Lesson video

Hello, and thank you for joining me for today's English lesson.

It's Mrs. Butterworth here, and I will be leading you through your learning today.

Now, this lesson focuses on essay skills, in particular, using context effectively in "An Inspector Calls" essays.

So we'll be thinking about how we can use different types of context, focusing on literary context, when writing about "An Inspector Calls".

Should we get started? So in this lesson, you will use context effectively to elevate your "An Inspector Calls" responses.

Let's just look at some keywords that will be important for today's learning.

Those words are literary, thesis, intergenerational conflict, and weave.

Now, literary, we're going to think about literary context today, kinda just refers to anything in literature.

So this could include writing, analysis, and appreciation of written works.

We've also got that word thesis and I'm sure you've come across this before, but let's just remind ourselves, it is that clear and focused statement in an essay that presents the main argument and we usually find this in our introduction.

Also, a good thing about intergenerational conflicts in one of our models, and this is the tension between younger and older people, often in a family.

So for "An Inspector Calls", there's intergenerational conflict between the younger Birlings and the older Birlings.

And then weave, you'll notice this word popping up a lot, is when we think about context, we want to weave our context into paragraphs and the essay as a whole rather than including it as a series of isolated facts.

So those are our keywords.

See if you can spot them as we go through the lesson today.

Which looks like this, we're going to begin by exploring literary context before moving on to weaving context into essays.

Now, context can be thought about in these ways.

So we can define it like this: Historical, which is all about what was happening when the text was written and how may this have influenced the text.

So when we're thinking about "An Inspector Calls", we might be thinking about 1945 and what was happening at the time.

Now, literary is all about what influenced the text's style or genre and what do we know about its production or publication.

So again, for "An Inspector Calls", this may be things like theatrical styles.

So we may want to think about that when we're thinking about literary context.

Social, things like what were the shared ideas and values of the time and how these were explored in the text.

So for "An Inspector Calls", we want to think about the societal attitudes of 1945, but also those societal attitudes and values and attitudes of the 1912 setting as well.

And then biographical.

So how might the life experiences of the author have influenced the text.

Now, an effective use of context includes the following: Using a range of different context, not just historical and biographical.

So range there is a very key concept.

Weaving context throughout the essay, not just bolting on as an isolated fact.

Using contextual information to elevate and develop an argument or analysis.

And this is a really sophisticated use of context use and this is what we're aiming for.

We want it to elevate and develop your comments.

Ensuring the context is relevant.

Now, literary context is very often overlooked.

So we're going to begin by focusing on using literary context to elevate your responses.

Now, Sofia makes this statement: "Context is always about historical information and biographical facts about the writer's life.

It can be added onto the end of paragraphs." I'd like you to discuss, please, how might you address Sofia's misconception? So you'll need to pause the video to discuss your answer to this question.

If you're working alone, you may wish to think quietly to yourself or even jot down some ideas, but pause the video to get answering.

Off you go.

Great, okay, so lots of you saying quite similar things, which is great, but let's just share some ideas and check we're all on the same page.

So you may have discussed that context also refers to literary and social influences.

So it doesn't just have to be historical and biographical information.

An effective use of context will include a range.

So it won't just use one type of context, it will use different types.

And it should be woven throughout your response, not just bolted on.

So Sofia says it can be added at the end of paragraphs.

That is fine, but we want a sophisticated use of context.

So this means it needs to be woven throughout our writing.

Okay, so we've got our four types of context here and one is missing.

So I'd like you to tell me, please, which type of context is missing there at C? Which type of context is missing? Come up with your answer now.

Okay, so, well done to everyone that noticed social context is missing.

So we've got historical, literary, social, and biographical.

Well done, everyone.

So, here is an essay question, how does Priestly use the Inspector to challenge capitalist ideals and promote socialist values? Now, to support this question using literary context, you could consider the following: You could consider theatrical styles or traditions.

You could consider dramatic influences.

And you can also consider genre conventions too.

So Andeep begins to annotate the essay question focusing on literary context.

So focusing on what literary context entails.

So here's the question and here are Andeep's annotations.

So thinking about the play as a political text, so manifesto and propaganda.

So again, that's focusing on that literary context 'cause we're thinking about it as a political text and where it might fit into that tradition.

The radical tradition of expressionism alongside naturalism and the Inspector as a disruptor.

So we can see here that the question is focused on the Inspector, so Andeep quite rightly has noted here that that use of naturalism and expressionism can be linked to the Inspector.

And then finally, thinking about Brechtian techniques.

So thinking about how the Inspector breaks fourth wall and the direct address.

So these things all come under that umbrella of this idea of literary context and of really interesting things to write about.

So look at the following annotations, A, B, or C.

Which of these connotations would not be considered literary context? So you're looking for the one that would not be considered literary context.

So, tell me your answers now, please.

Okay, great, and the answer is, B, Priestley was a committed socialist who advocated for social justice and collective responsibility.

So that would not be considered literary context 'cause it's focused more on Priestley's biographical information and his own beliefs.

Whereas A and C, so A, Priestley interacts with ideas from social realist tradition and Priestley engages the audience by using the conventions of crime and detective fiction, both engage with the idea of literary context.

So that's through theatrical traditions and also genre.

So now I'm going to give you your essay question.

So your essay question is, how does Priestley present capitalism as flawed and socialism as a moral alternative in "An Inspector Calls"? So what I would like you to do, please, for this first practise task is to annotate the essay question with the following: any relevant literary context, specific examples from the text that answer the question, and finally, any other relevant context: historical, social, and biographical.

Okay, so make sure you've got what you need to complete this task.

You may also want a copy of the text just to refer to, but you'll definitely need to pause the video to give yourself time, plenty of time to do those annotations.

Off you go.

Okay, well done, everyone.

So that's a really good way to start an essay, isn't it? To look at the question and to think about those annotations.

And it's really great to see so many of you engaging with those ideas of literary context and beyond.

So just check through your annotations now and tick where you have included any relevant literary context, specific examples from the text that answer the question, and finally, any other relevant context: historical, social and biographical.

You may at this point, if you have anything missing, may just want to take an opportunity to add that now.

Pause the video to get that checking done.

Off you go.

Well done, everyone.

We are now on the second part of our lesson, and this part is all about weaving context into essays.

Let's just remind ourselves of what an effective use of context looks like.

So we know that using a range of different context is important, not just historical and biographical.

We know that weaving context throughout the essay, not just bolting it on as an isolated fact is really good practise.

Using contextual information to elevate and develop an argument or analysis is an effective way to do it and that we should ensure the context is relevant.

So we have focused on literary context in the first part of this lesson and that's great, but now we can open up to the broader idea of context and think about using a range.

So we can think about using that range of context and how it can be woven into a response.

Now, there are many different ways that you can weave context into an essay.

So we're gonna look at some of those examples now.

Now, a very powerful way is to ground your thesis in context.

So let's look at an example.

So we have Lucas here and Lucas's thesis.

So as we read it through together, see if you can notice how Lucas has used context in his thesis.

"Priestley presents capitalism as flawed and socialism as a moral alternative in 'An Inspector Calls' through his radical use of theatrical strategy.

Blending naturalism and expressionism, he critiques capitalist values and promotes socialism as an ethical choice.

Through the play structure and the Inspector's role, Priestley challenges individualism and advocates for collective responsibility using theatre as a political tool." It's a great thesis from Lucas, isn't it? You can really see what his argument's going to be there.

But just focusing on context, we can see here that Lucas has used literary context and key concepts in order to present his thesis.

So he's talked about the radical use of theatrical strategy.

He's then even referred to specific theatrical styles, so naturalism and expressionism.

So what Lucas has done here is he's really effectively used literary context in his thesis, which is a really good thing to do.

Okay, true or false time.

Here's your statement: Weave context into your thesis because then you don't have to include it again.

Is that statement true or false? Come up with your answer now, please.

Well done to everyone that said false, but you now need to tell me why that statement is false.

Off you go.

Okay, so I'll give you my answer and hopefully it aligns with what you were thinking.

So, you should weave context throughout your essay, okay? So just because you put it in your thesis doesn't mean that you don't have to include it again.

But including it in your thesis can be a powerful start.

So it's worth having a go with that and seeing what you come up with.

So we now know that weaving context into a thesis is a powerful start, but we can also weave context into an essay in other ways too.

So, another way is a topic sentence.

So let's look at Lucas's example of a topic sentence.

So it says, "The intergenerational conflicts between Mr. and Eric Birling reflects Priestley's political agenda, using the play as a manifesto to critique capitalism and promote the ideals of the 1945 Labour victory and the new socialist government." So we can see here that Lucas roots the main idea for his paragraph in historical context.

So he's talking about Priestley's intention, but linking it to that historical content.

So, how Priestley is critiquing capitalism and promoting the ideals of that new Labour government.

So again, you can see here how Lucas has effectively used context in his topic sentence, okay? So we've thought about thesis, we've thought about a topic sentence, and we can also weave context into language analysis too.

So here is Lucas example.

"In Act One, Mr. Birling's declarative phrase describing the Titanic as unsinkable highlights his blind optimism and belief in capitalist superiority.

This reflects pre-World War I attitudes of the upper class, who, like Birling, were confident in their position and the stability of the status quo.

Priestley, however, uses the moment to critique such arrogance." Some lovely analysis there.

And what I really like what Lucas has done here is he's developed that language analysis with some social and historical context.

So he's talked about pre-World War I attitudes, but he's also linked that to social context through the values and attitudes of the time.

The idea that the Birlings reflect this, the attitudes of the upper class.

So I think Lucas has been really clever here in using that context to really develop his analysis further whilst always linking to the writer's intention.

Okay, another true or false for you.

Including context in a topic sentence.

let's start that again.

Including context in a topic sentence is better than including it in a language analysis.

Is that true or is that false? I'd like your answer now, please.

Well done, everyone.

Yeah, it's another false, but you need to tell me why that statement is false and I'll give you a few moments to come up with your answer now.

Okay, shall I show you my answer? Okay, here it is, hopefully it's similar to yours.

So context can be expertly woven into many different moments in an essay.

There is no hierarchy.

Well done, everyone.

So, we are at our second and final practise task.

So little bit more work for you to do, but I know you can do it.

So what I would like you to do, please, is I would like you to plan one paragraph, answering, "How does Priestley present capitalism as flawed and socialism as a moral alternative in 'An Inspector Calls'?" Now remember, you already annotated this question in Task A.

So the first part of the lesson.

So use those annotations to help you plan this paragraph.

Think about your thesis.

Could you weave context into your thesis? Make sure you write your topic sentence in full and consider if weaving in context would be appropriate.

Now remember, the context needs to be relevant, so don't just do it for the sake of it.

You'll need to consider if it's appropriate.

Your supporting details should support your topic sentence and your notes should include references to context that you wish to use to develop your analysis.

Again, think back to those annotations that you completed in Task A.

I think they might help you.

And then your concluding sentence should focus on Priestley's intentions, particularly the idea of a political agenda.

Okay, I'm gonna ask you to pause the video now so you can get planning that paragraph.

Off you go.

So now you have completed that excellent planning.

I'd like you to write up your paragraph, okay? So use that plan to write up your paragraph.

Okay, definitely pause the video so you've got time to complete your writing.

Off you go.

Well done, everyone.

I really appreciate the hard work you put into that task and it's been fantastic to see so many of you using a much bigger range of context.

I think once you start to go beyond that just historical biography, it really opens up your responses.

And I find some of the literary context incredibly interesting and illuminating.

So what I would like you to do now is just re-read your paragraph and highlight where you have used context.

So do that first, and then I would like you, please, to use the statements to give yourself a what went well and an even better if.

So, the statements are: I used a range of different contextual information.

I made sure the context was woven throughout and not bolted on.

I used the context to develop my argument and comments.

The context I used was relevant.

So pause the video so you've got time to check through your work and give yourself that what went well and even better if.

Off you go.

Well done, everyone.

Really great work, and I have loved seeing the progression of your work and how we are really elevating those "An Inspector Calls" essays.

So well done.

Let's just remind ourselves that context refers to historical, social, literary, and biographical information.

So I'm looking forward to see a range of those in future.

Literary context is overlooked, but can be an effective way to elevate responses.

Context should be woven throughout your essay and weaving context into your essay can be a really powerful way to start.

So again, very well done, everyone.

I cannot wait to see you all again in another English lesson soon! So I'll say bye until then.

Goodbye!.