Bok01J6=w640-h405" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It isn’t a writing frame, but a discussion tool for them to articulate what they notice about images, symbolism and storytelling. It isn’t perfect. It isn’t definitive. But, it is something to latch ideas onto. Let’s take a break from explaining and let’s open our lessons to exploring. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-58521622302572316152024-02-18T04:51:00.000-08:002024-02-18T04:51:14.190-08:00Being precise around the writer’s intention<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One of the biggest areas for English teachers is the ‘why’ aspect of analysis. Why does the writer do this? Over the years, we have seen paragraph structures to address this and we even seen lists of verbs to address this issue. The problem is that whatever way we approach things we are using a pneumatic drill to open a flower. Things are usually more subtle, nuanced and complex than seems on appearance. Take the verb ‘challenges’. Yes, Dickens does challenge quite a few things in ‘A Christmas Carol’, but a word like challenge is such a blunt word to describe a complex situation. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0302684b-7fff-5533-5640-9658ca16154e"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘A Christmas Carol’ was written to be sold as a book. The people who could afford it would be rich. The book was in a funny place. If it insults or attacks (or overtly challenges) the rich, then not many people would buy it. Therefore, the book doesn’t attack the rich in general. If we are honest, the book is designed to provoke emotions in the Victorian reader to feel good about themselves when they are kinder and charitable towards other people. If we look at the book, it isn’t ‘anti-rich’. Scrooge at the end of the story doesn’t stop being rich. He stays rich, but shares some of his money, time and company with others. So, in effect, the book is flattering the rich who behave like this, but at the same time subtly guilt tripping those that don’t behave like this. We often place a lot of effort on the redemption arc of Scrooge when, in fact, Scrooge represents varying parts of the readership. Of course, we boil this down to a simple soundbite like: Dickens challenges how the rich treated the poor. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When we look at analysis of texts, there are four main areas of inferences we make: </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Character inferences - Scrooge feels X</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Reader inferences - The reader feels X towards Y </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Writer’s inferences - The writer wants to X</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Context inferences - The attitude to Y at that time was X </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, there are loads more, but these are the general ones that students need some understanding to write a decent analysis paragraph. Character inferences are often the easiest for students because that skill is very much what they have done their whole life: reading tone and body language to work out what a person thinks or feels. The other three areas are the tricky ones.They are the ones that, often or not, we provide set statements /facts to form those inferences. Or, we provide them with words or phrases that imitates the act of making an inference. Throw in the word ‘challenge’ and you get something that sounds like a student making an inference around the writer’s intention. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, how do we get students better at making inferences around the writer and his /her intentions? Well, for a start, we move away from presenting the writer’s intention ideas as fact and as something to be taught rather than found. All inferences around a writer’s thoughts and feelings are guesswork and conjecture. The best ones are rationalised inferences based on several points in the text. This is where I think we have a large problem. We expect students to be able to find and explore a writer’s thoughts and feelings in non-fiction texts, yet in Literature texts we expect the opposite. Let me tell you what Shakespeare is thinking here. Things are disjointed. We tell students a writer’s attitude towards themes, ideas, people and characters in a novel or play yet in non-fiction we are frustrated when students can’t find these inferences themselves. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The key thing then is our relationship with a text. Yes, exams have warped the curriculum, but so too have we to the extent that the text is secondary to the learning process. We teach the plot, characters, quotations and techniques and yet the key thing in all this is the text. The vehicle for the ideas. We need students to get better at finding those inferences themselves and that involves them exploring texts better. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Recently, I’ve been studying ‘A Christmas Carol’ with a Year 10 class. We had finished reading the text and were pulling things together. Together, we looked at the character of Bob Cratchit and I gave the class the following table:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 340px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="340" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/lNZ1SDaQJ57xsLYrpPdQZIYBX0bqtw9Le7NrGXykEi-9Q8er1LKV3CnlArlPqMcxeqhSIS83vBfRwdvlyqkN9AeBUmGYr8she4ucDyemGEKeLlz6z4s8Py0Dv8tF3hPzRv0cEuASVmf-s-e4TuEPRK0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The result was a heated debate about whether Dickens likes or dislikes Bob Cratchit. Some were saying that Dickens likes his ability to be happy in the face of adversity. Others said that Dickens dislikes how much a pushover he is. A few said he was too good to be true that they thought Dickens was taking the mick with him. All comments, however, were grounded with evidence in the text. Then, we related it to the context. Why should Dickens be taking the mick out of him at that time? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We repeated this again with several characters including Scrooge, Mrs Dilbur, Tiny Tim and so on. Each discussion built up ideas about the writer and what he was intending to do. Students were making comments about how Dickens likes Mrs Dilbur’s strength and ability to survive but dislikes her lack of respect to the dead. From it, students were exploring in detail what the writer is doing and why he is doing it. A character’s behaviour and background were separated because Dickens liked one and not the other and so on. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We need to help students co-construct a mental image of the writer when reading. We present writers as behemoths when they are thinking and feeling people (regardless if they are alive or not). In most, analysis structures the writer’s thoughts and feelings are an afterthought. They are the last E in PEE. They are the Why in the ‘What How Why’. And, if we are honest, they are the last thought when it comes to explanations. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is almost like we need to treat the writer like we treat characters in a story. In the same way we co-construct inferences around a character in a story, such as Scrooge’s redemption, we need to do the same for the writer. What is the writer’s arc across the text? You only get to that by talking about the writer throughout the reading and through exploring what the writer thinks or feels. There needs to be an ongoing lesson narrative around this co-construction of the writer’s views and perspective. Working together to build that understanding. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If we want students to get better about talking about the writer’s intention, we need to start at the beginning and focus on helping students make inferences about the writer from the start. Who does Dickens like on page 1? How do you know? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-36946466249200352402024-01-28T04:39:00.000-08:002024-01-28T04:39:53.460-08:00A question of tone and not techniques <div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the time I have been teaching, I have seen the teaching of English compartmentalised in so many different ways. And, dear reader, you cannot put it solely at the hands of the GCSE exams. We’ve had the National Curriculum and APP grids along the way. They all attempt to make the subject an easily digestible tick list. When you do that, you see the general focus is one making the abstract concrete. You see limiting writing structures for analysis. You see an emphasis on concrete knowledge like facts around historical context and identification of techniques. We see students able to repeat facts and spot techniques, but they cannot explain why they are used. This then leads to the teacher having to explicitly teach why a technique is used. And, this repeats on and on. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e20e77a-7fff-0ff6-3e19-92be1f9b06d0"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tone is the single biggest thing that improves writing and reading across all levels. It is everywhere in our subject yet it is nowhere at the same time. Tone is something that glues words, sentences, techniques and paragraphs together. It is something that connects the reader to the writer. It is something that links the context to the writer’s purpose. It is hidden below the subject of a text and it is the seam of gold that helps students unlock meaning and understanding. Yet, it is something so hard to compartmentalise. Yes, you can name it for sure, but you can’t really define it fully because it sits across so many domains and processes. </span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e20e77a-7fff-0ff6-3e19-92be1f9b06d0"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Look at how tone is everywhere in the AQA English exams: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">English Language</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: red;">Reading </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: red;">Paper 1 - the narrator’s tone, the individual tone of characters, the writer’s own tone </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: red;">Paper 2 - the tone of the writer is both extracts </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: red;">Writing </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: red;">Paper 1 - the tone of their characters, the tone of their writing </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: red;">Paper 2 - the tone of their writing </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">English Literature </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Shakespeare </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The tone of the extract, the tone of the character, the tone of the writer. </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Pre1914 Novel </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The tone of the extract, the tone of the character, the tone of the writer. </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Modern Text </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The tone of the extract, the tone of the character, the tone of the writer. </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Poetry Anthology </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The tone of the extract, the tone of the voice, the tone of the writer. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Repeat for the other poem </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Unseen poetry </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The tone of the extract, the tone of the voice, the tone of the writer. </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tone is everywhere in English, because it is literally everywhere in life. If students are receptive to the concept of tone, we have a seam of gold to mine in the English classroom. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The problem in English lessons is that the questions become focused on the microdetails. Specific words. Specific techniques. Why did Dickens describe Scrooge as an ‘oyster’? When exploring that question, we are exploring quite precise knowledge. What is an oyster? What is the symbolism of oysters? If you know nothing about oysters, then you are stuck. Not many students know what an oyster is, so you are on a losing foot from the start. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When we move the questioning away from microdetail, we focus more on the interconnectivity within a text. Take the following question: How does Dickens create a sympathetic tone in Stave 1? To respond to that question, you have to join parts of the text together, whether they be plot detail or writer’s methods. But, there’s also a personal aspect. The evidence to support the point can vary from student to student. The questioning can then be layered up. Why is Dickens so sympathetic here? What isn’t he sympathetic about? Interestingly, what is empathic about? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Teaching tone in literature texts is paramount, but it isn’t a concrete thing. There’s more than one technique to show pity. More than one technique to show anger. And so. I’d argue that instead of using pretty empty verbs around the writer when exploring intent, there’s more legs in talking about tone. Instead of talking of what Dickens is challenging in the story, talk about what makes him angry. Anger, of course, leads to ‘challenging’. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From a language analysis perspective, starting with tone means you are already joining up parts of the text. How is this extract comical? The use of exaggeration. The word ‘blubber’. The repetition of ‘again’. Then, analysis starts with what makes the exaggeration comical, rather than the tumbleweed moment of ‘What is the reader supposed to feel with this exaggeration?. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From a writing perspective, teaching students about the subtle types of tone they can use is highly beneficial. The default tone for transactional writing is usually Facebook rant or end of the world apocalypse. The better writers have a breezy and light tone that knows when to pack a punch and when to understate things. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The starting point is to talk about tone. Talk about awe, frustration, sarcasm, irony, bitterness and so on. Talk about when tone changes. Talk about why tone changes. Talk about why that tone then. Don’t just give a wordbank of tone words. Actually, talk about tone and teach about tone. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You’d think we’d give tone the same level of respect as full stops and capital letters given that they are in every piece of writing, but we don’t. There’s so much time given to techniques with the hope that students can spot it in the rare occurrence of it appearing in an exam. I can guarantee the text will have a tone. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><br /></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-14082479132946187532024-01-07T12:03:00.000-08:002024-01-07T12:03:54.179-08:00Problem solving in creative writing <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Over the past term, I have been working on quite a bit of creative writing with students. And, I always find with each year that there’s something different I notice or explore with students. As I ease back into blogging, after taking a bit of a holiday, here are some problems I’ve faced and some possible solutions. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e8d75d53-7fff-bb3c-45b9-7589acb211bf"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Problem 1: Too much action and not a lot of description </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We’ve all had it. A student feels the need to write the equivalent of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy on two sides of A4. Every sentence is an explosion, a death or a plot twist. And, everything is so dramatic. You could model the balance of description till you are blue in the face, but still within two sentences a man has discovered his long lost mother, divorced his wife and robbed a bank. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Solution: class stories </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This does push students out of their comfort zone, but it does help to get students listening to one another when telling a story. Simple start the story with a small bit of context. Tom is walking back from the football game when he notices something strange. Then, I allocate students a letter - A or B. Each letter represents if they are focusing on action or description. We go student by student and line by line telling a story. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Student 1: He noticed that the pitch was empty and while he was focusing on tying his laces everyone had gone home. [Action] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Student 2: The pitch was surrounded by inky darkness. [Description] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Student 3: White light shone down from the pylons above. [Description] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Student 4: Tom moved quicker and scooped up his bag and coat. [Action] </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Depending on your classroom layout, you can place emphasis on the start and end being about description and so on. I love it as an approach because it forces them to work on problem solving on storytelling and looking at how things connect together. Why would he be the last one there? What has he got in his bag? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I do this often because the students love it and it builds their confidence around storytelling. Starting with nothing is daunting, but this approach models to them how to build action and description into their writing and how to use the two elements for impact. If for example I am working on a horror or ghost story, I’d purposefully have more description students than actions students. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The beauty of this is that you can question the effectiveness of choices. One action we had in the story above was a strange sound. Another student revealed it was a donkey. Now that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it spoiled the effectiveness of the ending when this donkey moment happened. It punctured the tension. We then discussed where best it would go. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Problem 2: Marvel movie storytelling </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We do seem to have a glut of identikit films. The fact that the sequel is more popular than ever shows us how rigid the storytelling has become. If students see endless ‘Fast and Furious’ films, then they see that rigidity in their writing. There’s none of the exploration or nuance we like to see. I want cars. I want fast cars. I want them to race. Like the phrase ‘you are what you eat’, in storytelling ‘you write what you see.’ </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Solution: The Repair Workshop </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That show is a mastermind in storytelling and weaving the past and present narratives. I watched a clip of the show to see how they repair a piano. Then, pull out the narratives. There’s the narrative about the fixing of the object. There’s the narrative of the person wanting it fixed. There’s the narrative surrounding the person who used the object in the past. For example, granddaughter wants the piano fixed because she has no grandparents left and she wants the piano so she can teach her daughter to play it like her grandmother did when she was a child. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The beauty of ‘The Repair Workshop’ narrative is that it is usually so precise, personal and emotive. You can start anywhere in the story. Past, present or the moment where the object is fixed. Plus, the narrative has a fixed core: the object. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’ve seen students really play around with ‘The Repair Workshop’ narrative.Starting in the past and then showing the ageing of the object. I’ve had students look at the object in the present and then tell the story of why it is in that person’s hands. It forces students to think about narrative structure and emotion in quite a precise way. They are not looking for hundreds of characters and plot points, but simply two people linked over time by one object. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Problem 3: Pace </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We live in a fast world and sadly writing seems to be influenced by that.Storytelling is always fast with students. They are in the rush to get to the next bit. For this reason, description disappears. Speed. Reading creative writing pieces can be like Sandra Bullock on a bus. If one bit of this story is not tense, then the paper will explode. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Solution : Music </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Well, this is a cheat. There’s more than one solution to this. For a start, I ask them to write for an old codger like me. My heart can’t take anything dramatic or racy. I need sedate and slightly slow pieces of writing, which say something clever in one event. I use the exam texts as an example. My heart can cope with things like that. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I get students to write a piece inspired by some music. I use incidental music from movies and avoid the Spice Girls. To get the idea across to students, I play the Jaws music and then show them an extract from Jaws so that students can see how the two work together. How does the writing match the style of music? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then, I get students to write a story around a piece of music. It is best to use music that isn’t familiar. You can give the context, if necessary. They change their emphasis in writing, matching the pace of the music structurally. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Problem 4: Dialogue </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dialogue is lazy writing. Students know that. We know that. Yet, there will alway be one student that insists on writing something along the lines of … </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Hello,” said Tom. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Hello,” said Roger. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“How are you?,” said Tom. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I am fine. You?” said Roger. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Good thanks. How is the wife?” said Tom. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Good. ,” said Roger.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Solution: Get students to use body language to reveal what has been said. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I love this because, again students are working on problem solving in narratives. I give students a small context for the story. Two people meet in a shop. One person says one of the following lines: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I am pregnant.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I can't believe you said that!" </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"It's not what it looks like, I swear!" </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I never thought this day would come." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I am sorry.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"How can you just walk away from us?" </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I saw you." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Please, just stay with me." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“The test result has come back positive.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The students cannot use the line of dialogue in their writing. They have to use body language to show it. We know the people are speaking in real life, but we are silent observers working out what is being said. For me, this is great because it gets students to work on forming their own inferences around things and work on making explicit narrative implicit in the text. Automatically, it forces students to describe actions, eye movements, facial expressions or hand gestures. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 100px;"></span></span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Problem 5: Purple Prose </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have Purple Prose with a passion. It is the worst thing about English teaching.The chuck everything at the teacher kind of writing. My favourite writers all use crisp prose. Not a word is wasted, yet there’s an expectation that we are producing mini Charles Dickenses all the time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Solution: Focus on one word changing the meaning of a line </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The best creative writers are quite precise with their writing. They will use one word to add so much meaning to a story. A student wrote about a child receiving a present from his father. The child has not seen his father since his parents divorced. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What does the word highlighted do to the sentence? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1. Each present he unwrapped </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lazily </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as he realised who had sent it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2. His face was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">blank</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">3. His mother gave a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pained </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">smile as she looked on. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">4.The last present looked like it had been wrapped in a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rush</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">5. His mother’s eyes were </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">cold</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">6. The boy’s eyes </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lit </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">up when he discovered who had sent the present. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We then work on the following lines. We look at change or add one word in each line to add more meaning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[1] She sat eating her packed lunch. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[2] The boy sat opposite her and greeted her as he usually did. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[3] She smiled. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[4] He opted for a cooked dinner instead of the sandwich prepared by his mother. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[5] She felt jealous. Her sandwich was nothing compared to the meal on his plate. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That construction of stories is often neglected by students. This simple approach gets them to look at how one word can add meaning. We are working on constructing inferences, clues about relationships and subtext with just one word. That means that when they do use a simile it is one good one that sings. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I hope that helps and, of course, there’s more than one way to cook an egg, but I hope that has given you some ideas or some inspiration. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-32360796735145505562023-11-12T03:42:00.000-08:002023-11-12T03:42:56.794-08:00Cold calling in English <p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cold calling has, for me, had a funny place in my lessons. I agree it has its benefits, but all too often things are thrust towards the English department's direction. We are left with trying to fit the new approach around how we do things. I discussed this with knowledge retrieval and knowledge before. My problem isn’t with common approaches, but a draconian aspect that it must be done this way or no way at all.
For the uninitiated, cold calling is simply picking students to answer a question or to respond to a task. It stops the same four vocal students speaking all the time and it stops a large population daydreaming and twiddling their thumbs. The problem I have is the very nature of English. Sometimes, in a lesson we aren’t recalling quick facts or processing a formula to produce a fact. In fact, English is a very different kettle of fish. It is about opinions and experiences.
I often say to students that English is the subject of opinions. We discuss the student’s opinions and we explore a writer’s opinions on a topic or idea. In fact, in any given lesson, we are looking at an opinion in English. And, this is the rub. The fuzziness of opinions is at the centre of English.
What is interesting about the poem, Henry? What is your opinion of Macbeth at this moment? What is your favourite word in the line? What stands out in this section? Do you think the writer is effective at getting her message out? Why is Dickens not so critical about the poor here?
All these questions might have a smidgen of factual basis but they largely employ an opinion of some form. There is a personal aspect that the student has to connect to. They aren’t just repeating or recalling facts. They are doing something extra which doesn’t quite sit well with throwing a question out to a sea of faces.
Let’s take a question like this: What is your opinion of competitive fly-fishing? For a start, I don’t even know if it is such a competition. But, with that one question, you have to check your memory bank of fly-fishing, competitive sports and knowledge of sports to form your opinion. Like most of us, we haven’t got an opinion already stored in our brains. You’ll have some people who will have a clear dislike, like or indifference to the sport. Or, some will be clueless.
To achieve an opinion, there are lots of little processes involved, which I find cold calling doesn’t help with. I would say that cold calling in English can be akin to solving quadratic equations without a sheet of paper. There are too many microprocessors for it to be an internal process for most students. For this reason, I worry that cold calling being the dominant process in lessons is dangerous, because it doesn’t work for opinions. Our opinions are funny. They are the combination of knowledge, experience and ‘the force’ or midi-chlorians. There’s something else deep inside.
Yeah, Chris. You can cold call opinions, don’t you know? You could, but like most things it forces students to simplify. Like or dislike. The nuance is missed. The exploration is missed.
Like all things, I think as a tool it has its benefits, but I also think it should be used with moderation. And, it should be used with caution with English lessons. Its use forces us down a fact driven way of perceiving our subject. Exploration is at the heart of our subject. Forming opinions and developing opinions needs to be a thrust of what we do.
I do think English as a subject needs to kick back at some of the systems or processes that are being imposed. I think that there is an English version of these systems, but we need to find and explore it. We need to be exploring how they can work in our context rather than simply accepting them.
Thanks for reading
Xris
</span></span></p><div><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-2ec044e3-7fff-e932-3be1-dfb7acbbb26b"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-66047829663190977512023-10-15T04:51:00.002-07:002023-10-15T04:51:48.521-07:00It’s all ‘bout that quote, ‘bout that quote, no ideas! <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Quotation learning is a poor proxy for literature revision. There, I’ve said it. The problem I have with it is that a quotation can only get you so far with exploration of a text. In fact, it stops the flow of thought and ideas. Students mould the thinking to the quotation rather than the quotation to the thinking. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-dddd4698-7fff-27d4-9288-74b09623fcd2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Over the years, I have seen quotations, plot (I take no prisoners on this one) and context become the juggernauts of revision. Students feel confident if they know some quotations, they know the plot and they can throw in some contextual facts into an essay. In fact, they have become the markers for revision. But, this is where the rub comes, they generate a level of false confidence. They give the appearance of knowing the text well, when that isn’t the case. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Revision in English has become very knowledge led. But, the knowledge is limited to quite a narrow field. The knowledge of quotations. The knowledge of plot. The knowledge of context. If we are honest, these are the easiest bits of knowledge related to our subject. They are the things we can easily teach, text, and repeat in lessons. This ‘easy’ knowledge spills into how students revise. They revise these ‘easy’ knowledge elements and because they are more concrete than other types of knowledge there’s a sense of accomplishment. Students feel a sense of achievement in a largely abstract subject because they have learnt something concrete. Teachers feel a sense of accomplishment because they have taught something tangible and concrete - and easily measurable. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There is some value in learning quotations, plot and context, but in the English classroom these should not be the drivers. Sadly, they are, which in turn converts to the idea that in English, all you need to revise is quotations, plot details and contextual facts. They are foundational things rather than exploratory and cumulative things. If you don’t believe me, then check out the examiner’s reports. I have yet to see one that says that students need to learn quotations. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The knowledge of ideas. The knowledge of concepts. The knowledge of the writers’ feelings and thoughts. These are generally left behind with this concrete knowledge revision focus. We don’t see revision built around these. The complexity of the subject is the main reason. The plurality of ideas means that you cannot easily mark these sorts of things. You cannot easily tick or cross them. You cannot boil them down to a quick true or false task. You cannot summarise them easily. We don’t factor this complexity into revision and so revision doesn’t focus on the complex. Yet, what we expect students to do is get these complex ideas naturally armed with quotations, plot details and contextual knowledge. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For this reason, I’ve been playing around with revision with our Year 11s. They are preparing for their first mock in November and I thought I’d explore different ways to build and develop a level of complexity in the revision. So, each Friday, we set the first ten minutes on answering these questions about a character studied. Not a quotation really in sight. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 753px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="753" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cobnjUXToc3ENHQznu8zg-jgMMrDuH0TmtNuhv2IqXmXAWI6CtMQzaynhYlrhIYmCgpHdLGplQ8RdTuBAMnz8Aa5iWyKmuOibwJumNgUyX6m9T5w7L1o7hwFuGr6XM1lwlaupgDu-mSnipjoRPZs_v4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I wanted them to think big and exploratory but also think like they would under exam conditions. They aren’t writing in full sentences, but bullet points. Then, I reveal what I would reward on an online version of the document. The idea is to score as many points as you can. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 883px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="883" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/0AoE2dIFAgAGTNSjoxNVwhd58lEFcKTsnX903RgSr6VWxvp4cDEFbQaYM5Rjf5sXvfgGkCPEi2rUTHfpkziR0kctMAPAtwxBxdrKUkGSbWey66US5AN_FDqREu1I7fRoYl91Cynu7rgzPmF4lBLWgyc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Interestingly, students throw out ideas.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I’ve used fatherly, is that ‘parent-like’?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> If they have an idea that I haven’t included, then I add it and add a score to it. This week I gave one idea 5 marks, because it was so good. The idea that the Friar links to the theme of rebellion. Cue more students trying to outdo that 5 marks. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What I noticed was a real engagement with ideas and characters. Exploration and ideas were at the heart of the revision. It wasn’t just knowledge recalling, but idea forming… and exploring. It is quite easy to do but the key thing is showing a hierarchy of ideas. That’s where we can help make something abstract seem concrete. The categorising of some words or ideas being better is often something we say but don’t actively work on in lessons. Yes, some words are better to describe a character than others. Some words are precise and some words are general when describing things. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The texts are massive banks of quotations. Seeing texts as disjointed entities is the problem here. Our obsession on quotations is warping how students interpret texts. They are thinking around the quotations and not thinking around the text. We need to reassert that distinction in lessons. A student that can think around a text writes the best essays. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ideas are the interesting things in English and we have a duty to make sure that our subject isn’t all quotations and extracts. If we are not careful, students are interpreting the subject as being all about the quotes and not the ideas. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-20453875285518315762023-10-08T04:18:00.004-07:002023-10-08T04:18:43.145-07:00Which one crossed the road first? The poet? Or the idea?<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Poetry analysis can be both one of the easiest things to do and one of the hardest things to do. What is the poet saying about X? It sounds like an easy question, but it is so much more complex than we think. When we explore things in literature, we are getting students to make a number of inferences: </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-775ea612-7fff-1829-4818-0f7be04379a4"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"># Inferences for character / topic (the character is jealous); </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"># Inferences for the reader (the reader would be shocked) ; </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"># Inferences for the writer (the writer is highlighting the lack of power women had in society).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is no surprise that students are good at making inferences about characters because they are doing it every day with their and other’s body language. Inferences around feelings are hard because it is about their own reactions. A teenager is a bag of mixed emotions and they can rarely pinpoint their precise emotion let alone others. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The problem we have in English is that the drivers for lessons tend to be the texts and not the people. That’s why it becomes hard when we are analysing texts, because students see texts and they don’t see living (well, they were living at one point) person behind them. The writer becomes the afterthought and therefore so removed and disjointed from the process. When you’ve spent several week’s looking at the story and the character of Scrooge, it becomes jarring when the emphasis switches to the writer. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t know why Dickens did it. He just did it, didn’t he? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Forming a picture of writers is something we actively have to do. Shakespeare the person. Dickens the writer. Stevenson the author. Owens the poet. We need students to infer something about the writer’s personality. Their opinions. Their perspectives. Their hopes. Their fears. The problem is often bogged down with the factual knowledge of the character rather than the inferred personality of the writer. Students focus on the historic figure rather than the human person. My favourite questioning around texts goes like this: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Who does Shakespeare really like? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How do you know he likes them? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Why do you think he likes them? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I like the route of this question because it is about the person and the personality inferred from a text. The best work I have read always has their grasp of the writer’s personality. They pick the stitching and unpick so much. The great thing is that students see so many different things. Mercutio because of his joy for life. The Nurse for her bawdiness. Juliet because she defies social norms. The ability to form an opinion about a writer is such an important aspect of English. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Writers are like us. They laugh, breath, cry, make jokes, use sarcasm and find things boring. Students don’t see writers as people. They are ghosts. They are ghostly apparitions that the English teacher holds seances in their classroom to communicate with. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Knock twice if you used that alliteration to highlight the extreme nature of war. Knock once if you didn’t think about it all when writing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have never been a fan of giving students a load of verbs around the writer’s intent. You end up getting sentences with verbs in a sentence around the writer’s intent. You don't have the students working to build an opinion of the writer, their personality and the reasoning behind things. Instead you get lots of nice words. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Students are pretty good at spotting language features in texts. That isn’t the problem. To be honest, it never has been a problem. The problem has always been the reason why. The writer’s reason why. We have largely told students the writer’s reason as fact. We haven’t really taught students to build those inferences themselves when reading the text. Look at how our writing structures Point Evidence Explanation / What How Why place inference around the writer’s reasoning at the end. We leave inferences around the writer towards the end. It is an afterthought. We don’t put the writer’s personality in the driving seat. We hide it in the trunk and we wait for a suitable place to dump the body. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Therefore, there is a duty for us as English teachers to resurrect these dead / alive writers. There’s a reason why in academic and degree essays we write about writers in the present tense. The analysis is when we see them as alive. They become alive. They breathe in my lessons. Shakespeare is the guy who would probably drink me under the table but has such a subversive humour. Dickens is the well meaning guy but does go on a bit. Austen will probably laugh at my jokes and then go to critique me in her writing. We the teachers bring them alive and the students help us to build the inferences around their personality. We co construct a person around the reading of a text.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Anyone get the sense that Dickens is bored here? Shakespeare’s up to his old tricks again, isn’t he? That Stevenson! You would see Dickens do it like Stevenson, would you? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, before you start dedicating a lesson a week to finding a writer’s personality lessons, we don’t need to do much to change this emphasis. Simply tweak our way of questioning and exploring. This week I spent some lessons looking at Exposure. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[1] We read a small section of the poem and explored what we thought the writer felt and thought. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[2] Next, we read the full poem and explored anything else we noticed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[3] I then shared this with students to decide on words to describe the writer’s perspective on things. Often students lack the words and the precision of words. We put too much stock on their vocabulary in the first instance. Students need to build those connections up between writers and thoughts. </span></p><br /><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="98"></col><col width="98"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td colspan="2" style="background-color: black; border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The poet’s perspective …</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Positive </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Negative </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Optimistic </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pessimistic </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Praising </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Critical </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gentle </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Loud </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Spiritual </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Physical </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mental </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Moral </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Emotional </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Emotionless </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Exaggerated </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Understated </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 30pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Romanticised </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Realistic </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sensory </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Visual </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dreamlike </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nightmare </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Grand </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Simple </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Significant </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Insignificant </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dramatic </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dull </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Supporting </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Attacking </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nonpolitical </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Political </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Deceptive </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Honest </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Celebratory </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Accusatory </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Personal </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Public </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Private </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Open </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Respectful </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Flippant </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Clear </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ambiguous </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Subtle </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Vivid </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lyrical </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Poetic </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 30pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Confrontational </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sentimental </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sparse </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Concise </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mundane </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Haunting </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Original </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-left: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; border-top: solid #000000 0.50000025pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Clichéd </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[4] Student then took a whole page and wrote this sentence down in the middle. As a class, we decided what was wrong with it. Together we changed the words and phrases. At this point we are exploring and refining inferences and rewording them accordingly. I think this is a skill we largely undervalue - the selection of the words to enable precision. X isn’t the right word, by Y is. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wildred Owen's positive and simple poem 'Exposure' highlights the bravery of the soldiers fighting in WW2 and how they feel valued and appreciated.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[5] Then for each part of the sentence we explored where we could see it in the poem. What did the writer do with language to show that idea? We wrote them down and where possible we looked for more than one device to show those ideas. This was all on a spidediagram around that original sentence. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[6] Finally, around the outside we wrote our inferred reasons for the writer thinking or feeling this way. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Not positive but emotionless - ‘nothing happened’ / ‘ice in their eyes’ - Owen’s bleakness as he doesn’t think things will change</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Students then did the same for Charge of the Light Brigade. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the start, we were looking at forming inferences around the writer’s thoughts and feelings. That was the focus and not the techniques. Structuring the analysis around the person then makes the choices more personal. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We like to think English is about characters, but I think we undermine the subject if that’s all we discuss. It is more about personality and personalities. Maybe, we need to make the subject more about the people and less about the texts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P.S. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental.</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-87040430038993133952023-09-16T12:24:00.002-07:002023-09-16T12:24:32.624-07:00The GCSE English Da Vinci Code <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are a lot of problems with the current exam specifications, but one main problem is that they don’t allow for freedom in our subject. There seem to be so many hidden things you have to do on them that you end up doing students a disservice, if you go, ‘I’ll teach everything but the exam paper.’ The summary question wants you to make inferences, even though nowhere in the question does it say so. The structure question wants you to talk about how the structure adds to the story’s themes, even though the question doesn’t ask for this and simply states that students have to talk about what they find ‘interesting’. Asking a teenager what they find interesting and not interesting is worlds apart from what a chief examiner finds interesting. . </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-83429a72-7fff-fa61-c5ce-373271e04254"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GCSE English exam success is based on a student’s ability to complete a Krypton Factor assault course. Jump through this hoop. Climb under this netting. Skip up this hill. It is a marathon task and it is no wonder some students leave papers and answers blank. One of my favourite meetings with SLT, is showing them the difference between an English Language paper and another subject. On this page students have to write 2 paragraphs. On this page they write 3 paragraphs. You can easily see how so many students struggle with it. It isn’t skill and knowledge that gets you grades, but endurance. If you can write at length for one hour forty-five minutes, then you’ll get a grade. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For years, we’ve taught the exam paper as a whole entity. Yes, we might have taught separately the reading and writing section, but we’ve taught them as discrete units. Then, it moves to becoming endless repeats and a challenge for teachers as we try to teach the same thing in a slightly different way. The problem is that by the time you get to Question 4 on an exam paper you and the students have lost the will to live. It is tough and boring. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This year, we have tried something differently. We are breaking the GCSE exam papers across the year. In Year 10 we focus on Paper 1 and in Year 11 we focus on Paper 2. </span></p><br /><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 451.27559055118115pt;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Year 10</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Year 11</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 1 Q1 and Q2</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 2 Q1 and Q2</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 1 Q5 story writing </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 2 Q5 - structure, introduction and Tone </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 1 Q3 and Q4 </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 2 Q3 and Q4 </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 1 Q5 descriptive writing </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paper 2 Q5 -strengthening and developing an argument, conclusions </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instead of spending whole terms looking at the paper, we spread the teaching of it so that we are regularly revisiting the elements and building spaced practice. Yes, you could teach the whole paper in one go, but with that approach you don’t get time to practise and hone skills. In between them we read literature texts, short stories and non-fiction. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYgJ0SaVzQmee65mkxI8KeDFV-DDWJ-KnApdiYxl8bvFBCPsAcfKyyU92K_0PHwnBjHGmpfiX5tkEral_THD_ttXlijMn-fBQaUcceb32ccCAdcfdqo8UvxRnUMpp5pRKxt_o2cuBxRbpWRQncB35TpVzfzI7pwgTjxdHu00wju0LzUQ0PW2y3YdDyQWIS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="940" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYgJ0SaVzQmee65mkxI8KeDFV-DDWJ-KnApdiYxl8bvFBCPsAcfKyyU92K_0PHwnBjHGmpfiX5tkEral_THD_ttXlijMn-fBQaUcceb32ccCAdcfdqo8UvxRnUMpp5pRKxt_o2cuBxRbpWRQncB35TpVzfzI7pwgTjxdHu00wju0LzUQ0PW2y3YdDyQWIS" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For example, with Paper 1, we are spending three weeks looking at reading the text properly and how to answer Paper 1 Q1 and Q2. Getting them attuned to these first is important. How many times have we rushed into the next question, before ensuring things are embedded? We get some questions right before moving on to the next two. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When we teach Paper 1 Q3 and Q4 later in the year, we will start with a practice on Q1 and Q2 to space out the practice and to ensure things are committed to memory. I hate the idea of GCSE being endless exam papers. Therefore, I think it is important that we break up papers and do interesting things and different things all the time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To show you how these units go, I have included two of our first booklets. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vbbbiwjcgfvuzhnnsrahp/10.1-PAPER-1-Q1-and-Q2-Booklet-Component-2023.docx?rlkey=4kwq9ajtrvzuhdexslgme2t6u&dl=0" target="_blank">Paper 1 - Q1 and Q2 </a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c9dyc8jqbtxn9zjwvoif4/11.1-PAPER-2-Q1-and-Q2-Booklet-Component-2023.odt?rlkey=njf15rlc7fppjfpb1fspnzzq4&dl=0" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">aper 2 - Q1 and Q2 </span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Building this structure around the papers helps us to address the monotony of the exam papers but also build up that knowledge. All too often, we walk students through papers expecting to remember how to answer each individual question and by the time it comes to their go they have forgotten what to do with Question 1 and 2. Plus, with interleaveing the questions like this, it allows us to build in more opportunities to look at shorts stories. We are not obsessing on getting to Question 4. Stop. Pause. Explore. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><br />Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-59593345220489217762023-09-10T03:42:00.005-07:002023-09-10T03:43:12.050-07:00Activating prior knowledge in reading <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A student doesn’t read a text in isolation. They never read something new, because they are bringing something to the table when reading any text. They are bringing their knowledge, experience, opinions or prejudices to a text at any one time.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9cb41712-7fff-0619-3a6b-58f91ea00e5c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I always find the opening of a novel such a disorientating experience. Where am I? Who am I? What are the rules of this world featured in this story? By about chapter 2 or 3, I am a bit happier, because I have orientered the story and built a mental model in my brain. Paper 1 Question 3 is like my nightmare. Instead of giving us a complete story, we have the opening chapter of a novel. Students have to orientate it quickly and say something clever about it. That’s why Question 3 is a nightmare. It asks students to orientate the opening of a story and explore the subtext of something unformed and incomplete. Writers don’t convey big ideas, in novels, through their opening pages. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Activating prior knowledge isn’t something that we explicitly teach or that students are particularly good at. As teachers, we might show a photograph of something or give a small explanation or description of something we feel students need, such as what an eel is. Prior knowledge tends to be sporadic or left to chance. But, little bits of knowledge help the reader to orientate what is going on. These breadcrumbs are important. You cannot just work things out in isolation. Supposition has its place in fiction, but we need something concrete to build a mental model. We work with the knowledge that we have. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The opening letterbox, as I call it, from the exam paper is probably one of the most important pieces of information for students to understand the extract. It has a number of different points of knowledge to activate. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 64px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="64" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MekPnmy53GwtF05NEiUXIFQ1u5u2xuDI2RsH273lVY-G89eYbWIY6rHk940Y0Kq59Nm-RC3M9YWvYfBPCY8c4q3wqso48O_sU4_hUbfK8sCyOVdjYKEFT0Ro7_J6jLGIsag-PlAt1xgYIEw5FZCMIA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">beginning of a story</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? What should it do? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about the early </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1900s</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about the name </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rosabel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about being </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lower class</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hat shops</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about being a girl who has to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">work </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in the 1900s? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All too often, students will gloss over the letterbox for the sake of the story. It is like some sort of addiction: move out the way, while I highlight every simile and adverb in sight. They read the text in isolation. Therefore, the understanding is largely in isolation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I would say my lessons are always about activating prior knowledge, but I am not always explicit about the process. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tom - Where did we see this in the last topic? Dalip - what is a toffee? Where would I find one? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The knowledge we retrieve in English cannot all fit onto a sheet. We are the subject that uses so many domains of knowledge that you cannot possibly put them down on paper. Instead, students have to use what existing knowledge they have to build a mental model. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But, if you look at the questions above related to Rosabel, you can see that some relate to History. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Who studies History as part of their options? What can you tell me about the 1900s? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But some of the others don’t need precise knowledge but more about pulling on their experience. I wouldn’t expect students to know the meaning of Rosabel. Beautiful rose. But, students can articulate that they haven’t heard of the name.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> It sounds exotic. Unusual. Different</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Or, they might make the connection with the flower rose. Either way, they could pick up on how her name doesn’t quite match to her lower class status. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then there is the hat shop. An interesting one. On the surface, it looks simple. A shop that sells hats. This is where the knowledge around shops comes in. Are hat shops common today? Where would we see a hat shop today? Why do people buy hats? What kind of people would buy hats? This, of course, is relational knowledge, based on their experience. They look at hat shops in relation to other shops. How are hat shops different from shoe shops? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sometimes, it is hard to recall prior knowledge around things, because the students’ brains have a lot of things to search through. One of the easiest questions I find to unlock prior knowledge is this: Is it a good or a bad thing? Is being lower class a positive or negative thing? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">No</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Why? Sometimes, we have that prior knowledge, but we don’t know how to articulate. But, we have that emotional knowledge. We know if something is good or bad. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As you can see, before we even read the text we can form quite a bit of context for the story by exploring what knowledge we have, exploring our experience around the subject and exploring our emotional response to something. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you know about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hat shops</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Not common </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Rich use them for special occasions </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Better than other jobs - selling a luxury item </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Dealing with rich people all day </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We are being asked to do knowledge retrieval at the start of lessons, yet in English we do it all the time and, actually, in different ways. From the 5 questions based on the letterbox, we are recalling precise knowledge, recalling feelings and recalling experiences. Then, based on those they are building relational facts, their own opinions and their own opinions. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What activating prior knowledge does is help frame the context for events. The Alex Cold extract employs prior knowledge that is a little closer to home. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 52px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="52" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CE0WCoSKWQL6Q0otM7kf9Jducem8f_kwhN6ntHtI6F6xc1aGeUW39xWczW1MsayP2UmqEWFKQ9h7RvwfQ6agMNPec0gkRReOklnHGQNOSerUiJ4cTNoCF2xgEq4_KR3Hp3jnhBT_rhVqD-ZYkegmSd8" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is it like to live with your </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">parents</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is it like to have</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> two younger sisters</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is it like to live in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> a small American town</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is it like when your </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mother becomes ill</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">? </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Then, there is another question we can ask to understand the context even further: How would a typical boy deal with all those things? </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I genuinely think we undersell and underuse prior knowledge during lessons. We use it for high end things like techniques or general understanding, but we don’t use it enough with formulating ideas and thinking. We leave a lot unsaid. Students need to grapple with unseen reading texts and working with what they do know helps to secure understanding of what they don’t know. They are tent pegs to hold things together. Without exploring the student’s prior knowledge, we don’t know what we need to teach them. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is your knowledge of …? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What would you feel in that situation…? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do people think of …. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What would we expect to see when …? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What usually happens in this situation…? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I see that often teachers preload students with knowledge around a text, when actually there isn’t a great need to. Exploratory thinking is needed initially and throughout the reading. If we want students to be active readers, we need them to think and recall knowledge actively. Before we start, what do you know about X? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I would argue that the first part of reading a text is the hardest. It is where we lose students. If they don’t have a clear grasp of a mental model, no matter how simple or complex, they can progress further. That can be an emotional model - this is a bad situation. Or, it can be a finely precise model. Either way, the student is building something in their head. Their knowledge of the context is key. Therefore, we need to help them build these contexts and show them how they have the knowledge to do that. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Picture books offer students a context and a ready formed mental model to build the story around. They can see it. They can see what Winnie the Witch is doing as they listen / read the words. They have a clear context for the story. Text without pictures don't have that context. Students have to construct the context themselves. And that is why prior knowledge is so important. Prior knowledge is about context. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-46734158552400012692023-07-26T04:06:00.006-07:002023-07-27T00:46:43.339-07:00I’m a teacher get me out of this classroom<p><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This month, I found a grey, well technically white, patch in my beard. With that one discovery, I have convinced myself that I am now officially a wise old man. My youth is slowly ebbing away like blood being sucked by a vampire. Education, sadly, has an issue with ageism and management. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3e5328e1-7fff-2539-a586-90b7c0bb6a8d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I haven’t always been an English teacher. In fact, I worked in the building trade and insurance before I even stepped before a white board. By my late twenties, I had experienced numerous leaders and working contexts. Then, I started working in schools and, to be honest, that’s where I found things different. Instead of working to be the best at your job, there was a constant narrative about promotion to leave the classroom. Promotion was viewed as spending less time in the classroom. The classroom was seen as toxic. I even had a fellow student teacher telling me on my PGCE course how they only wanted to spend three years teaching and then after that they’d consult for schools.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the beginning of my career, the narrative was that to survive in schools you needed to reduce the amount of teaching on your timetable. That alone created this thread of promotion or ‘stagnation’. Yet, alongside this, ran this other problem: what happens to the teachers who were weak? Simple answer: occasionally they were promoted to roles where there were less teaching hours. All roads lead away from the classroom. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We have a massive problem in education. Those that can teach… are subconsciously and consciously told to move out of the classroom. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The classroom, the beating heart of all schools, is the one aspect of schools people are clambering to get away from. Clambering away from it if you are good at teaching. Clambering away from it if you are bad at teaching. Surely, we have to ask ourselves why the classroom is such a problem.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If we want to address teaching retention numbers and the number of teachers joining the profession, we need to change the narrative. We need to stop the idea that the classroom is the stepping stone for headship, consultancy or a three-year book deal. This ephemeral nature to education, and the role, is damaging. It gives this idea that things can be obtained quickly. Things can be improved suddenly. That schools can change in a heartbeat. The speed and immediacy of this approach means that ‘crafting’ and ‘refining’ the art of teaching is lost. The emphasis on quick fixes and ‘identikit’ teaching methods is a problem. Instead of schools honing experience and skills, we are looking for quick fixes. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Look at how all adverts for teaching training feature a young teacher supposedly inspiring young minds because he / she is young. The narrative is that ‘young blood’’ in the classroom is good and ‘old blood’ in the classroom is bad. It’s a damaging narrative because it conveys that you have to be young to be engaging in the classroom. Somehow, a whiff of Ariana Grande perfume or a Superdry top is going to inspire people for life. Something more is needed. Youth doesn’t mean a natural passion for the subject. It just means their trousers or skirts might fit a bit better. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mr Llewlllyn was my equivalent in my school. He was a DT teacher, but he had a perm and he played rugby. That was catnip to students in a Welsh secondary school in my day. There wasn’t a whiff of grey in that chemically permed hair- it wasn’t natural and I wonder if he is paying for it now with baldness. Anyway, the teachers that I enjoyed were greying. Mr Bic who made us write stories in lessons. Mrs Keeling who read the Guardian and was enthused about reading all the time. Mr Ross who loved literature and shared it. They all made me the English teacher I am. They stoked the fire without a whiff of Lynx Africa, a perm or Adidas - it was the 90s! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We need a massive change in how the classroom is viewed. The narrative is broken. Our structures are broken. The management of schools is broken. The SLT office is the pivot in which schools move around. The classroom should be the pivot. It should be the beating heart. It should be the centre of what we do. If it isn’t working in that classroom, it doesn’t matter how silent or noisy your classroom is, it doesn’t matter what uniform they wear, it doesn’t matter what structure you have in the lesson, it simply doesn’t matter. Everything boils down to that experience. Too much of the time in education is focused on ‘the outside looking in’ on the classroom when we should be looking at the ‘inside looking out’ of the classroom. The people. The teachers. The experience. The crafting. The skills. Their value. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You can paint or rename schools as much as you like, but we are not going to retain teachers or attract teachers if we build negativity around the classroom experience. Now, I am not talking about the behaviour of pupils (but that also doesn’t help), but I mean the experience. We paint such a bad picture of classroom life. We equate success in teaching in terms of leadership roles, but we don’t equate it to time spent in the classroom. That is where the problem lies. We view success as being something outside the classroom. Not in it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I am not anti-leadership (in fact, I work with a great team), but I feel we have such a problem around this narrative. I have been on leadership courses, led things across schools, participated in leadership teams, but, at the moment, I haven’t committed to moving to senior leadership because it will move me out of the classroom. Therein lies another issue. The disjoint between leadership and teaching in the classroom. Yes, we have teaching leaders, but you cannot deny that it is hard to straddle both camps. You are, generally, either a classroom teacher or a leader. Rarely can you be both. Therein lies another problem. Why can’t we have both? I am not prepared to have the platitude ‘I might not be teaching a class, but I am having an impact on all students’ as the one thing that excuses why I am in a role, when I could be teaching a whole class. I teach full time as an English teacher and a curriculum leader. I don’t have a desire to run a consultancy firm, run off into the sunset and write teaching books or anything else that takes me out of the classroom. Change happens in the classroom. I want to be where that happens. Not in a meeting talking about it. I want to see and experience it with my own eyes. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We need to work on making the classroom a better experience and form a better narrative around the classroom. Being in the classroom shouldn’t be the equivalent of Boxer waiting for his time to be sold by the farmer to the glue factor. The classroom is the beating heart of schools. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We are in danger of becoming a profession of people who talk the talk and not walk the walk. We must never lose sight of the classroom or the classroom teacher's role in improvement. People improve schools. Systems and strategies don’t work without people. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I salute all the teachers working the classroom full time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I salute all the teachers who haven’t taken on promotion. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I salute all the teachers that want to stay in the classroom. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For they have experience, knowledge and skills that everyone should learn from. </span></p><div><br /></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Have a good holiday, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P.S. An alternative title to this blog was 'The Crystal Maze'; however, I felt that might be showing my age. Well, at least, highlighting the white patch. </span></p><br /></span><div><br /></div>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-43059676617533046012023-07-07T04:21:00.013-07:002023-07-07T04:26:39.738-07:00Crying over words. They are more than tiers. <p><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In English teaching, we tend to neglect the fact that students arrive in our classroom with a suitcase of words in their brain already. We can easily neglect it by obsessing over fancy words. A student can spell ‘hamartia’ correctly but cannot articulate a character’s journey to that point. They know what the character’s flaw is. They know what ‘hamartia’ means. They know ‘hamartia’ is important so ‘that’ becomes the impetus for their writing. Just like I have written ‘hamartia’ four times, because supposedly it makes me sound clever. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-caf486c7-7fff-f3cc-4325-eddc3fe39c71"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Words can be fooling and deceptive. Words don’t necessarily equate to meaning. I have taught students who have thrown words at me with the hope that one or two stick and make them sound clever. I still to this day get students throwing in ‘discombobulated’ into their writing, thinking I’d be suitably impressed. Secretly, I think, when reading it, how no writer uses that word in a normal conversation or their writing. Ok, maybe, Jane Austen. Even then, she’d use it in an ironic way. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Word soup’ is often the phrase I use to describe these pieces of writing. The writing usually goes something like this: </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> juxtaposition</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> of </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hamartia </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">catharsis</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">connotes </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the Elizabethan Chain of Being. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Like a massive juggernaut, these tier three (fancy words that</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> ‘supposedly only academics and rich people use’</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">) drive the writing. The student has said goodbye to the text they are studying and joined the jargon bus. Now, there might be a glimmer of meaning there, but the reader has to do a lot of the work. The reader has to unpick the meaning. The student isn’t doing the work. The reader is. That ‘word soup’ sentence doesn’t show precise meaning. In fact it shows very general meaning and every ‘show boat’ meaning. The words, therefore, give the illusion of understanding. They are the English teacher’s equivalent of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’. The writer thinks they are dressing their writing as something fancy, when in reality the writing doesn’t cover the ‘crack’ or ‘cracks’. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The problem I have around vocabulary is that when you put words into tiers you forget the connectability and contextuality of words. To talk about ‘juxtaposition’, you need tier 2 words (the fallen down the crack of the sofa words) and some tier 1 words (the words you use every day). That one word doesn’t work on its own, which is what some weaker students think. You cannot write the word ‘catharsis’ in a sentence, roll your sleeves and say, ‘job done!’. Nor can you proceed with an explanation of what the word ‘catharsis’ means. Sometimes, you get to a point in the subject of English where it isn’t so easy to itemise and compartmentalise things. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Precision around word use is what we see in the best responses in English. They don’t throw words at the reader, but they carefully select the right word for the context. Their meaning is measured, clear and precise. It is hard to get students to mirror that. The root of the problem is nouns. Lots of us spend ages getting hung up about adjectives, verbs and adverbs when getting students to write analysis. They are usually window dressing. I have seen the verbs around a writer’s intent, which can give the sense of meaning, but without the understanding they fall flat. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lots of the time, when we are working on analysing texts, we focus on the addition of words. Adding words to a sentence. Adding words to a paragraph. We’ve often forgotten about nouns. Look at any weak student and you see the variety of their nouns is limited. Romeo this. Romeo that. Students might have some adjectives, but without some decent nouns to attach the adjectives to they generally falter. For that reason, that’s why we have been working on nouns and building a student’s knowledge of nouns. Unless they know alternatives or are directed to them, they rarely use them. That’s why I have started producing text sheets like this one for ‘Romeo and Juliet’. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="192"></col><col width="203"></col><col width="196"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 30.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nouns for characters</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nouns for events</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nouns for character aspects</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">husband</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">truth</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">arrogance</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">father</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">threat</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">bravado</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">villain</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">discovery</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">care</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">generation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">kiss</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">carelessness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hero</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">plan</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">caution</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">admirer</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">actions</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">determination</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">priest</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">consequences</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">duty</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">wife</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">wedding</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">fairness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">beloved</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">secret</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">haste</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">women</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">grudge</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">honesty</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rebel</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">grief</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">humour</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">family</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">conversation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">idealism</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">parent</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">suicide</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ignorance</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mother</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">understanding</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">kindness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">gang</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">insult</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">knowledge</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">support</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">cause</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">loyalty</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lover</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">deception</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">optimism</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">son</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">action</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">passion</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">servant</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">death</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pessimism</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">child</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">fight</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">playfulness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">leader</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">fallout</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">power</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">men</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">disagreement</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pride</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">bystander</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">reconciliation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rashness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dreamer</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">feud</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">responsibility</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">guardian</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">infatuation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">romanticism</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">authority</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">devotion</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">sensitivity</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">friend</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">miscommunication</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">strength</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">daughter</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">vow</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">warmth</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If we think about child language acquisition, we learn nouns first when learning to speak. Students are often limited by their use of nouns. Yes, teach them some fancy words, but if they are not using precise nouns and synonyms then the foundations of their ideas are limited. If we look at the best writers, they tend to cycle through nouns but also make inferences through nouns. The ‘cause’ in one sentence connects to the ‘fight’ in another one. By providing students with nouns we can start formulating some sentences. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The priest's caution over the wedding causes the child to want to do it even more. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The child’s loyalty to her father is questioned. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once students have got these nouns they can add Shakespeare or any writer. They could add Shakespeare to that sentence or even write an additional sentence. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Shakespeare uses the priest’s caution to reflect the gulf between the old and young generations. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Shakespeare uses a child’s loyalty to highlight the problem that women faced in Elizabethan society: a duty to a husband outweighs a duty to a father. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, we now have another set of nouns for students. Nouns to describe the thing Shakespeare is tackling. Or any other writer for that reason. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="87"></col><col width="97"></col><col width="109"></col><col width="107"></col><col width="99"></col><col width="92"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">gulf</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">problem</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">fear</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">insecurity</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">divide</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">issue</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">divide</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">challenge</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">apprehension</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">uncertainty</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">separation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">concern</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">gap</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">obstacle</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">anxiety</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">self-doubt</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">partition</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">matter</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rift</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dilemma</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dread</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">vulnerability</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">schism</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">topic</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">chasm</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">difficulty</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">phobia</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">instability</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">discord</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">subject</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="81"></col><col width="97"></col><col width="103"></col><col width="105"></col><col width="107"></col><col width="99"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">danger</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">contrast</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dilemma</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">consequence</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">conflict</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">distance</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">risk</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">difference</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">predicament</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">result</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">disagreement</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">separation</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hazard</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">distinction</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">quandary</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">outcome</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">clash</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">remoteness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">peril</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">divergence</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">enigma</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">repercussion</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">strife</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">gap</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">threat</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">disparity</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">conundrum</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">aftermath</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">confrontation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">distance</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You could go on and on with looking at nouns, because the next stage would be the themes. What nouns could we use to describe the themes in the text? This could carry on with the writer’s feelings and so on. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nouns are the bricks that form ideas. Without a good collection of nouns, your ideas tend to get nowhere. I do think there is some merit with teaching students to work on their verbs, adjectives and adverbs, but without the nouns to construct the framework of meaning we are generally chucking tinsel on the writing. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another way to look at it is how we use nouns to refer to characterisation. We can start constructing meaning by using these nouns. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="136"></col><col width="136"></col><col width="136"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Motive</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fear</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Confidence</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">intent</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">insecurity</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">security</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mission</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">paranoia</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">bravery</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">purpose</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">cowardice</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">determination</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">desire</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hesitation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">audacity</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hope</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">anxiety</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">heroism</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">wish</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pessimism</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">fearlessness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">aim</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">phobia</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">guts</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">objective</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">panic</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">boldness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">target</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dread</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">arrogance</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">agenda</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">unease</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">blindness</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">scheme</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">agitation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">commitment</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">goal</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">repulsion</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">endurance</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">plan</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">disgust</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">strength</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">design</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">avoidance</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">intention </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">aversion</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">focus</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dream</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">drive</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rationale</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">impetus</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 14.25pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-right: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 0.9999974999999999pt; border-width: 0.999997pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 7pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin: 12pt 7pt 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mercutio’s rationale is about looking for fun in all situations which might indicate his fear of growing up and taking responsibility. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Nurse's aim is to make Juliet happy, a substitute for her own daughter, which gives her confidence to challenge Capulet when he attacks her verbally. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, when you have nouns then you can build around them. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Shakespeare highlights the gulf … </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">‘subtle gulf’ - add an adjective </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">‘the subtle gulf that drives a wedge across society’ - add a verb </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Controversially, Shakespeare - add an adverb</span></p></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As you can see, there’s so much you can do with nouns. Recently, with a Year 9 class we spent a whole lesson looking at nouns we could use to describe characters and events in the play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. It was much ado about nouns. Sorry - couldn’t resist! Then, we explored the adjectives we could attach to nouns. However, one student decided to offer ‘big’ and ‘small’ for every option. We explored how Leonato could be described as a ‘fickle father’ with his ‘conditional love’ for Hero. We discussed how Don John could be described as an ‘ineffective villain’ because of his ‘weak plots’. This led us to explore how we could use the adjective ‘effective’ and ‘ineffective’, exploring what context the words work best with. We were building links, but refining and correcting understanding at the same time. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To be honest, this is quite a simple activity or thing to do. Provide students with a grid and get them fill the grid with nouns and then look at adding adjectives to those nouns. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s so much potential for exploiting noun usage when studying a text. If we are serious about schemas and developing word knowledge, then we need to take a closer look at the language around texts. Especially the nouns. We are happy to throw in a high-brow concept in a lesson, but what if a student hasn’t got the words or nouns related to explaining that concept in their own writing? I feel that maybe in our search for improving students we have been misguided like the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’. We need something. Nouns. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thank you for reading. Because you have made it through quite a long blog, I have included a link to one of my booklets around teaching aspects language precision in Year 9 <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fwqda2nv5baw1xsk8zb6k/9-Shakespeare-Booklet-2023.odt?rlkey=f7raunjxlntv0wopbnnkhkris&dl=0" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P.S. I apologise if any nouns have been injured in this blog. Of course, some nouns can be adjectives. Word class often depends on context. </span></p><br /></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-56598547397886379672023-06-25T02:20:00.012-07:002023-06-25T02:25:23.000-07:00Homework in English <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Not only is there the oversimplification of ideas, but there
is an oversimplification of expression. In English, we don’t just work with
ideas but we work with how we express those ideas. Therefore, there are often
two things at play. What is Scrooge feeling at this point in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scrooge might be sad, miserable, under the weather, lonely, melancholy
and so on. All the same idea, but expressed differently. In fact, the expression
adds nuance to the idea and changes it so the idea is the same, but slightly
different. Find me a computer algorithm that can pick up on that subtly. It
will simply look for words like sad. You didn’t use the word ‘sad’, so you have
got it wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Homework in English tends to be either practising or
learning. Practising writing or reading. Or, learning knowledge. Somewhere
along the way, maybe, due to pressure and demands, we have lost the exploratory
element of English. The thinking. The exploring. Everything starts with ideas
in English, yet we don’t put enough stock on idea forming or initial responses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This term, I have been studying ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with a
Year 10 class and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ with a Year 9 class. Homework around
a Shakespeare text is always difficult because students don’t always have the
tools to access the text. I wanted, however, to work on the student exploratory
relationship with texts and I didn’t want to confine it to the classroom. The
best students in English are the students who take a text and run with it. They
dig, explore and question things. They naturally explore a text. A lot of time
in English lessons, we are presenting students with a poem or extract and
reliant on the reaction from the class.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been using Microsoft Forms to look at how we can get
students to explore the text and the ideas in the text more. Very easily, I
take a small part of the text and create four or five questions. The questions
are not GCSE exam style questions. They are not even fancy questions, but they
are questions around meaning and ideas. Students then have a week to respond to
them. We then start a lesson looking at the extract and I share their ideas on
the projector. Ummm - no marking.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here’s one simple example:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><img height="311" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WKQbel_h2PuJuGqVbJ8clER28bovUo-CLkhg30wvl2lQ1s7CPV31z5ukoBeghd6eqNezN_r6ovDq953fT-H-POYTBymKsdprsUlgOUylTu7Bmg3RGniOQUEPf8Ig8e4pUqnRMVZeOV3t8x_X8JkL9xo" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="247" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><img height="451" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/q7A4YJsTzGoVtREOBT4T-lEzzh43AHfKU1yEsOC9369dPdfcrfYOkFw6vLUK_uXh-qOV_EIidNApZiD8zrxM-e2EOCyhjZdgcchavYhX3jnkWXYDpWRl6SvNIyPWSEEUKPBC53z2_slB3fX0PPvc5Fs" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="383" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are some of the responses:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><img height="456" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/T6FidLWBdUyjPI1vAJbRJwY0Q0JZ3_BkvWd5LO_lwrOyEJhShO3N-FQmKtjKFQadvBO_KWpNgTE4-ckGrmkGTY8Hb4HqS4Cx4Hk7gSf-5uSW40CWeIBIN1dxhAuJTdEXu7PxparMk4K8hT-m-tbvros" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="477" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">As a group, we annotated the extract with these ideas and
then built and extended on things further, searching for patterns, trends and
connections.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Exploring a text takes time and this was a five minute
homework, which students could do at their own pace and leisure but actually
increased the level of exploratory talk because they had spent time thinking
about things. If I am honest, alongside knowledge homeworks using Carousel,
this type of homework is my default homework when studying Shakespeare. None of
this deciding what Romeo’s playlist will be in his car or researching the
number of lost buttons in duelling incidents in Elizabethan Italy. Homework
built around idea forming or expressing ideas. The thinking is happening inside
and outside the classroom.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But, also, it creates new avenues for discussion or
opportunities for addressing misconceptions. Look at this one for when we
explored Romeo meeting Juliet for the first time:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><img height="492" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_8hPEVgIOdVRGncHjhUI_HOCjmbmq2boCc1U_gpS9odl14ke9h-17LpMw4vPTZuIj-X0tHlzvxQNP_a5qpikkpvMgRBT1De06QgLoDm1MZTpl9JFjvwWzDoAhh24dtubDNaPuaQqcvBsRuFj9J7mBPs" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="449" /><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">Several things came out of this such as:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"># Is the extract really a sonnet? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"># Is Romeo ‘lustful’? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"># Why is ‘starstruck’ such a good word to describe Romeo at
this point? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every lesson can be a metaphorical ‘blank page’ when
teaching English. We start with an extract and build meaning. This approach for
me has made me see what opportunities there are for exploring Shakespeare in
and outside the classroom using Microsoft Forms. In an ideal world, we want
students to be thinking about our subject outside the classroom. This way
students are thinking and exploring outside Period 3 on a Wednesday. We are
building confidence and at the same time exploring the text studied. Homework
is supporting the learning and not being a byproduct of it or simply a process
that needs to be done because the powers that be say so.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Homework in English is tricky, but I think exploring texts,
whether they be fiction, non-fiction, plays, poems, should always take
priority. We need students to be good at forming ideas and working on their
expression of those ideas and, if we are honest, 10 minutes in the classroom is
not enough practice for them. They need to be regularly forming ideas and
expressing them. Why should it be once a lesson? Why not all the time? That,
after all, is what they need to do in the exam. Yes, they might need knowledge,
but they need to do something with that knowledge.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Five minutes it takes me to create</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">this homework task. Twenty minutes or more I
use in lessons to feedback on the responses. Zero marking. Hundreds of ideas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for reading,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Xris<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-425157456724438562023-06-11T04:22:00.005-07:002023-06-11T04:22:39.713-07:00Narrowing down revision in English <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Revision and revising is such a tricky thing for English. It can, if we are not too careful, be the equivalent of Buckaroo. Here’s another quotation. Now, add these three quotations. Balance these intent words on your head. BUCKAROO! </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-61560de7-7fff-f05d-4fc8-2eb04c6801ce"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We all love a good quotation, but revision can become for literature all about the quotations and not the ideas. It is really hard to find a balance, because quotations are concrete and they can be recalled so they give the students the semblance of effective revision. The problem is that students can often learn quotations that have no link to the question, yet because they have learnt it they are going to crowbar it into their writing. Is the emphasis on quotation knowledge superseding text knowledge? And, more importantly, text understanding? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I admit my emphasis on quotations has always been around words or one or two key phrases. ‘Solitary as an oyster’ works on so many levels that it can fit into most essays. Class - the rich are shut off from their problems. Greed - hiding their riches. Charity - the pearl represents that there is some good in Scrooge. Teach them a good quotation and how it fits in a number of contexts and you are preparing students to think on their feet. All too often, we turn quotation learning into some kind of military drill. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Drop and give me two quotations on Tiny Tim. What is that? I can’t hear you. For that, you are giving me four quotations on love in ‘Romeo and Juliet’. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The retaining of the quotation is more important the malleable nature of ideas and quotations. They are putty to mould and shape into an argument. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This year, I played around with revision lessons. Instead of the hunt for a needle in a haystack knowledge retrieval, we tried a very simple structure. I simplified the text in several key images, the characters and the structure. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 347px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="347" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KXSjql_naOOf9LhnVHZ90Rk8UBdiLSCsUr2ljp4xkXQL1waCaLdzXlyP6B3UgvwJuxNdzu_r35flffPUNDYe19gPuKCjKxxcxpZ9FhFfuBEGue0RFw7Wh8zxVd1NU6fMFzA-FPRDyVNiSICUFsh_1lI" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I gave students a sheet with these on them. Then, I gave them the question. How does Shakespeare present love? Together, we worked on thinking what were the key images in the text related to the idea of love. We discussed the father’s and friar’s view of treating children like plants. We discussed the idea of cupid and the concept of love being unpredictable. Next, we explored the character across the text. Are there characters that show love? We discussed the combination of Lady Capulet and Nurse and their views of love. We then discussed the different attitudes that Mercutio and Romeo have towards love. The group decided that Shakespeare uses Lady Capulet in an unsympathetic light to show how adults have a conditional attitude towards love. Finally, once we had these ideas we considered the structure. We discussed that we see the parents move from unconditional to conditional love. We also discussed how problematic conditional love is with Romeo and Juliet. The overall opinion was that Shakespeare wanted balance and not one or the other. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From a simple sheet, we had explored images, character and structure to form and argument in response to the question. Then, we were able to check what existing quotations we could use. In fact, as we discussed these ideas, students freely offered their ideas and quotations. The thinking of ideas started the search for quotations rather than the other way round. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="416" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/C4sUqJeP1TjasLtYx07EZesYaJJtBUSqg4HK9QTKBtmIzkyRjPWxoDeGqQHilTSWaRUrhSD6uWzTqtpJpC_MgvIzqIkWUF94OedaPzQBfmqVO0dHC1FIq6mZ09lieQJt-7SjvAX5223UQVqZrGTznF0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We then drafted a paragraph for one of the ideas. This took us close to thirty minutes to do, but we have revised images, characters and structure alongside themes and quotations. In fact, in one lesson we covered three texts like this. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I know revision season is done for this year (almost) but I think we genuinely need to think about the revision process long-term to avoid the Buckaroo effect. All too often, the closer we get to the exams, the more we attempt to cram and pile knowledge and things onto students. If the teaching of the texts is good, then at the end there shouldn’t be a need to fill students up with quotations. Students should with a few key choice morsels be able to create a dish of an essay. More able students will probably have a few more select and subtle morsels, but the majority will have something. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Maybe our problem with exams and revision is that the default is that there is an absence of something. We add rather than build on what is there. English is probably the one subject where you are often starting with something. Before students revise the texts, they know something of the story. The power of literature is that it lasts long after the experience. They might not remember the quotations but they can remember the story. There is a spark of something to add kindle to. Hopefully, this is one way to start that fire burning. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A link to the documents I used is here: </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dp39pt9cgr91f6n2y4r8y/Year-11-Revision-Helpsheet.docx?dl=0&rlkey=r2jpgkdzwidapb5vi0fwrykw1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dp39pt9cgr91f6n2y4r8y/Year-11-Revision-Helpsheet.docx?dl=0&rlkey=r2jpgkdzwidapb5vi0fwrykw1</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-44560199124281629022023-05-13T12:31:00.004-07:002023-05-14T04:03:58.765-07:00Who do you love, Shakespeare? <p><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">For years, I’ve really struggled with how we go about teaching writer’s intent when exploring fiction. I have no problem with telling students what the writer intends from the start, but there does come a point when we want students to formulate their own opinions about the writer’s intention. That’s what we see at the top in GCSE English Literature. Not fancy words. A complex understanding of the writer’s intent. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-99864a42-7fff-bca8-b2c6-f92410a9d08c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a while, we’ve boiled it down to verbs. </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens attacks… Shakespeare challenges… Priestley questions …</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Words alone don’t do the thinking. They present a kind of thinking, but they don’t actually get students to think around texts and what the writer is doing. Verbs centred around the writer’s intent sound good but often they fall flat. A bit like that student that tries to fit ‘halcyon’ or ‘petrichor’ in their writing. They look snazzy and fancy, but unless they are used with thought and meaning they sit like dead flies in a bowl of soup. Words need understanding and thought. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The biggest problem, as I see it, is that we see intent as knowledge to be linked in a sentence rather than an inference to be made. We get, in English, that we need to make inferences about character, but what we don’t get is that we make inferences all the time about other things. We make inferences around the mood. We make inferences about how readers react to a text. We make inferences about what the writer is doing, thinking or feeling. We’d happily infer a complex backstory around a character’s traumatic childhood or how Rosabel’s buying eggs and violets is a symbol of her frustration to break the shackles of the class system, but we rarely make that many inferences around the writer. Instead we construct them around the knowledge we know of the writer. Dickens had a sad childhood. Therefore, he is attacking the way children are treated because he had a sad childhood and he doesn’t want others to experience the same thing he did. Now, that’s all fine and dandy with a writer like Dickens who is so well documented in history that every line of his writing can be cross-referenced to his life. But, the problem comes when you look at writers like Shakespeare. A man that is so transient you cannot pin anything down to precise contextual facts.</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ummm it refers to a tree and that reflects his time spent in Stratford-Upon-Avon. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem is that the text is rarely used as a source for inferences around the writer’s intent. Instead, we foreground everything with perceived notions or knowledge of intent. </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens does this because of X and Y. Look class - Dickens has used Tiny Tim. How does Tiny Tim link to X and Y? What is Dickens attacking? </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We use knowledge as a source of intent and construct things in a backwards way. We bring the intent to the text, rather explore how the text shows us intent. I might be pedantic, but in doing that we miss a massive step in understanding. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personally, I think we don’t build up a mental construction enough of the writer with students. In my head, I have a mental image of Dickens or Shakespeare. My reading of anything they write just helps and adds to build to my mental construction of the writer. I see them as really living people and like the text messages I get from family members I use the plays and novels to help me understand them better. What makes them tick? What annoys them? What do they really mean? What do they think? I construct a version of them. A person. In the same way I construct a character and try to get under their skin, I do the same to writers. They are real people, or were, and not two-dimensional figures. They love, hate, joke, cry and yet we don’t build this view of the writer up in their heads. This real person. </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens thinks… Dickens hates … Dickens is upset when</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> … In fact, it reminds me of something. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.’</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because we place so much emphasis on the writer’s context, we remove the student away from understanding that the writer is like them. A thinking, feeling person. Instead, we present a notion of a person with experiences so far removed from them that it must seem like holding a seance every time they are trying to work out the writer’s intent.</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sir, my dad wasn’t in a debtor’s prison and I never worked in a boot blacking factory so how can I possibly understand what he is thinking. </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Neglecting the person and the human behind the writer is problematic. No wonder students struggle so much, when they struggle to empathise with a context so alien to them. We draw attention to the uniqueness of their context and neglect the commonness of their context. The human condition. The human. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, how can we start to address this? For a start, I think building concepts and ideas around the person. I’ve talked before about using the words ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ to talk about writers. What does Dickens </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> readers to feel? What does Dickens </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">want </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the reader to do after reading ‘A Christmas Carol’? We could also add to that layer by discussing a writer's fears and dreams. What is Dickens' </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dream</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for society based on ‘A Christmas Carol’? What does Dickens </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fear</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> about society based on the novel? Questions around understanding the person’s drive really helps to explore inferences around the character. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can do further by looking at the writer’s perspective, such as optimism and pessimism. What is Dickens </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hopeful </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">about in society? What does Dickens believe is </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hopeless</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in society? Or, we can take it a different way and explore what is a writer romanticising and what he/she isn’t. What is Dickens presenting as </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">flawless</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? What is Dickens presenting as </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">flawed</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? We can even go one further in terms of perspective and look at it from the writer’s point of view. Which character in ‘A Christmas Carol’ does Dickens </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">identify mos</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t with? Which character is </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">most unlike</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dickens in ‘A Christmas Carol’? Or, we can go from a tone angle. Which character does Dickens find </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">funny</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Which character does Dickens find </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">serious</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, for me, the easiest questions, above all, when exploring are: Who does the writer </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Who does the writer </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hate</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? They are simple, but complex questions. They can take you down a number of paths, but essentially they characterise the writer as a sentient being and not a faceless figure. They are so open to interpretation that they can take you down different paths. Who does Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the start of the play? Who does Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by the end of the play? How do you know they love them? I personally think Shakespeare loves the characters of Mercutio and the Nurse because of the use of humour. They get the best jokes and I always want to see more of them in the story. Why then does Shakespeare love these characters? Well, maybe it is because both of these have a practical view of relationships. They love but they don’t need to wrap it up behind language and metaphor. They have a true and honest form of love. That’s just my interpretation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, we can go further with love and hate and explore characters further. What aspects of Capulet does Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? What aspects of Capulet does Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hate</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">loves</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Capulet we see in Act 1. A father so proud, so pleased and so protective of his daughter. Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hates </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Capulet in Act 3 when he forces Juliet to marry against her wishes. Why does Shakespeare change from </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">liking to hating</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Capulet? For me, the change is when Juliet’s position in her father’s mind changes. She moves from being a person to being an object to do as he sees fits. Shakespeare hates how parents remove a child’s voice and agency in decisions. Their lack of empathy or consideration for his daughter is what Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hates </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the story. Shakespeare’s golden intent behind most plays is to show how something we think is simple is complex. Or, how something so complex is quite simple when you look at it. Seeing things from the perspective of emotion shows you what Shakespeare is siding on an issue or concept. Shakespeare </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sides</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with Romeo’s sensitivity and thoughtfulness but </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">opposes</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tybalt’s dogmatic and simplistic view. Shakespeare teaches us how complex males are and how society dangerously narrows men into set stereotypes. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, this might seem simplistic but it teaches students that writers are people. Rarely do we talk about writers in terms of feelings. We talk about writers in terms of thoughts, yet thoughts and feelings are inextricably connected. Writers feel in equal measure to thinking, yet we all tend to associate characters and readers as the sole gatekeeper for emotions. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Constructing a sentient, and emotional, working model of the writer is key to understanding how texts work. Some knowledge can help to ‘hot wire’ the thinking, but the text tells you what a writer thinks of people and parts of society. We just need students to get better at inferring the writer’s feelings. Maybe, the start of that process is asking them questions around the writer’s feelings. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-55244014552531166632023-05-07T04:15:00.002-07:002023-05-07T04:15:12.051-07:00Just a piece of paper - EHCPs<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are surrounded by narratives. Little stories that dominate our thinking and the way we see the world. They feed our unconscious bias around SEND. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b3732c94-7fff-45c8-0819-afd56448c976"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a parent of a child with SEND, there are two narratives that plague our lives. They are polar opposites. Both are equally damaging and both are attempts to simplify a complex situation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ‘Tiny Tim’ narrative is one that provokes pity and sympathy. It often stems from a good place, but it relegates all understanding and humanity. The disability becomes the focus and not the person. The child with SEND becomes infantilised as a result of viewpoint. The issues become simplified. The focus ends up being purely about feelings and ensuring the child is happy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As long as Tiny Tim is happy, God bless him. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The damage that is done in society and education is long-lasting as a result of this. Issues are brushed under the carpet. Hidden because the child is smiling and happy. SEND children become experts at smiling and being happy. Smiling is seen as progress in the ‘Tiny Tim’ narrative. The emotions dominate everything and as a result academic progress takes a backseat. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a father of a child with Cerebral Palsy, you end up dealing with some bizarre things.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Is she getting better? Hasn’t her walking improved?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Of course, this is said from a good place but it highlights how we, subtly, simplify disability. These comments indicate that you can be cured of Cerebral Palsy. That we are living to be one day ‘Cerebral Palsy free’. When CP walked (well, wobbled) into our lives, it was here to stay. Life is about living and understanding the condition. Each day we understand it better. CP doesn’t change. We just get better with it. The ‘Tiny Tim’ narrative feeds this idea of healing and curing SEND. We tend to obsess on fixing, healing and curing disability. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other narrative is the other end of the spectrum of empathy: The ‘Sammy Scrounger’ narrative. This narrative is the stark opposite to the ‘Tiny Tim’ narrative. The idea that the person isn’t really disabled. That it is all an act. An act to get money from the system. A narrative we have to deal with regularly. Every time we park in a disabled bay we get looks. Even when we’ve plonked the blue badge ceremoniously on the dashboard. It is not until we have assembled the wheelchair that the cold looks stop. Yet, that judgement is there. A narrative that has affected the way people act and behave. The assumption that disabled people are attempting to hoodwink others is constantly at the back of people’s minds. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ‘Sammy Scrounger’ narrative has doubt at the centre. It teaches us to doubt, question and withhold support. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it really SEND? Isn’t it really laziness? Isn’t it really bad parenting? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like we are some God, we question whether a child deserves our support or not. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the child deserving of our support?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The idea that this child is ‘stealing’ support from the rest of the class becomes a domineering idea and the teacher positions themselves like some social justice bailiff to enforce justice. They are standing up to this social injustice. Why should this child have extra when they are ‘cheating’ the system? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These two narratives blight my life and the rest of society when it comes to disability and SEND. Instead of seeking to understand, we have pigeonholed young people into these two categories. Those that are deserving and those that are not deserving. And, sadly, that has been evident in education recently. The EHCP has been the target. A document, if done correctly, is the narrative that teachers should know and not the one that they have inferred or the one that society wants them to have in their heads. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I speak as a parent and a teacher, with a child with a current, and functioning, EHCP, that is a massive part of the jigsaw in understanding that child. Time and experience helps to build the jigsaw, but in a school when time is precious this is the next best thing. A document that lets you know what the child and parents need you to know about this child so you can make their experience of education better. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SEND is complex. Vastly complex. In my experience of teaching a range of needs, I have rarely seen a child fit into a category easily in terms of SEND. The need is only part of the person and the relationship between the child and the need makes things complex. As a parent, we deal with CP, but how my daughter deals with CP is unique to her. A blanket A4 sheet on CP won’t tell you how to handle her CP. And it is her CP. It is all about her relationship with the condition. Not about your views on the condition. Not about your training. Not about your experience. But it is about her and her relationship with the condition. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a confidence in teachers that they know everything about a need because they have taught a student with that need before. Somehow that teaching experience has given a teacher expert knowledge in everything around the need or experience of that child. I have had fifteen years of experience with CP and I couldn’t tell you how to support another child with their CP. That’s because the disability is a part of them. I need to understand not just CP, but how that CP works with that person. The disability is only one piece in the jigsaw. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furthermore, our perception is another part of the problem. We base many of our judgements on our own experience. We used to take our daughter to a local swimming pool to swim. Only later did we learn that the coldness of the pool causes discomfort to CP children. The coldness makes the muscles contract and cause pain. I didn’t perceive it as a problem, because it wasn’t a problem for me. My perception was the problem. That is a common thread for us with CP. Our perception is constantly changing as we learn. Neurodiversity, for me, is another issue in this issue around perception. The majority of teachers are neurotypical and therefore have no idea what it is like from a neurodiverse perspective. They don’t have lived experience of the issue. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It isn’t just a simple piece of paper. It is the start of understanding a child. A piece of the jigsaw. A piece that unpicks our bias. That unpicks our perception. That unpicks our ability to oversimplify issues. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have a problem with EHCPs, then I suggest you have a look at the systems around SEND in schools first. The training. The diagnosis. The support. One little bit of paper is an easy target, but by dismissing it you are dismissing the voice of the child. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t have…</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t have </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">a minute. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t have</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">a minute </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">to check</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">that the background is black and the text is white,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">that the subtitles are switched on, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">that the instructions are given in small chunks, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">that the microphone is switched on, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">that my chair is moved into the classroom,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">that my worksheets are enlarged. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It is just</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">a piece of paper. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It is just</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">a piece of paper</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">so that I can read,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">so that I can understand, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">so that I can keep up, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">so that I can hear, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">so that I don’t feel pain, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">so that I can work and learn. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It is </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">just</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">a piece of paper. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It is</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">just </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">a minute, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">but </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">it is a piece of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">me. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">My voice. </span></p></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-55619341597641769472023-04-23T03:53:00.002-07:002023-04-23T03:53:26.952-07:00Left to their own devices, they’ll probably… revise quotations. <p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In English, we have a problem with quotations, when it comes to revision.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-27643b48-7fff-90fa-2f8c-e23446703153"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A large number of students reduce revision to quotation learning. Whilst, there is no doubt that some quotation knowledge is useful for formulating answers, they are not the behemoths that students think they are. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will do okay as I know some quotations about Macbeth</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Quotations can, and do, give false confidence. Students panic about other subjects in school and their lack of knowledge in a topic, yet in English there is a nonchalance as they can remember the film and they’d got a few quotations in their head. The problem is that we often reinforce the quotation emphasis as the closer we get to the final exam we make the revision largely about quotations. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem with quotations is they give the impression of understanding texts without forcing students to work on their understanding. The exams expect them to think, explain and reason, yet all too often their brains are full of massive quotations to the detriment of their thinking. They can have 99 quotations yet not one reasonable idea between them. The ideas get the marks and not the quotations. A quotation is a vehicle for thinking and not the destination. All too often students see quotations as a mic drop. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scrooge is a lonely character. The quote ‘solitary as an oyster’ shows us this. Boom. Drop the mic</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To move students from focusing solely on quotations, we are releasing a weekly ‘possible’ exam paper in the lead up to the exam. The emphasis on thinking. What would you do if this was the question? Rather than focus on predicting the exam question, we are building the thinking into the revision process. At the same time, revising themes, threads or strands in the texts. Each week students plan how they’d respond to the questions and share in the lesson. They are preparing to think. Not preparing to repeat quotations. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's an example: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9tusg6fcljpt7e7sxy0qh/Homework-Planning.docx?dl=0&rlkey=nuv6wvkwmklco9y36seco38g3" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9tusg6fcljpt7e7sxy0qh/Homework-Planning.docx?dl=0&rlkey=nuv6wvkwmklco9y36seco38g3</span></a></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-63754737067425180562023-03-19T05:12:00.004-07:002023-03-19T05:12:51.536-07:00I am ready for my closeup now, Mrs Writer. <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a danger in English that we become the subject of extracts. Let’s look at an extract for Paper 1. Let’s look at an extract for Paper 2. Let’s look at an extract for unseen poetry. If there’s one thing we have in aplomb is extracts in English. I get that texts are the beating heart of English, but the constant trotting out of extracts doesn’t set pulses rising, or interest focused. Added to that we have some bizarre questions on the exam papers. I am looking at you, Question 2 and Question 3 on Paper 1. Questions that split something that is never really split on English exam papers. For decades, exam papers have always included language devices and structure devices under the umbrella term ‘methods’. Paper 1 bizarrely labotamises one from the other. Language and structure have always worked together, yet, like some messy royal divorce, the two are separate and cannot even speak to each other - let alone mention the other’s name. No, that is a structure term. No, that is a language term. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e11fff8b-7fff-5be8-e8ce-dfc108fbd68c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Across the land, we are battling with this crazy question. We are having to separate structure from language. And, in no other part of the curriculum have we got this distinction. We don’t criticise students when they refer to a structure point when exploring a novel. Nor, do we criticise a student when they spot a language device in a poem. We reward the exploring of texts and not insist on a narrowing of focus. Texts are messy and assessments need to reflect that messiness. Otherwise, we are narrowing the focus, the teaching, the thinking and the ideas. Just look at the fact that they provide us with a bullet point to the questions. Is there anything more indicative that the question is the problem? This question is so messy that we need some bullet points added to it. If you cannot simply write ‘How does the writer make the setting scary?’ then there’s a problem with the question and not the students. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hate Question 2 and Question 3 with a passion, because they represent a massive problem with English. We have placed a ‘Frankenstein’s creation’ of analysis at the heart of the assessment system. The beating heart of the subject isn’t engagement and connections with literature, but a bizarre form of analysis which looks like some form of critical analysis, but it is far from it.This analysis monster is everywhere and dominating the collective consciousness. Instead of exploring texts meaningfully, we default to a perceived notion of what analysis is. We are shaping students to this analysis rather than thinking and connecting with texts. Instead of students noticing, exploring, digging in a text, we have defaulted to a subject that identifies, labels and categorises parts of a text. I hold Question 2 and 3 responsible for this. Instead of talking about what they notice in the extract, they have to separate things into language and structure points. The exam becomes a test of not their understanding of the text but their knowledge of if this is the structure or the language question. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">English is a unique subject because it allows all students and all levels of ability to engage, respond, explore and investigate a text. Having taught for years, you can see this. The weakest student in the class can often floor you when they make a point that is so profound that you haven’t even considered it. Yet, the exam system doesn’t support that and I blame the questioning. By being so detailed and prescriptive, the exam is holding a large number of students back on something they can excel in: responding to a text. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With all that in mind, I have changed my approach to Question 3 over the last few years. Along with reading short stories, I explore film clips when exploring Paper 1. Instead of introducing Question 3 with a trumpet, I start the work covertly. Throughout the whole time I teach the reading section, I watch film clips and explore the ideas in them, so when I get to the dreaded Question 3 students have built up their confidence already. We watch the clip. Then, I show them a storyboard of the clip. Next, I pick one or two camera shots and get students to explore the meaning behind the shot. Usually, I pick a shot that focuses on an object or people. For the objects, we tend to explore the symbolism of the object and how it relates to action or subtext. For the characters, we tend to explore the inferred thoughts, feelings and motivations. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s no need to look at every shot and we certainly don’t obsess about beginning, middle and end. We simply talk about how that shot adds meaning to what is going on. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jaws: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 337px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="337" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/owu0PGxKPAd3H7hKR4aL1z32eh12yhnHDysrIvQ34cMuzBcufL-zwBC01GTjM7fUVksNz68eUHqduUOFadKaCazxYe_gN0uhTSVFEXg8tbFfpMvWUAN2z2pd-1duQjAkELaXE8di_OToYCnWjx-OEUM" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW23RsUTb2Y</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 4. A masterclass in creating an ominous mood. You’ve got a child playing in the sand while a boy is searching for his missing dog. We have Brody, in the full clip worried that something is going to happen and this shot foreshadows what is going to happen and indicates that something has happened already, which he doesn’t know about. I also like this shot because it mirrors what is going on in the scene. You have two types of people: the worried/searching and the relaxed/playing. But, thinking of the writer’s masterplan, this is the clue that Brody has been looking for. A sign that something isn’t right. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jurassic Park: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 337px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="337" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jdHUe0oDb262O4-yUR0cK3OKBsPHdsP55aZu_oIPJVgyi90MdB8taGQ40MYppvMpJB-3wktayfss0cJ2VvN-1IXLmtzN14UMGHwsopwTBfAXvPKHq_AwFPDXRLx2EQud1zbP9O62dx5RWk0Oo9ixHhk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc_i5TKdmhs </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 4. This shot is so famous that it is often parodied, but I like it because it shows you how objects can be used by writers. The ripples of the water don’t just indicate the imminent danger of the tyrannosaurus rex but the sense of power it has. The creature is nowhere near the car yet it is having an impact on something small, tiny and insignificant. If this creature can create ripples on water from a distance, what can it do to the character when it is next to them? This is all about the build up and preparing us for meeting the creature. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Birds: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 340px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="340" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QOQfpANv5wNb1DAc4rby6iY4yTTe4FyWiAsAc7OTPIGjw-0DiV5dNuYPlG1qylkyzuNPj-F4AtsqDOSXg7DX3puxnReL8AkFhupk7iDT308Fwg6Zuo8WEXRHmG0CChSiXBlADABZpCK14svGaaOcnfc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLJtKlVVZw</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 6. Or, as I’d like to call it ‘I am smoking a fag!’. You cannot look at films without looking at some Hitchcock. This one focuses on a character totally unaware of the danger behind her. She is relaxed, calm and unaware of the birds amassing behind her. For this shot, we talked about dramatic irony and how that is used for effect here. Something Hitchcock does often. I like this clip because it matches a lot of what we see in the exam paper - a slow discovery. Here the character discovers she is in danger. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All Quiet on the Western Front: </span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 335px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="335" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/vNFJzoNcrqmCnzjSGxd90UiubjO5mO27_77yCYmvNI-KpE03OFlN5n_QGAjjiRvmglbLbene2KVPyECNg27GvdpN6PJCHefvmBcpAaciKirKxSzqXKjzjHj86zunEzqJjPDmeoivPSI2qOAM4dlN3Os" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: (sadly, they have removed the link for this one. I used Netflix to show this scene. Skip the school bits) </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 9. This has been my favourite film recently and I really like the opening. Very powerful. The shot here echoes the number of soldiers killed but also how devalued they are. I like how the name labels on the floor echo the opening with the coffins. There’s a cycle to the process almost. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Billy Elliot: </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 335px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="335" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nMzif9JM6V18dkwH1ThVfjYjUSTF1v_WRKd6-64hSS4FDxm73ckVHmzpvWiPwGph0QmL5_mALeuB7FvnCCAklEA00JfaDjhOd4jC8jcvBC9hPBWdwdl4DyH_SiznOjeQmZeQnZK5NfGFMQqbd1iPe0w" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixgJMTmNOow (contains swearing) </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 7. For me, this shot is interesting because of the inferences you can make. The shot of Billy clutching the cushion reveals so much. Billy has had good news, but his reaction isn’t that of someone celebrating. The focus on the character reveals to us that he is scared about how his life will change. It suggests that he didn’t think he’d get in so he hadn’t prepared for it to happen. I think it is a great moment, because it reveals so much about the character without saying anything.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Schindler’s List: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 337px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="337" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/BpcnJNLAVNxpex10ZGxAlqcp9am_O271Nql6RQ32fNlY5xZERG2uXNArPy4FzXY45ZltO9Xtb1gMeMEt06nYFULzWF0tA7DjqrjjP5XONJK3XsKdDxW4c-xCENQLwkRUQVzOsswyPoLFqYFQq6n_ldc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-OpC6tnJ9c</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 5. This film had such a powerful impact on me. The scene here is interesting for what it doesn’t show. The director shows us a point of view shot of the children waving to their mothers. The act of waving reflects the innocence of the children and how they misinterpret the events. A wave is used to say goodbye. The children are waving goodbye to their mothers one last time. We see the mother’s faces yet we don’t see the children’s faces. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sandman </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 347px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="347" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/E1owRiCmnbSlGrcqGAqDvh87h3KzHVU14WIa46hIOriwWFpckld2KehYg6O6tRzPpSPKbo6HmTRZioDi0zHBqT-ZSE3nx6ofyeuca5pWMzc2Hzq2GDgNLqXZGYOZStsNhezGF4f7PBUFOtVKDcCJVus" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hz3QB31K_c" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hz3QB31K_c</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (opening few minutes) </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 9. If you have been teaching long enough, you’ll have seen ‘The Sandman’. An interesting and dark piece of animation. This shot I find interesting because it highlights how distant the boy is from safety. As the child moves through the house, he is moving further away from his mother and safety. The house is laid out in an interesting way which suggests that what we see here is the child’s perception and not the reality. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Touch of Evil </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 337px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="337" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0HMVTlwu5pLAJmYWYb4hKzUY6ww98fh0ApmFWTUXmRRFjJ04o-wgPBvDN7HBwmHaik7lkEz_wHRbqRgNhBtTd3x3oRduyxEtX2G8ItZYCFJtUF2xUnZ7r5kzTsicBvXXYm6PoejG_1uGPcthNxEG1fk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhmYY5ZMXOY</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 8. This clip is interesting because it weaves two elements together. We have our protagonists having a chat whilst walking and then weaved in this chat is a car that keeps appearing and stopping. Again, we have dramatic irony at play here, but also this camera shot puts these two couples together. This moment highlights how close to the danger our protagonists are, but also how easily it could be our protagonists in the car. Often we have an element of danger in the extracts and the danger weaves in and out of the plot. This clip is interesting for that. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">North by Northwest </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 341px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="341" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/l-ABMQXVPt88i_Ox_eoIR0cvKJfGsFRftiO5zuUKIb3LKQQSB2U9n59m9ss1F-31gz-QiVo-Qg_gKNlxJ4BxqOKRmtUu453UcoAUc51nknLiSLmDigduLamvSqTzMkoJv0FwcJ63kGO5zcD766sNxO8" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ8tNdxxHUU</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 4. This one is a simple case of misdirection. What we think of as being the danger isn’t dangerous. The shot here looks like the protagonist and antagonist in a face off, when it isn’t. The clip highlights how we search for danger in a situation. We go through numerous things - a car, a man, a bus. Then, the danger comes. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ‘burbs</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 339px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="339" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ncBkWXQzoeYZL3OyLK0FGWmt5TSvPJ_oRM9JklsQiAVBNadbrn-Z1bEy2DRH7CetJpPcwz5Zz2XcSWDm_UTao6uGcUauUBsoJu9jxJ7-FrcmhT6h_KDHyPKVYNRE_Nq0oQKSPVo4x7jia6f8nAmFBa4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Link: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpga1vtS3tA</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Camera shot 5. This shot is a combination of object and character. We have two characters in conflict, as reflected by their opposing standing positions. They face each other. Notice how they align and stand together when they are of a similar way of thinking. Of course, the bone has lots of symbolism here and key to defusing the conflict. They have replaced one conflict with an even greater conflict. A murder. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I could have easily written more about each film clip, but that would be overkill. Exploring one camera shot is enough to form ideas and meaning. There’s no need to interrogate every shot. What we want is students to explore how the focus affects the meaning. Sometimes, what isn’t focused is equally as important to what is focused on. Engaging with stories and ideas should be key to what we do. A student’s response to a text needs to be paramount. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P.S. Please share any film clips that you find work. I am very grateful to a colleague who has helped me source some of these clips. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-34006347157361326772023-03-12T10:32:00.002-07:002023-03-12T10:32:57.453-07:00Mock Marking Targets <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A long, long time ago. I shared some simple targets for marking the English Language exam papers. They’ve saved me hours of time and stopped me from writing endless comments on exam papers. I simply write the code at the end. Students copy out the target and act on it. Obviously if there’s something else I need to comment on then I will write it down. The great thing is that I am able to spot patterns and trends across a class.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4cc29452-7fff-de20-3b65-5e5fbe99620a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was time for me to update the targets and that’s what I have done. This time around I have added a next step task which focuses on precise next steps. This time around I have used some precise sentences for students to use. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 407px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="407" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/y63_Uw0ZUkTLG3hXzLABHRhOQHTx9NwVtwvaWGPflqqDGj4bn7efIg8pX9GumT8JyWFRCuHuw3DvdOifCOikoCFIV8dJbuEbyP-c55MWD6-gWreR1LV7Gpnly-yFIBuphjVQF22mCMvFrjuS2n3hr9c" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feel free to steal, borrow and adapt as you see fit. I hope that it saves someone out there some time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ci8zro23g1uwwd19a4bc2/Paper-1-Marking-Targets-V2.odt?dl=0&rlkey=ngwawu8t1vsqf7hemmsbygqbh" target="_blank">Link to Paper 1 marking targets. </a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yv5cc79x2ua4yanq4dq0r/Paper-2-Marking-Targets-V2.odt?dl=0&rlkey=2vlse1g9abg6udj21madm2tvj" target="_blank">Link to Paper 2 marking targets. </a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-35481331823495804352023-02-26T03:19:00.003-08:002023-02-26T03:19:42.924-08:00What word is missing? Knowledge retrieval in English is ______________ and it isn’t all about quotations. <p><b><u> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The sweetest honey is loathsome in its own deliciousness. And in the taste destroys the appetite.” </span></u></b></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a5faa1a-7fff-3479-4a49-c9446a5655a8"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s be clear: English has a funny relationship with knowledge and knowledge retrieval. Pick any two English textbooks and you’ll see what I mean. They are never alike. They don’t have the same topics, terminology or even approaches to the subject. The knowledge taught will be vastly different. That’s why schools rarely teach English through textbooks. We cherry pick aspects because the rest of the book doesn’t do it how we see fit. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look at how Knowledge Organisers were used by English departments, when they were all the rage. They focused on plot, key characters and some contextual background. They were useful to ensure that everybody knew the plot, but I’d argue you aren’t teaching the text properly if the students can’t recall the plot or the key characters. That is the beauty of narratives. They are instantly stored in memory. I can remember films I watched decades ago. The same applies to books. Our brains are stored for retaining narratives. It is just the rest of it that is the problem. My Year 11 can recall the plot of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Mostly the rude bits and the death scenes. But, nonetheless, they can remember it. What they lack, like most students, is the knowledge of subtle aspects in the play such as the writer’s intent, the audience’s reaction to certain moments, less dramatic moments, characters with only one line, and the reasons behind choices. Yet, we boil knowledge in English to quotations. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">f they can remember quotations from the text, they can write well. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, the knowledge monster has developed a new head: knowledge retrieval at the start of a lesson. Across the land, leaders are insisting that lessons start, including English, with some knowledge retrieval. English teachers across the land are responding with comments akin to Harry Enfield’s ‘Kevin the Teenager’: WHAT? THIS IS SO UNFAIR! English doesn’t lead itself naturally to knowledge retrieval. Mainly, because we pull on lots of knowledge domains that don’t actually appear in English curriculums. I’d use a student's understanding of fishing to explore a poem. I’d use a student’s knowledge of plants to understand what an image means in a play. I’d use a student’s knowledge of Brighton when reading a piece of nonfiction. We don’t read texts in isolation. We knit threads, connections and webs between things. If we taught things in isolation, then my SOW for Romeo and Juliet might run something like this: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesson 1 - Learn about Italy. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesson 2 - Learn about Verona. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesson 3 - Learn about the culture of Italy. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesson 4 - Learn about England's attitude towards Italy in Elizabethan times. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t work that way. Texts don’t work in neat, pretty ways. They work like spider webs. They sit in the middle and we look at how they connect. We work from the centre to the outside. Not from the outside to the middle, which is what other subjects do. To know A, we need to cover X,Y and Z. Instead it is messy. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other problem with English is the transient nature of the things we teach. Yes, we teach novels, but that isn’t really ‘powerful knowledge’ (copyright Ofsted). The knowledge of Long John Silver having one leg is of limited value. It’s of use when studying the novel in Year 7, but will they be able to use that knowledge when looking at another text in Year 8? Not really. That knowledge does not have longevity as it is only needed for that text. It ‘might’ be of use if there is direct reference to the character in another book. This is what makes knowledge retrieval problematic in English. Yes, I could make some knowledge retrieval questions at the start of a lesson on the text we are studying, but it serves very little value in the wider picture of learning.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everybody loves terminology and it seems that knowledge has got its own set of words around knowledge. The problem is that these only over complicate things. For me, there are three areas of knowledge in English - knowledge / skills / experience. Now, I think it is important that we see English in three areas. The webby nature of it means that everything is connected, but they can stand on their own occasionally. The ‘knowledge’ is a large part. That might be the knowledge of what a simile is and what not a simile is. The ‘skill’ is the ability to replicate a simile in their own writing, which will demonstrate their knowledge but also their ability to manipulate it. The ‘experience’ is the area that is always missing, I think. That is the experience of seeing multiple examples in various contexts. The ‘experience’ is the key element of this triangle, which I think has been missing for a long time from discussions. Everything has been clumped together and ‘experience’ has been neglected. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">English is largely about experience. We give students multiple experiences - novels, plays, similes, images, sentences, words used in different contexts - and this is what makes the subject so rich and beautiful. We are about the experience and the danger with emphasis on knowledge is that it neglects skill and experience. The reading of ‘Treasure Island’ is an experience that I want students to use when faced with another text. There may be something small that resonates, echoes or contrasts with ‘Great Expectation’ in Year 8. I don’t want them to recall everything about the plot, characters or quotations for retesting in following years because it doesn’t have that much value. The knowledge of the experience is the important thing. That knowledge isn’t testable. You cannot test it. It is an experience. Part of that experience is building knowledge, but it is a snowball effect rather than a discrete thing that can be tested and retested. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our relationship with knowledge needs to be reasserted for English. Yes, do knowledge retrieval at the start of the lesson, but it needs to be integrated into the skill or experience elements within English. We don’t just do knowledge; we do other things that are reliant on some form of knowledge. The retrieval should be about building webs or connections and not reliant on spurious knowledge that isn’t connected. I think that there are some people who think that everything has become about knowledge in English and I don’t think that is the case. It is a part of the lesson but it doesn’t dominate the lesson - and that’s what we need to be mindful of. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sweetest honey is loathsome in its own deliciousness. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We need to work on building a healthy relationship around knowledge and developing an appropriate balance. Other subjects can bathe in knowledge, but we in English sprinkle it around like holy water. It is part of the ceremony, but we use it sparingly, because it is blessed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve been using Carousel to help with our knowledge retrieval in English and in particular KS3. The great thing about the Carousel system is it allows for a lot of freedom from an English teaching perspective. Unlike other systems, it allows for students to write free text, which means that multiple interpretations can be accepted or explored. There’s no expectation that English has to fit down a simplistic binary ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ route. In responding, students can provide different examples and they can be assessed as correct. English is a subject where there are several right answers and not simply one. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plus, as with the new questions for GCSE Literature texts they have released, there is scope to work on the ‘webbiness’ of knowledge in English. The questions are not simply about recalling answers parrot fashion, but about connecting parts of texts with each other or effect with techniques. A lethal mutation I have seen with knowledge retrieval in English is a complete focus on quotations to the point that students are reciting quotations and just that. English is the subject of thinking and not recalling. If we make all the knowledge about quotations, then we are not arming them to think. Most GCSE essays need ‘several’ quotations or references to the text. Only ‘several’. If we make knowledge retrieval just about quotations, we are just filling up buckets. We need to make knowledge retrieval around quotations draw attention to the webbed nature of English, as Carousel has done with their questions. <a href="https://www.carousel-learning.com/teaching-and-learning/carousel-english-launch!" target="_blank">See more about Carousel here. </a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 324px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="324" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QEb4gq4xAiQYOD-IEC1SiJC8bQ7PYarJp-IxBWE9CeMEemBEY6-ZLwZk0B3JJ9T4gtt08WApzvez66UASAMs1FSxjvwWjaeBx7zXWwFHum96Ef12uU-Y5IOgtmG12gb5pq_whSiNTaKepa5pBI2GxeA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a school, we’ve been looking at how we can use Carousel in other ways. So, for each year group, we have a bundle of questions related to the powerful knowledge taught in previous years and that year so that we can revisit, revise, and connect different bits of knowledge together. When visiting Macbeth in Year 8, we can use the questions from Year 7 on Shakespeare’s theatre as part of our knowledge retrieval. We have even used it for the knowledge around exam papers. See below. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 195px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="195" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3Kx8dKDCec3fPGL3CEdpfWOy3wHuzz6LrFp-wNtBK0y5pJWBrTbIkmTY9dIGpejDW8vufjAborXD3aSGXKMf4TukRPqUetcr49QF_l7qFOFhzzuuaNj4zWcbpdRNhLQdTmpcBWyEimHvkZwkyU_Ya6o" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, on a day-to-day basis, you don’t always want to have clear knowledge questions. You might want to have skills or experience based questioning. That’s why we have played around with knowledge retrieval. Are there things that I can do with knowledge retrieval that is less so much about the knowledge aspect and more about the skill or the experience? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Retrieval around word meaning </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 225px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="225" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tvzGH_W1E31Km5lkH7sTW4HkGw5z2ghntMIbc2IRsfu8XHLRPZfaU1NwcWUvoFCb88VPpb3QUYMpx6wqv_36K6xPrQeWikXBXLhF4zbbKrW8UEqnTNbfLP1gc6Gu0bejbMoJJZSIJl4xMDeYQHagNDs" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have a bank of words and we can start with students defining the words. Students are then primed for doing this on a text they haven’t read before. Gets them thinking about word meaning from the start. Or, they look at creating a sentence based on these words. Or, if you are studying a text, see if they can use them to describe aspects of the text. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Retrieval around syllables </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 223px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="223" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/BityqGcoAH7Yf8zCAS9UqR2j9-28xbvB-uv9NBZdVTsXwN4OppJzJUOJlUhoIpMfM3334VdCFDmb7yEfe9cuk_vytFInjelUIkCswphMtYeAeUrlouOWUaFYDQPjlf7RSymHae2ptdRb26L5_PjDt7U" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve placed emphasis on students’ knowledge of syllables, alongside work on phonemes too, so we have a bank of words. Students are testing their knowledge of what a syllable is, but also working on the skill to identify the syllables in a word. Yes, I could have created questions around ‘what is a syllable?’ but that doesn’t address the ‘webbiness’ of English. Here we prime students so they can look at rhythm in a line of poetry or a line from Shakespeare. Or, their own poetry writing. We also mix it up with knowledge around stressed and unstressed syllables. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 236px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="236" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dDg7tCOw8Gh9r2_XHXLRXy7QTr2kWvejdeG9hM_IJRSVcqvMrOQAJvFDZv5lhtIFhTsVi0DyLZYsnkGJRdN5Qylqe7jcPj_iwLp0j-6C9sDT1KcENDugFS1Ewd_hY3hr_GxNWknwCLRyR8AmoPxzvz0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Retrieval around techniques </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 232px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="232" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kE5AnipoXZrRzTayPtexhuqZjOQ75y1jOPCvUYfLhZ318XraOP5Gv6Mm-GwwxblnW_gRJCD51TA9rN1AIoPflmoFEWNP4V7O-p6u6t56Ylc4f1XUGcxsNIFDTSY1AuPZrRgIXdXWXygmU5O-1QO4uuY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students never need to repeat a definition of a simile, metaphor or personification in their writing for English, yet we constantly ask them to define them. Here, we present examples for students to identify. They have a one in three chances of getting it right, but it helps us to understand if they know the concept. It provides them with the experience of others but also a starting point for writing their own. Which one is best? Which could you easily improve? Which one could you expand on? Which one could you add more to the sentence? We are testing their knowledge retrieval but we are working on their skills and experience at the same time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knowledge retrieval isn’t that hard to do, but it can become meaningless if it isn’t done with thought or understanding. It is so easy to write questions about defining techniques or filling the blanks of quotations, but will it improve their English skills? No. I have known hundreds of students who could give me a crystal clear definition of a simile, yet their own similes in their writing are rubbish. If we focus too much on the knowledge, we miss out on the skill and the experience part of the subject. Where is your skill retrieval in the lesson? Where is your experience retrieval in the lesson? Knowledge connects, but it is like a web in our subject. You cannot focus on it alone. There is room for all three parts - knowledge, skills, experience - and English teachers need to ensure there is a balance between all three. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">English teachers are the spiders of the knowledge world. We spin our webs all over the place and we wait for some unsuspecting creature to become ensnared in the web. We listen for the vibrations on a thread. We knit connections where are none. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><br /></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-30912780133206308782023-02-19T04:53:00.003-08:002023-02-19T04:53:45.654-08:00You cannot simplify English! <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been around long enough, in English teaching, to see the hydra that is PEE shape, reform and grow another head. As soon as you chop one form of it down, another takes its place. The problem lies with the fact that analysis is not a natural form of writing. Whilst expressing our thoughts and feelings is natural as too is telling stories, the close analysis of an idea or aspect of a text is purely alien. When eating a curry, we don’t pick out a grain of rice and study its taste, colour or composition, yet in subjects like English that’s what we are doing when analysing. Picking out the grains of rice. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-158380e1-7fff-822d-f62e-96d7bb79753a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have a knack in schools in oversimplifying the complex. Sometimes, things are complex that they cannot be simplified. The problem with PEE is that it is deceptive. It presented analysis as something simple, easy, stepped, logical and easy to judge. Any new reiteration is likely to fall down, because it doesn’t acknowledge the complexity of analysis. When exploring complex mathematical problems you don’t look for a simple easy route. You look for a stepped approach to solve the problem. Our problem with PEE, or any alternative, is that it doesn't address the components behind writing an essay. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I was honest, it took years to write decent essays, because I wasn’t taught what to do. I learnt largely by osmosis. And, if we are honest, that’s where a lot of teachers learnt to write analytically. Through osmosis. It was through the constant exposure to essays and constant critiques of my own writing that got me there. There were no simplistic frameworks. No easy mnemonics for me to sing as I write. And that’s fine for a percentage of students. They have that ability to absorb or soak stuff up, unaware they are doing it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve been drilling down at the elements for teaching an analytical paragraph. What is it students need to do to form and develop an idea? We developed this resource for teachers. It is a work in progress, but it gives you an idea. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 372px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="372" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jpqdnwQNzo1RDAmnAenbrgfO43dFjcM9hZ3UT4o15LeywwIpCb-PUvj1SMstqXPTTFcMhUuSYln8DC7_EGZ3uBcXdo6ICz1AX1kUgaS_8DFObmtdQC4D1UJL-xat-QOJCQsKMNA_ACgoaBKFtheFHYc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wanted something to help teachers guide improvements in analysis. A way for teachers to see what their priorities should be when guiding a class on literature. Because literature is endless, you need some starting points. The emphasis on knowledge means that we often put the stress on the knowledge of text rather than the way students write. If students are doing badly in literature it is somehow viewed as being a knowledge problem, and not a writing problem. Or, if the writing is seen as the problem, things are viewed in terms of adherence to the set structure. Or, simply a case of adding ‘features’ to the text. The best analysis is always concise, crisp and clear. It is never weighted down with adverbs or tentative phrases. The emphasis here is on forming, developing, supporting and building ideas and not a checklist. Analysis is checklist proof. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem with structures like PEE or its alternatives is that there is no through line. There is an assumption that the P, E and E are connected, but rarely do students do this effectively. The parts are there but they are often untethered or floating around. We wanted to put the opinion at the heart of the focus. When writing, you are taking an opinion and shaping it and forming an argument around it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a group recently, I’ve been working on developing ideas in the opening few sentences. They struggled with adding depth to their analysis. They’d repeat things that I said and attempted to crowbar it into their writing. There was no developing and extending their own opinion. So, we looked at how they could contextualise or tether their opinion somehow. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We explored how there were three ways to tether their thinking: 1: a contextual piece of information. 2: a piece of information around the writer and their intent. 3: an idea from another domain of knowledge. We presented students with three ways to develop the opinion. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 315px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="315" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9vvkAzfE4oK_rAn6SKdRv9PqxOE5q15T_ZniK9espDnVSn1LuAsUd7DON0Az5FJd2MuTTK41apjURhcSmrJwQ8RzBZ3OAq8PoWjGm_Df4xQ_sKNYjIUMFaua0Wpn9HfQXYr5Z1Hn9jc5qA4Le44T2ss" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They then had to look at how the two sentences could be developed or be linked. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens presents Victorian society to be cold and solely focused on business and money. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens felt that Britain was broken and that it had forgotten to feel emotions and care for those less fortunate. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By presenting society as cold, Dickens is able to highlight how money has corrupted society. </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What this allowed students to do was thread ideas into their writing around the writer’s intent or context without bolting it on. It was part of the discussion. It wasn’t just part of it, but at the centre of what they were writing. When they continued writing, they were able to refer back to what they said. They echoed the phrase ‘Britain was broken’ when talking about Scrooge and his symbolism, which they then developed further in the comparison with Tiny Tim’s death. Students were forming throughlines in their writing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students need permission to explore. When we rely on simplistic approaches, we don’t give them permission to explore. PEE or What / How / Why don’t allow for exploration. It isn’t built into the structure. That exploration is missing. The structure doesn’t give permission. We need to give and show permission to explore. That’s where the beauty of the subject comes from. The ability to explore a thread and go off at a tangent. We need to give students the permission to do that. It isn’t natural. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we are going to get students better at analysing texts, we need to stop looking for shortcuts. I think we should focus on how we teach the components of essay writing. To do that, we need to be collectively clear about what those components are. Stop trying to make purple prose essays and get students to form and develop analytical arguments. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-62387619478550643722023-02-04T12:52:00.002-08:002023-02-04T12:52:51.349-08:00Putting on those context spectacles <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Context is such a tricky aspect of English teaching. Too much emphasis on context causes students to offload spurious facts and details. Too little emphasis on context and students make random statements and lots of misconceptions. How many times have we seen students proclaim that ‘all’ Victorians felt or thought something? The idea that society is just one collective thought and feeling is slightly chilling. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f5d5c41a-7fff-2773-65ad-e556cf86594a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t deny that contextual knowledge is useful and helps to frame understanding, but its problem in English usually stems from the concrete nature of things. If we are thinking of knowledge in English, then the easiest knowledge students can secure is knowledge around context. The problem for English is that a lot of English is forming inferences. The key inferences we ask of students in English relate to three areas usually: </span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inferences around the writer’s intent;</span></p></li></ul><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inferences around the reader’s reaction; </span></p></li></ul><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inferences around the characters in the texts. </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, you do need a lot of knowledge to form those inferences, but the thinking isn’t quite ‘concrete’. There’s a lot of supposition, guessing, and relating to past knowledge. A lot of the knowledge surrounding this stems from experience rather than direct teaching. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This reminds me of a book I read and in it the character reacted the same way. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Contextual knowledge often sounds good in the students head but doesn’t relate to the inferences needed in most English essays, inferring the writer’s intent, the reader’s reaction or the character’s thoughts and feelings. That’s why we get knowledge dumps in essays. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other alternative has been to focus on the text as the source of contextual information. The text is simply a product of its time. This tends to be the way the exam board prefers, but it doesn’t make things so easy. If students are not used to exploring the text as a product of its time, then they don’t see it as that. Put any old show or film before a student and they’ll notice the dated effects, fashion, technology or language. They don’t really explore the people and how attitudes towards gender or class have changed. Exhibit A: they all remember the word ‘squiffy’ in ‘An Inspector Calls’. Astute students can spot the aspects that reflect the time, but that’s a minority. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I personally think there is a balance to be had. Students need some knowledge, but not too much and certainly not knowledge that is going to over complicate and problematise understanding. What do I mean by knowledge that problematises understanding? Take, for example, Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Often, students are informed about the contextual history surrounding homosexuality in the Victorian age. This then, for some students, warps their understanding of the text. Instead of it being one possible interpretation of the text, it becomes the glue that links all ideas together. We can do more damage with some pieces of knowledge for some students. I think there should be a greater discussion of problematic knowledge in the same way we talk about misconceptions. They have the power to override all thoughts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the relationship that this contextual knowledge has with the writer and the text that needs to be at the forefront of the teaching. And, we need to work on making the writer a person and a concrete aspect. More concrete than the knowledge related to context. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, how, in theory, do I introduce context and make the writer seem concrete when discussing texts? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 1 - The basics </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firstly, I get students to watch a video as homework. I ask them to watch it before reading the text. I inform the class that I am going to test them on what they learn from the video. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Inspector Calls</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fXw8lWWtlA" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fXw8lWWtlA</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xRonangfz0&list=PLQTtyDJWDJDZns579hi1OGlYtktiFwstn&index=6" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xRonangfz0&list=PLQTtyDJWDJDZns579hi1OGlYtktiFwstn&index=6</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, I start the next lesson with a test. The link is below. </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/mehkq1sxgncziiq/11%20Homework%20Questions%20to%20Context%20Video.docx?dl=0" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/mehkq1sxgncziiq/11%20Homework%20Questions%20to%20Context%20Video.docx?dl=0</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 337px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="337" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EWdBdRo15Gi3pxYHdN-ZJdm9c0tm0ACaosTTqmNGOe66iRiYG9S0Ah76XIYAXX5dQ_gbBFrt96SJMLHGoH8UJnZGSIqYSMBD0quCTIoaPat7PVXC9PMN0DoZJa5FFDeaHHVxmC7dlHTsvF35kkU5eNs" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This document is used repeatedly over the course of GCSEs. It forms revision and works as a constant reminder of key threads in the story. Initially, we throw the first copy away as students get quite a few wrong on the first go. The next time we do it, about a week later, I get them to make it neat as it will be the one that stays in their books. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I start with this approach rather than use lots of exploratory texts, because students need a grounding of knowledge in the first instance. Whilst I think it is lovely and nice to show a few texts related to the period, it is rather ‘pin the tail on the donkey’. I could spend a lesson exploring hoping students would pick up attitudes towards class or I could tell them that attitudes towards class was an issue and then get them to explore how that idea is developed, explored in a painting or text. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 2 - building the writer </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unless you routinely get students to salute and bow to an image of the writer, the writer is a ghostly presence in the room. Some can see him/her. Others cannot. English teachers need to help students form a construction in their heads of the writer. They need a construction of the writer that makes them seem like a real person. Someone with an active presence in the text and the lesson. We are reading that writer’s manifesto. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To construct that writer, I use the context sheet. If this was the world you were growing up in, what would you think? What would you want? What would you do in your writing to make society change? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 333px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="333" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jArByO9dD4o3_A1bqD-qngaMhe5oSre1JHh-PYjEONAyiV_La9cEk0dKU0qXxa79Oxv158TeT9O6FcDtXTq7OoY6x3xbpbBguREecgZI4Ni1m3kf1znremGuSo6rFnSvMBcjniRGDDc4VE_vnpgIaD4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From this, we are able to construct ‘a construct’ of the writer. Of course, we are making inferences. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens was… </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Protective of children and saw children as losing their childhood </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lost his childhood and so didn’t want others to lose theirs </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Angry that there were very few options for the poor </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Felt that the government wasn’t doing enough to help the weakest </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conscious of how money affected society </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Felt that money controlled all aspects of our lives </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Angry that the rich were profiteering from the poor </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interested in politics and read government reports </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aware of how easy and quickly someone could become poor </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aware of how people are determined to stay rich</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From this, we had constructed an idea of this person. Students had an idea of who Dickens was as a person. They had this mantra for the book: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dickens thought Britain was broken and saw that his book could be the message to fix it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It became the default response when reading the text. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why does Dickens make the setting cold and foggy? Because Britain was broken, Dickens wanted to suggest how cold society was. The fog symbolises how they couldn’t see the problem and so there was no sense of things improving. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By securing an initial understanding of the writer, we have something to frame ideas around. Therefore, their inferences developed and extended throughout the reading of the text. They’d start understanding that Dickens cared for the poor, but notice how he wasn’t really against the rich. But, what they had was a starting point to build inferences around the writer’s intent, which they can use to build and create their own. If students have knowledge of the primary intent, then they can explore secondary intentions. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We spend so much time on character construction that we fail to address the biggest thing we want students to talk about - the writer. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 3 - exploring the text </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that we have some threads to work with, I return back to this sheet and the construct of the writer routinely when looking at the text. They have a compass to guide their thinking and to work with. We put a lot of stock on their memory, but whilst reading a text we need to keep working on building connections. After reading a section, I will get students to link to the context or construct somehow. Or, I will start the reading with the idea from the construct: We know Dickens was political and supportive of the poor so what is he trying to do in this section? Politically? Socially? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We talk about the writer as a person we are familiar with. As if he has just stepped out of the classroom and we are talking on his behalf. There is a presence in discussion. He isn’t an afterthought, which the teacher has to keep returning to when analysing the text. He is a fully rounded person to them. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How we use knowledge is important in English. However, I think we need to use it carefully. Knowledge can build more knowledge, but we need to think more about how that knowledge builds. We need to work on demystifying the writer and we need to help students to form and create inferences on their thoughts, feelings, ideas and perspective. The biggest problem students have is talking about the writer’s intent. That’s because they have no concept of writers as real people. Let’s start helping students to see writers as real people, even if they might have been dead for a few years. Inference works on knowledge and we have to work on the two aspects in lessons. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-75131385306051946142023-01-07T09:53:00.003-08:002023-01-07T09:53:29.088-08:00Exploring the Inspector’s smalls - being precise with ideas and quotations <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plays, I think, are quite tricky things at GCSE. The plays available for the exam specs are either chockablock with interesting language choices or they are so sparse that it takes a heavy duty microscope to find them. ‘An Inspector Calls’ falls into the first camp: a play that’s quite rich for exploring the playwright’s craft. And, this can often be a downfall when studying the text. There’s so much to talk about. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a191e6fd-7fff-3164-5d07-fc91269c5fb4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shakespeare exam questions tend to be kinder to students because they will provide students with an extract from the play, which they can simply use as a springboard or a fresh pasture to dig for quotations. Exams around plays tend to provide students with just an essay title and that’s just it. So, when students are writing about AIC they are having to mine their memory and their recollections of the text rather than have something concrete and tangible to start with. This leads us to what is fairly rote teaching around plays. Instead of exploratory teaching we rely on teaching around the key characters and the key themes. Therefore, the teaching of ‘An Inspector Calls’ becomes DIY essay kits of each character and each theme. Instead of understanding the play, characters and theme the students are taught what to write on a question on Mr Birling and what to write on the theme of social injustice. Are the exams promoting original thought or are they asking students to recall? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t get me wrong; I do think students need to be taught quite a bit of knowledge around texts. They need to be taught the writer’s intent, the relationship with the context, the form, interpretations and various other things, but I also think there should be some wiggle room for their own exploration and joining up of aspects, ideas and knowledge. The best students make nuanced and precise links whereas the weakest students tend to repeat what the teacher said. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every exam for literature relies on students thinking and forming their own ideas. The problem that English faces is that students see English, at times, like other subjects. That means, when faced with a question, they write everything they can remember about that topic. We see that in English with essays. Students write everything down about Mr Birling and so we tend to get lots of generic comments or soundbites about the character. The reliance is on the knowledge and what they can recall. There is no room for moulding, shaping and exploring ideas. Good students take the knowledge they have and do something meaningful with it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Precision in thought, knowledge, ideas and quotations is what is needed for the higher bands. We can teach students some precise knowledge, but teaching precise thought isn’t so easy. That’s why I changed my approach to ‘An Inspector Calls’ a few years ago. The reliance of generalised thinking / knowledge / quotations was creating generalised essays. Therefore, I asked myself how I could make students more precise with their thinking / knowledge / quotations that didn’t rely on me teaching exam essay after exam essay. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To start off with, I read the whole play with the class and used Stuart Pryke’s brilliant cold read questions. That provided students with a good understanding of the plot, ideas and key concepts. Then, instead of slavishly going through the whole text, we looked at some choice quotations in order of their appearance in the text. There were about nine to ten for each act. The quotations weren’t ‘big quotations’ that everybody must know, but quotations that reveal something about the character. They might reveal their attitude towards something or their motivations or even some personality aspects.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, instead of presenting the quotations to students and asking them to play ‘hunt-the-thimble’ of language techniques, we highlighted some interesting choices of language used in the quotation. They look a bit like this: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 368px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="368" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hIMJvqzYlr6T0WZbvUQkZflPEDTeYoUdObfoGulCOq4sOof1SlBwxM08OzQO3-9G7g0IQPw4F8auigrkJR9YggigoES_cUQRWLx-xkmgmVHdbZPX-vIKFsCI6EB9E02KrYZ9KU3So9tavFF3VwPyZl4M-6ywFX-WeNdMC3UR-F3xaJnLRUxwAdTP9KiGMw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We often talk about cognitive overload, but looking at dialogue in a script is overwhelming for me so it must be overwhelming for students too. There’s so much to filter out. We tend to use questions to direct students to bits of interest, but even then it is quite hard for a lot of students because they have to filter out quite a bit of stuff. For me, this really helped to channel the thinking. Of course, we did go back to the script, but we had a starting point which was narrow, focused and without distractions. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’d then take each line of dialogue at a time, exploring what those choices meant and what they make us understand. We discussed the use of ‘port’ and how it represented Birlings desire to be seen as ‘old money’. We mentioned how Birling engages with Edna in conversation, which shows how he still lacks the manners and sophistication of the higher classes. We explored why Birling pointedly mentions Gerald’s name and how Birling is so desperate to build a connection that he is forcing the issue. Finallally, we chatted about Birling’s use of name dropping and how that differs from Gerald's lack of name dropping in the story. The great thing about this was that we were able to explore language choices in such a way that it was exploratory and probing rather than interrogative. Students listen and question language choice regularly each day, yet we don’t build that level of linguistic exploration to dialogue in plays. Plays tend to be seen as just a novel without the description in it. They are not seen as real conversations. Conversations where people contradict what they say with the tone or word choice they use. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, the beauty of a more simplified initial exploration of the text meant that students were starting with a probing way of seeing the text. The fact that we could show how an interpretation can be built from simply Sheila describing the ring as being something Gerald ‘wanted’ was so empowering for students. Quotation learning and learning large quotations is problematic with the new GCSEs. Yes, students need quotations and knowledge of the texts, but they don’t need thirty behemoths to learn to succeed. Instead, they need lots of little, powerful quotations that they could string together to form an argument. One student linked Sheila’s use of dashes and Gerald’s ‘wanted’ to explain how Sheila is devoid of freedom and independence. The dashes reflected her inability to form logical thoughts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we continued across the play, we started noticing patterns in the language. Characters would dehumanise or humanise Eva depending on moments. The Inspector dehumanises Eva to shock the characters in relation to their actions, whereas Birling and Gerald dehumanise Eva to distance themselves from the situation. Gerald even plays around with who he dehumanises and when it suits him he dehumanises the prostitutes in his storytelling so that he can humanise Eva and present himself as the lovely ‘knight in shining armour’. We also noticed other linguistic tricks used by the characters, because the language choices were at the forefront of the exploration. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, as we finished each act we worked on recalling the interesting choices we noticed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 339px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="339" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FaAxPIVVF034TSPKxPm8gtYg35FsiGW5se2fBsRZGRwX__36xuJovjKIfCdDiq5eMrZh0sKwjdPB4v7phxQzjR5Q0sgQdwkVYkQUIZCow1msShx-7mDzeC3O_baY6f5N-r2ewxPdg85x56Wxvft-QUJttkGHLVSyob5M4yCqFlDt1XixqusQ35aSUKaLbw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once we had jotted the choices that they could recall, we thought about formulating essays around a character or theme. What choices could we use to frame a discussion on class? From the beginning of reading the text, we were looking at supporting arguments with precise choices. The reading of the play coincided with the building up of their knowledge around choices. Students were able to use precise evidence to formulate opinions about a theme or character from an early stage. We rewarded students for choices outside the ones provided. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interestingly, the approach had a snowball effect. It provided them with the confidence to explore the choices thoughtfully in dialogue, but it also allowed them to see connections and patterns. The clarity was there from the start. They built on their existing knowledge and saw repetition later in the text, which allowed them to triangulate their thinking and interpretations</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are links to the documents we used: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Act 1 : </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q0le3okkj56u6iydvokyo/AIC-ACT-1.docx?dl=0&rlkey=aphl1963qxp0lk69350pcm6w9" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q0le3okkj56u6iydvokyo/AIC-ACT-1.docx?dl=0&rlkey=aphl1963qxp0lk69350pcm6w9</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Act 2: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hwjwtjkwss9ge61a6tmt2/AIC-ACT-2.docx?dl=0&rlkey=q8423wrioifw9mm3qd54e2e0s" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hwjwtjkwss9ge61a6tmt2/AIC-ACT-2.docx?dl=0&rlkey=q8423wrioifw9mm3qd54e2e0s</span></a></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Act 3: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/90y8r88997gvob6u7g1pr/AIC-ACT-3.docx?dl=0&rlkey=k82ratca7mfg7cctatjshhhba" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/90y8r88997gvob6u7g1pr/AIC-ACT-3.docx?dl=0&rlkey=k82ratca7mfg7cctatjshhhba</span></a></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quotation learning is problematic in English and I think it needs lots of thought in how we do it. All too often, we rely on the ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ approach. We’ll just learn loads of quotations with the hope that one will hit the donkey’s backside. Thoughtful, intelligent and meaningful quotations are much more beneficial to formulating an essay than a bazillion massive quotations. I fear that we are overloading students with quotations for the sake of learning quotations. Think of Sheila’s discussion of Alderman Meggarty. She talks ‘coolly’. That one word encapsulates how Sheila has accepted male violence on women. Sheila who is usually so emotive is so unemotional at this point in the story. Sadly, she has desensitised herself to it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I, personally, have enjoyed teaching ‘An Inspector Calls’ this way, because it has put interrogation at the heart of learning. Yes, we have looked at larger sections, but starting with this probing thinking from the start has really helped us to understand characters, choices, ideas and themes precisely. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What student doesn’t like probing the language of a teacher? As teachers, we are mindful of how a slip of the tongue can get us into ‘hot water’. We are careful about what we say and how we say it, because we know students might pick up on the choice we made. Naturally, students are attune to this pedantic language analysis. We all are. We just don’t explore it enough in lessons. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-61250399581282282802022-12-11T04:55:00.005-08:002022-12-11T04:55:52.264-08:00Questioning, exploring and probing Literature <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is that time of year again. Not Christmas, but mock marking. Interestingly, this time we noticed that students were not getting under the skin of a character. For our Literature mock, we asked students to write about Tybalt and how he is presented in the story. Whilst some students were able to explore the character in detail, the rest resorted to repeating how Tybalt is a catalyst throughout an essay. They remembered the knowledge and forgot to think about the character in any detail. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-87031075-7fff-f127-8e08-9c029da58e8d"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exams want students to think about the characters or themes in the question, yet it is so easy for students to focus on their existing knowledge of a character to frame an argument. In fact, it is their default method. What can I remember about the character? What words can I remember to describe the character? For a large part of the thinking and planning process it is focused on the ‘what’ and there is very little time spent on the ‘why’. For this reason, we always get the one student who describes the plot of the story. When writing an answer, ‘what’ seems to have a greater level of priority than the ‘why’. The ‘what’ is easier because it is about knowledge and knowledge is largely concrete. The ‘why’ is fuzzier, because it is an inference. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When writing about a text, we are inferring all the time. We make an inference about the writer’s ideas. We make an inference about how the reader reacts. We make an inference about the reasons we think a writer wrote something. As I say to students, we are making an educated guess around what the writer’s intent is, because for most of the time we will need a seance for that to happen. Over the years, I have seen verbs used to help get students to write about the writer’s intent, which like most things makes the writing sound like students are exploring the writer’s intent, but haven't actually engaged with the idea. One verb alone isn’t going to help you explore a writer's intent. Students need to have the thought processes around the intent rather than just a few throwaway verbs.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To address the writer’s intent, it is so easy to link everything to a writer’s history. Therefore, students turn into mini Freuds. This bit here reflects the writer’s troubled relationship with his mother. This bit here reflects his sad childhood. The problem with this level of thinking is it removes the writer’s present. What in the present impelled him or her to write the story in that way? Not everything is about the past. Therefore, to echo something Dickens wrote: students need to be analysing in the present and the future. We are too fixated on the past and filling in gaps when maybe there isn’t a need to fill a gap. The text should always be the source of ideas on the writer’s present and not the student. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So how do we get students to explore the thought processes better behind a writer’s intent? Well, questioning. Getting students to question texts better. Step away from a nugget of knowledge as the formation of an idea and push towards questioning, reasoning and speculating ideas. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem we have in the exam scenario is that only a slim proportion of students do that exploratory thinking. The rest go - ‘Pants, what did miss say about Tybalt?’. Therefore, we need students to build up their thinking and we must model how to explore. This is what I did with a class when giving feedback on the Tybalt exam. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We spent 10 minutes jotting down answers to these questions. I revealed one question at a time and then students wrote down their ideas or thoughts. Then, we feedback our answers. </span></p><br /><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is Tybalt's role in the story? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does Tybalt teach us about Elizabethan society? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does Tybalt teach us about men? Young people? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does Shakespeare like or dislike this character? How do you know? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What can you find to like about the character? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shakespeare includes numerous young male characters such Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, so why does Shakespeare add Tybalt to this group? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the character realistic? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What big idea is Shakespeare using Tybalt to show us?</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tybalt is a symbol of violence and aggression, but what else is he a symbol of? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 21pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #edebe9; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you think Shakespeare is trying to do with a character like Tybalt? </span></p></li></ol><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, we decided what we thought about what we all thought Shakespeare wanted and why he needed the audience to feel a particular way. The stacking of questions was really important, for me, because all too often we rely on one big question and, at least, this way if students couldn’t answer a question then they had an alternative question to answer. Plus, we are modelling the questions a student should be asking when approaching a text. Maybe, in our search to get the right answers from students we have forgotten the importance of getting students to ask the right questions about a text. In our attempts to make students’ work look and sound good we have forgotten what underpins that: an exploratory, inquisitive nature towards literature. Texts don’t spark that inquisitive nature without someone to help fan the flames. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is another set of questions I am going to use with ‘An Inspector Calls’. </span></p><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does Sheila make the audience think or does she make the audience feel? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is Priestley telling the audience they should like Sheila more than other characters in the household? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why does Priestley make Sheila and Mrs Birling so different? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you think Sheila is a two-dimensional character? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What, in your opinion, is the reason for Priestley placing Sheila in the story, even though she has very little influence in society? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why did Priestley not use two sons rather a son and a daughter in the play? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does the form of a play limit our understanding of the character? What would we understand better if this was a novel? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is Sheila a stereotype? What is she a stereotype of?</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Given that Priestley is a man, has he misunderstood anything about how women behave, speak and act? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Does Priestley have a different message about younger women than older women? </span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A love of Literature goes hand in hand with questioning and probing ideas. If we want to seriously improve engagement and uptake in Literature, then we need to look at how we interact with the subject. The exam questions don’t engage the hearts and minds of students, yet the majority of questioning around Literature centres on the presentation of a character and a theme. Compare the following questions: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[1] Compare how Dickens presents women in the extract. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[2] Do you think Charles Dickens is a bit creepy in the way he presents women? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which one would you rather write or speak about? Engagement comes from a number of different ways. For me, emotional and cerebral engagement go together. The exam questions are the most boring questions in the world. They have to be, because they are exam questions, but that doesn’t mean that every single question we ask or set students in lessons needs to have the same level of boredom. Add opinion questions to engage students on an emotional level. Add tricky questions to engage on a cerebral level. Just don’t, whatever you do, photocopy the exam question. Flavour it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Questioning is where we can engage students. The texts are often engaging, but the questioning is what bridges the gap between the student and the text. Get that question right and the student connects with the text. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-33247247027926833862022-11-27T04:09:00.003-08:002022-11-27T04:09:53.884-08:00When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me and started reading non-fiction<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.’</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c51b744b-7fff-523c-db72-ff98b4da2ae4"><div style="text-align: right;">Corrithians 13:11</div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fiction is the domain of childhood, freedom and creativity. From an early age, we engage with stories. In fact, our childhood is one big storytelling event. There is story time every day. There is a bedtime story. There are stories, thanks to Disney and Pixar, that can be consumed in 90 minutes, allowing parents a break. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Non-fiction is the domain of adulthood, responsibility, duty and compliance. The older we get the more we discover that our reading comprises reading for information and process rather than enjoyment. There is the mortgage application I have to read. There are the terms and conditions I have to read about the new washing machine I have bought. There is a letter from the council about how they are spending my council tax payment I have to read. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we are honest, schools have a real issue with non-fiction teaching. You can just see the yawns on people’s faces when dealing with non-fiction. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can’t I teach a poem? </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think some teachers would be happy to spend a week on Alcatraz than prepare students for the non-fiction paper on the exams. On previous exam specs, there was a media element so the non-fiction reading text element was downplayed as teachers explored the use of imagery, headings and subheadings. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem, for me, is to do with inference. We don’t see non-fiction in the same way we see fiction and that’s down to inference. From an early age, we build students to search for inferences in fiction texts. Why is the baby bear sad? Why is Goldilocks so tired? Why are Goldilock’s parents so neglectful? We channel students into this submissive role of fiction. You know this bit here; well, it means something else. By the time students leave primary school, they know how facial actions, physical actions, objects and setting can convey a level of meaning. They can help us understand a character’s thoughts, feelings, motives, relationships,dreams and fears. Can the same be said for non-fiction? What can students do with non-fiction? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 284px; overflow: hidden; width: 506px;"><img height="284" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QfvbfQKVQsxaNwmqrQYdaXjT8O_nqx-R_-N9lGy3QkrNPnMjn_3OVNiyDSfGngu2doS-kdWujrPibBjiVRvCxA1V_E1-i4PABxUgNH59tZHmlpIi6blhsbHQEaGP4lBb8y-TaWoUSbpdbP3LIVeYIY1vBqiB935Mg7LcwgpZRhIJdZWTmEeKAFNlEP57gg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="506" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In secondary school, we had a problem with non-fiction. The preference has always been about writing it rather than reading it, so rarely has it been about exploring texts. Usually, the reading of texts has been boiled down to finding facts and opinions or treating them as literary texts and searching for techniques. We’ve never really treated them with the same level of engagement as we do fiction texts. Even the non-fiction texts selected have a whiff of literature about them and most would fit in an Ian McEwan novel. The texts usually highlight how clever the writer is. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inference is a factor, I think ,that is missing from non-fiction. We don’t use inference to explore non-fiction texts. In fact, there is a lack of understanding behind non-fiction texts. They are purely seen in literal terms. They are not seen in terms of subtext, nuance and hidden meaning. Instead, they are read through literal glasses. Find fact 1. Good. Now, find fact 2. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 270px; overflow: hidden; width: 479px;"><img height="270" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3k9p11-QGG5o3rkX5rClaVAyFVIeRz1IAoEMnw1fX6nHeOAqpOGfuvMdUPsKlxuIhHWxEIbyf32OWk8KjIINRGsv8pvI2MqoiD8yEd3c9XRCoZKzj3zRSVK-0-qiOJi_QOFayJWvA_C-3khuxoWDU9X_KBzh1K0AZeZDAXteOjfH8VCfUP9HDSUH-yChrw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="479" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem with non-fiction is like real life. A person can say one thing and mean something entirely different. That dual meaning in non-fiction is what some of the best students pick up on and the weaker students totally miss. Students need to make inferences yet we don’t place inference at the forefront of non-fiction. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For years, I have found the way we teach the writing of non-fiction dull, uninspiring and flat. That is largely the way that we view it in terms of ‘literal writing’. We don’t coach it in terms of building meaning with the use of hints, clues and suggestions of something else. We’ve become more focused on using a rhetorical device that sounds like an infection of the genitals than building meaning. Getting students to think purposefully behind non-fiction writing is key. Them being in the driver’s seat. Them understanding that they should imply meaning. That they should build inferences consciously and subconsciously through their writing. Creative writing is all about inference and non-fiction writing should be too. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, how can we start building students to make inferences in non-fiction? For a start, show them how inferences can be built. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like to show how subtly changes can shift the whole meaning. These are from the opening sentence of a letter. What is each one trying to suggest? How do they suggest it? </span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[1] I am angry that you didn’t invite me to the party. </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[2] I am disappointed that you chose not to invite me to the party.</span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[3] Words cannot describe how I feel about not being invited to the party. </span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love talking about the difference between ‘angry’ and ‘disappointed’ and what they convey. I also like how the accusing ‘you chose’ holds a lot of blame and how the third one removes the other person entirely. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another task I use is to use a real example. What can we infer from each line about his mother’s cooking? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180;">This is not an occasional occurrence, a once-in-a-while hiccup in a busy mother’s day. </span></span></p><span style="color: #800180;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180;">My mother burns the toast as surely as the sun rises each morning. </span></span></p><span style="color: #800180;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180;">In fact, I doubt if she has ever made a round of toast in her life that failed to fill the kitchen with plumes of throat-catching smoke. </span></span></p><span style="color: #800180;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180;">Toast – Nigel Slater (autobiography) </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hopefully, they will pick up some of these things. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">This is not an occasional occurrence, a once-in-a-while hiccup in a busy mother’s day. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">I am not surprised that my mother burnt the toast. </span></span></p><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">My mother burns the toast as surely as the sun rises each morning. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">My mother always burns the toast. </span></span></p><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">In fact, I doubt if she has ever made a round of toast in her life that failed to fill the kitchen with plumes of throat-catching smoke. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">My mother is a terrible cook. </span></span></p><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b><u>Toast – Nigel Slater (autobiography) </u></b></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The great thing about this little extract is there is another inference we can make which kind of contradicts what is being said: he clearly loves his mother deeply. The fact that this text works on several levels. Understanding the multiple levels is key. Focus on a literal sense and this is a text showing how bad she is as a mother. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can, and should, get students to build inferences into their non-fiction writing. Here is one I do it. I give the students a loose framework to work with and get them to focus on creating the inference rather than obsess on the writing style. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEWS REPORT – Teacher’s Mug Stolen </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The police arrived at the scene. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[They were not worried about the event] </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The headteacher refused to comment.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> [They thought the whole thing was silly] </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The stolen mug was blue. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> [The mug wasn’t valuable but it meant a lot to the teacher] </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like the Toast example, the language is being used to convey meaning beyond the literal meaning. We could say things like ‘The police added the crime to the bottom of their very long list of things to do that week’. All too often students would explicitly say something like the sentences in red. They’d happily build inferences around a complex backstory in a short story yet in non-fiction it is all about stating everything. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inference is the bridge between most aspects in English. For me, it is a key component in all that we do. In reading, we are looking for inferences about content, characters, the reader and the writer. In writing, we are building inferences so people see them if they look carefully enough. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Non-fiction needs to be viewed in the same way as we view fiction. It isn’t a separate thing with separate rules and approaches. It is the same. You need to make inferences in both types of text; we just need students to understand that. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><br /></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316884372249589308.post-73542498766472823022022-10-23T04:43:00.003-07:002022-10-23T04:46:46.534-07:00Can’t use a simile without using two <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I detest purple prose. Nothing grates when you’ve read your fifteenth example of personification by the third sentence. Especially when the setting is full of people already. The problem is that students haven’t learnt about the versatility of a technique. They haven’t reached a stage of proficiency to use a technique in a variety of contexts and purposes. By the time students reach Year 7, they can spot similes and use them freely. In fact, most of the issue stems from stopping them using more than one. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e60f8879-7fff-3d25-5d64-67fbf4025624"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are the main problems students have with similes? </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resorting to tired similes or cliches </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stacking similes on top of each other</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Extreme effects and over exaggeration - His anger was like a volcano going off. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Similes sitting alone without any further development </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lack of cohesion with the rest of the writing </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently I read an interesting simile in Ann Sei Lin’s ‘Rebel Skies’. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Despite its name, the building was neither blue nor did it look anything like a peacock. It stood in the middle of a narrow street on the outskirts of Tomuri like a sagging cake. The raising blocks had cracked on one side so that the inn stood at a tilt, the doors were battered by the wind and the clay tiles on the roof slipped dangerously, splitting onto the ground…’ </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can see how a simile can be constructed for impact very simply and it seems effortless. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[1] The simile is used to change the mood. We know something isn’t right about ‘The Peacock’ but the simile identifies what makes it wrong. The simile is a pivot in the structure of the writing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[2] The simile itself contrasts with the original image we are presented with. The place is called ‘The Peacock’ and it would, for most of us, make narrative sense and provide an alternative avian simile. A plucked turkey. A dumpey cuckoo. A fat hen. Yet, we are given a simile related to food and not birds. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[3] The simile is extended and clarified in the sentence after. The ‘sagging’ connects to the ‘cracked on one side’ and the ‘tilt’. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For students, a simile is just a simile and that’s where the problem lies. They don’t see it as a structural choice. A pivot to change the mood. A cohesive device that connects elsewhere. A simile simply exists on its own and in isolation in a student’s mind. Instead we need students to see the impact and how like a hydra a simple simile can be. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think we need to do more on the structural position of a simile in a paragraph. Students throw similes like confetti into their writing so that they stick to everything and appear when you least expect them. They need to be used like an engagement proposal instead. Carefully measured ensuring that the moment is perfect. Of course, you can throw a simile wherever you want, but having a simile hold the structure together is much more effective. Better writers structure their writing around anchors. Why not make the anchor a simile? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[1] A simile at the start </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simile </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 1 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 2 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 3</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like a cold winter’s day, the classroom was lifeless and lacked any colour. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grey walls waited for work to be keenly stuck to them with staples, pins or blue-tac. The windows stared impassively at row and row of empty desks and chairs. Coldness slowly seeped in. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[2] A simile in the middle </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 1 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simile </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 3 </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The garden’s greeness boasted itself to the rest of the street. Bright, bulging flowers thrust themselves forward</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> like an ageing actor fearful of being replaced by a much younger, and cheaper, model.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They were in the autumn of their existence. The colours were not as colourful as they once were in spring. They were not as tall as they once were in the summer. Their time was close to the end, but they would not give up without some kind of fight. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[3] A simile at the end</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 1</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sentence 3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simile </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the garage door opened, light gently woke up the room. Piles of long forgotten boxes and cartons slept silently, hoping not to be disturbed. Dust blanketed everything and anything it could.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The room held its secret like a murder hides his intent behind a smile. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I don’t think I will win any awards for writing these examples, but they serve to prove a point: how a simile can be used to structure writing and have an impact. Able students often use devices to structure their writing while other students simply throw in similes without thought on how they can aid meaning. Students need to see and learn the versatility of a device. Too often we focus on the construction and not the use of a device. The fact a student can use the device in the first place shouldn’t be a source of amazement. How a student uses the device should be. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, simile usage isn’t simply the domain of fiction. In fact, the use of simile to turn the flow of the discourse is common in non-fiction. A serious article can flip into pantomime with one simile. Where to put the simile is the real skill. Where should I put the simile ‘like some inflated sausage made of more sinew and fat than meat’ to describe the supposedly returning Prime Minister? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Xris </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Xris32http://www.blogger.com/profile/12204550583061791755noreply@blogger.com0