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Year 11
AQA

Planning an essay on generational conflict in Pinnock's ‘Leave Taking’

I can develop an essay plan using ideas around stagecraft and setting.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Planning an essay on generational conflict in Pinnock's ‘Leave Taking’

I can develop an essay plan using ideas around stagecraft and setting.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A thesis statement is an overarching argument that presents your main idea for the essay.
  2. A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a paragraph and links it to the thesis.
  3. You should use stagecraft and setting as evidence to support your argument.
  4. Concluding sentences can focus on a writer’s intention and draw your paragraph to a close.

Keywords

  • Integration - the process of adapting to and becoming part of a new society

  • Commentary - an expression of opinions or offering of explanations about an event or situation

Common misconception

Pupils might mistakenly believe that generational conflict only refers to disagreements between parents and children, overlooking the broader societal influences that shape the conflict.

Generational conflict in 'Leave Taking' isn't just about family disagreements; it is also influenced by the different social, cultural, and historical experiences that shape each generation’s view of identity and belonging.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Planning an essay on generational conflict in Pinnock's ‘Leave Taking’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Have pupils create a Venn diagram comparing how Enid and her daughters view their cultural identities and the sources of their generational conflict. This quick visual activity helps clarify the differences and overlaps in their perspectives without taking much time.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When writing an essay on 'Leave Taking', it's important to know some key terms that will help structure your planning and response. Match the key terms to their definitions.
Correct Answer:thesis,overarching argument to an essay, supported by the whole text

overarching argument to an essay, supported by the whole text

Correct Answer:topic sentence,the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea

the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea

Correct Answer:main quotations,quotations which support your topic sentence and need analysis

quotations which support your topic sentence and need analysis

Correct Answer:supporting quotations,quotations which support your topic sentence but don't need analysis

quotations which support your topic sentence but don't need analysis

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,the final sentence of a paragraph, focusing on writer's intentions

the final sentence of a paragraph, focusing on writer's intentions

Correct Answer:conclusion,drawing together your main ideas and thesis

drawing together your main ideas and thesis

Q2.
Which of the following are reasonable synonyms for the word 'reaffirm'?
Correct answer: confirm
disregard
renounce
Correct answer: assert
Q3.
Which of the following are reasonable synonyms for the word 'reconcile'?
Correct answer: harmonise
dispute
Correct answer: settle
separate
Q4.
Which of the following are true of a main quotation?
Correct answer: it requires in-depth analysis and is central to the argument
it is briefly mentioned and doesn't need much explanation
Correct answer: it helps illustrate key dramatic methods in the play
it only appears in the introduction or conclusion
Q5.
Which of the following are true of a supporting quotation?
Correct answer: it reinforces the argument without needing detailed analysis
it is used to analyse the playwright’s methods deeply
Correct answer: it provides additional evidence to back up a main point
Correct answer: it can be embedded within sentences to support ideas briefly
Q6.
Which of the following are true of a concluding sentence?
Correct answer: it summarises the main idea of the paragraph
it introduces new ideas or evidence to support the argument
Correct answer: it signals the end of a paragraph and reflects on the writer’s intentions

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does generational conflict primarily refer to in Leave Taking?
Physical fights between parents and children
Correct answer: Tension from cultural and identity differences across generations
Miscommunication due to language barriers
Financial struggles within the family
Q2.
Arguably, in 'Leave Taking', Viv’s decision to study Black Studies shows...
Correct answer: she wants to understand her Jamaican roots more deeply.
she rejects her British identity.
she is confused about her cultural identity.
she wants to escape her mother's expectations.
Q3.
Which quotation taken from Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' best demonstrates Del’s early rejection of Jamaica and some of its cultural practices?
“Black Studies. You ever hear of such a thing?”
Correct answer: “Mumbo jumbo nonsense.”
“What if I don’t want to go to university?”
“Me and those teachers don’t speak the same lingo.”
Q4.
What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
to summarise the entire play
to introduce each paragraph’s argument
Correct answer: to present the essay’s central argument
to include a key quotation from the text
Q5.
What is the purpose of a main quotation in an essay?
to provide a general overview of the theme
Correct answer: to analyse key moments in the text in detail
to briefly reinforce the argument without deep analysis
to summarise the overall message of the play
Q6.
Which statement below is false about the relationship between thesis statements and topic sentences?
A thesis introduces the essay’s argument; topic sentences develop points.
Correct answer: A thesis statement is supported by moments in the text.
Topic sentences help explain main ideas in individual paragraphs.
A thesis is broader than any single topic sentence.