Planning an essay on the theme of education in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan an essay on the theme of education in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’.
Key learning points
- A thesis statement is a clear, overarching argument.
- Topic sentences give focus to individual paragraphs.
- Select main quotations and supporting quotations to include in an essay.
- Main quotations should be analysed; supporting quotations don’t need to be analysed.
- Concluding sentences can focus on a writer’s intention and draw your paragraph to a close.
Keywords
Thesis - The overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text.
Topic sentence - The first sentence of a paragraph. It states the paragraph’s main idea.
Main quotations - These are quotations which support your topic sentence, and that require analysis.
Supporting quotations - These are quotations which support your topic sentence, but don’t require analysis.
Concluding sentences - The final sentence of a paragraph. It draws together the main idea in the paragraph, and links to writer’s intentions.
Common misconception
A plan isn't a useful revision tool.
Creating a plan, and revisiting it, is an excellent way to revise. It can be quicker than writing a full essay, but still requires you to think about a particular essay question and your argument in response to it.
Teacher tip
Consider the timings for each learning cycle so that students end the lesson with a complete plan. Learning cycle 1 and learning cycle 3 are likely to take the longest.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.,
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
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.
overarching argument to an essay, supported by the whole text
the first sentence of a paragraph stating its main idea
quotations which support your topic sentence and need analysis
quotations which support your topic sentence but don't need analysis
the final sentence of a paragraph, focusing on writer's intentions
drawing together your main ideas and thesis
Q2.In 'Leave Taking', how does Pinnock explore intergenerational conflict between the characters of Enid and Viv?
Q3.Starting with the first, put these plot points relating to the character of Viv from 'Leave Taking' in chronological order.
Q4.Starting with the first, put these plot points relating to the character of Del from 'Leave Taking' in chronological order.
Q5.In 'Leave Taking', Brod and Enid disagree in terms of some of their ideas and values. As such, how might you describe Brod's function?
Q6.In 'Leave Taking', Brod influences Viv in terms of her rejection of the formal education system. As such, how might you describe Brod's function?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.When planning for an essay on 'Leave Taking', what is the first step of the planning process?
Q2.When writing about 'Leave Taking', your main body paragraphs will include concluding sentences. What should a good concluding sentence do?
Q3.A pupil said, "Here is my thesis about education in 'Leave Taking': Pinnock uses Scene Five to explore the importance of formal education to Del." How would you correct them?
Q4.In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid says she grew up in extreme poverty. What does Enid’s comment about relying on the land during her upbringing suggest about her past?
Q5.When writing about 'Leave Taking', you should start your essay with a thesis statement. A thesis statement is an overarching argument to an essay, supported by a reading of the text.
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Planning an essay on the theme of education in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Planning an essay on the theme of education in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, 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: the power of education unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.