the overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text

an argument which is overarching encompasses all the main ideas or themes of a text

something that does not change as a result of time or fashion

an adjective used to describe a text which, regardless of time period or circumstance, audiences can relate to

Introductions and conclusions in a 'Small Island' essay

English

Exploring 'Small Island' and the Windrush context

Helen Edmundson on adapting 'Small Island' for the stage

'Small Island': from page to stage

'Small Island': reading the start of Act 1 Scene 1

'Small Island': exploring the theme of power through Little Hortense

'Small Island': tracking the events of Act 1 Scene 1

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 1 with director Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading Act 1 Scene 2

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 2 with director Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3

'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3

Watching 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 3 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson

'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 4-6

'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 7 and 8

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scenes 4-8 with Rufus Norris

'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush

Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scene 1

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 5 to 6

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 2 to 6 with Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 7 and 8

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 9 to 11

Watching 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 7-11 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson

Rufus Norris on directing and adapting 'Small Island'

Tracking characters and tension in 'Small Island'

Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island'

Understanding questions and writing thesis statements on ‘Small Island’

'Small Island': creating topic sentences and using quotes in essays

Essay writing: using context in responses to ‘Small Island’

Planning and writing a 'Small Island' essay

Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island'

In 'Small Island', pupils explore the ways in which transferring Levy's novel onto the stage enables both the playwright and the director to powerfully evoke its ideas about race, identity and belonging. In 'Leave Taking', pupils build on their learning about the Windrush Generation to explore the cultural and generational conflicts, that can arise as a result of migration. 

In 'The Tempest', pupils examine the roles of Caliban and Ariel and how they are treated as outsiders, questioning who has a rightful claim to the island. In 'Small Island', pupils look at the play in the context of the Windrush generation and through the lens of key themes, including identity and belonging.  

In this unit, pupils explore the playtext adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel 'Small Island'. They first explore the transition from novel to stage, before reading the playtext in full and exploring key scenes in detail. They then plan and write an essay on the theme of 'hope' in the text.

'Small Island'

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

A sentence focusing on the theme or character.

Which of these is **not** part of a three part structure for an introduction?

A comment to introduce your overarching argument.

A sentence about what the text teaches us or gets us to think about.

Sentence to summarise what you have said.

Which of these is **not** part of a three part conclusion structure?

does not change as a result of time and fashion.

If something is described as 'timeless' it...

Which adjective beginning with 'U' describes a text which, regardless of time period or circumstance, audiences can relate to?

Which of these words are **not** conclusive discourse markers?

In the presentation of Gilbert, Levy suggests that...

Which of these is an example of a complex sentence with a fronted subordinate clause?

What year was the novel 'Small Island' first adapted for stage and performed?

What are the historical events that are most prominent in 'Small Island'?

an idea that is explored in a text in a number of different ways

When writing about literary texts we need to consider themes. What is a theme?

To state the overarching argument supported by the entire text.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

overarching argument to an essay, supported by whole text

quotation which does not require analysis

comes to a conclusion about the paragraph's main idea

Match the different elements of an essay to the correct definition.

Starter Quiz

What year was the novel 'Small Island' first adapted for stage and performed?