Using context effectively in 'Leave Taking' essays
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand what context is and how to weave it into my analytical essay responses on 'Leave Taking'.
Key learning points
- Context refers to historical, social, literary and biographical information.
- Context should not be presented as isolated facts.
- Context should be relevant to the analysis and woven in the response.
- Context should develop your ideas and give an insight into the writer’s purpose and intention.
Keywords
First generation migrant - A person who was born in one country, but moves to live and establish their life in another country.
Second generation migrant - People who have grown up in a country that at least one of their parents was not born in.
Windrush scandal - When many citizens who had migrated to Britain between 1948 and 1973 were facing deportation under a discriminatory immigration system.
Weave - In relation to context, when you embed it into paragraphs rather than including it as a series of isolated facts.
Common misconception
Context must be included in every paragraph.
Context must be included in essays, but where it is relevant and develops your analysis - not as a tick box exercise for each paragraph.
Teacher tip
Consider if your class need to re-read Pinnock's introduction in learning cycle 1. You may feel they have mastered this contextual knowledge already and can devote more time to the Practice Task in learning cycle 2.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'.
Content guidance
Contains strong language
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.In 'Leave Taking', which characters are first generation immigrants?
Q2.In 'Leave Taking', which characters are second generation immigrants?
Q3.When was 'Leave Taking' first performed?
Q4.In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', why is Brod angry at the British government?
Q5.In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod is angry that he has to seek naturalisation. What does it mean to seek naturalisation?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In every 'Leave Taking' essay, you should include context. Match the type of context to its definition.
What was happening when the text was written.
What influenced the text's style or genre.
What were the shared values and ideas of the time period.
What are the life experiences of the author.
Q2.In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock tells us she wanted to be an actor, but that she was told she wouldn't be successful because she is Black. What type of context is this?
Q3.In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock tells us she was asked to reduce her original cast of characters in 'Leave Taking's' first draft to just five. What does she say this allowed her to do?
Q4.In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai decribes her great grandfather's journey to Jamaica in the hold of a ship. What does Mai mean?
Q5.In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod explores the lasting impact Britain's colonisation of Jamaica. If exploring colonisation as a way to understand the play, what type of context are you relying on?
Q6.In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', which 2018 event does Pinnock link to Brod's experience of needing to seek naturalisation?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Using context effectively in 'Leave Taking' essays, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Using context effectively in 'Leave Taking' essays, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Leave Taking: a sense of belonging unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.