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- Year 11
- Edexcel
Analysing the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial
I can explain how Kunial uses language, form and structure to express his viewpoint.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 11
- Edexcel
Analysing the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial
I can explain how Kunial uses language, form and structure to express his viewpoint.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The speaker of the poem begins fairly sure of his views on divisions/togetherness but becomes more uncertain later on.
- Kunial uses aspirational language to show the speaker's uncertainty towards the end of the poem.
- Kunial playfully explores sounds and words which link to "us" and emphasise this as the central idea of the poem.
- There are many examples of partial rhymes, alliteration and assonance throughout the poem.
- Punctuation and line breaks are used creatively to draw attention to particular phrases or ideas.
Keywords
Foreground - emphasise or draw attention to something, making it prominent or central in focus
Ideals - beliefs or principles that guide behaviour and reflect our desired outcomes
Abstract - existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
Aspirational language - language which describes goals or ambitions that one strives to achieve
Assonance - repetition of similar vowel sounds in words to create musicality or emphasis in writing
Common misconception
This poem has a clear message about togetherness and division.
This poem is an abstract exploration of the different ways divisions and togetherness affect our relationships with each other (both personal relationships and our relationships in society).
To help you plan your year 11 English lesson on: Analysing the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 English lesson on: Analysing the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial, 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.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Belonging poetry continued unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial (located in the Edexcel GCSE Poetry Anthology - 'Belonging' cluster).
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
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