the primary argument or central idea presented in a piece of academic writing

a sentence that introduces the main idea or theme of a paragraph, guiding its content

information or objects that are firmly and deeply fixed within something else

words or phrases that express a lack of certainty when presenting ideas

‘Power and Conflict’ poetry: writing a sophisticated comparative response

English

Revising key themes in the ‘Power and Conflict’ anthology

Refining comparative essay writing

Understanding the poem 'Checking Out Me History'

Analysing the Poem 'Checking Out Me History'

Understanding the poem 'The Emigree'

Analysing the poem 'The Emigree'

Comparing ‘Checking Out Me History’ and ‘The Émigrée’

Understanding the Poem 'Tissue' by Imtiaz Dharker

Analysing the Poem 'Tissue' by Imtiaz Dharker

Exploring theme, message and intent across the ‘Power and Conflict’ anthology

Comparing 'Tissue' with other poems

In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry' continued, pupils used a range of reading skills to aid the supported decoding of challenging poems. In 'Unseen Poetry', pupils use these reading skills to decode texts with independence. 

In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of power and conflict. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons, focusing on the final three poems: *Checking Out Me History*, *The Emigree* and *Tissue*

In this unit, pupis read and analyse three more poems from the 'Power and Conflict' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. At the end of the unit, pupils analyse themes from across the anthology and write a sophisticated comparative essay,

Poetry anthology: continued study

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

a clear, relevant topic sentence linked to your thesis statement

analyse one poem before analysing another

use tentative language for personal interpretations

Starting with the first, put the steps below which outline your comparative analysis paragraph in the order you'd complete them. 

'Checking Out Me History' explores colonial power whilst 'My Last Duchess' predominantly explores...

marginalised groups triumph over oppressors

marginalised groups cannot reclaim control

‘Checking Out Me History’ explore how…

introduce both poems and summarise their key ideas

summarise multiple themes across two poems

The Duke's narrative is shaped by his wife's behaviour.

The Duchess' "spot of joy" in the portrait is a mark of her defiance.

How do we see evidence of marginalised groups triumphing over oppressors in 'My Last Duchess'?

was denied the opportunity to learn about his own heritage and identity.

Concealment is relevant in both 'My Last Duchess' and 'Checking Out Me History', whilst the Duke seeks to conceals the identity of his late wife through a curtain, Agard...

Where does a thesis statement appear in your essay?

Agard describes that he received a diverse curriculum

Agard's native country was overcome with tyrants

Agard was denied the opportunity to learn about his heritage in Guyana

How does oppression occur in 'Checking Out Me History'?

What is the form of both 'Checking Out Me History' and 'My Last Duchess'?

Match the method to the type of evidence.

‘Power and Conflict’ poetry: writing a sophisticated comparative response

Lesson outcome

Content guidance