Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write an analytical essay about how Winsome Pinnock uses the character of Viv to explore ideas about belonging in ‘Leave Taking’.
Key learning points
- Use the essay question as a planning tool by annotating its keywords.
- Create a detailed plan which includes a clear thesis, and focused topic sentences.
- A thesis is your overarching argument.
- A topic sentence states the paragraph’s main idea.
- Essays should follow a structure: introduction, main body paragraphs, conclusion.
Keywords
Thesis - The overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text.
Eurocentric - When there is a focus on European culture or history, ignoring or excluding cultures and history from the wider world.
Dislocation - A feeling of being out of place, or in the wrong place.
Belonging - The feeling that you are accepted in a group, community or society.
Specific - A precise detail.
Common misconception
All planning should be in note form.
Foundations of your essay - thesis and topic sentences - should be written in full so you know they are powerful, precise and purposeful.
Teacher tip
Consider the time your class needs to both plan the essay (first practice task) and write the essay (second practice task). Use this to inform your planning for this lesson.
Equipment
You 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
5 Questions
Q1.Viv is one of the five characters in 'Leave Taking'. What do we find out about her over the course of the play?
Q2.Viv appears in five of 'Leave Taking's' eight scenes. Match her scenes to their plot points.
Attends an obeah reading with her mum and sister
Studies whilst her mum prepares for the Pastor's visit
Tells her mother she wants to take a gap year
Has a heart to heart with Enid following her mother's death
Tells Del she skipped one of her English exams
Q3.In 'Leave Taking', Viv is presented as a very successful and academic student. Why, though, is she dissatisfied with her education?
Q4.In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Viv complains to her mother that the books she studies have " " to do with her.
Q5.'Leave Taking' is a play concerned with the idea of belonging. But it is also concerned with its opposite: the feeling of dislocation. What does dislocation mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the first element, put the essay structure for analytical writing on 'Leave Taking' in chronological order.
Q2.When writing essays on 'Leave Taking', you will include a thesis. Where should your thesis be found?
Q3.Essays are made up of different elements. Match each element to its definition and purpose.
moves from the general to the specific, includes your thesis
first sentence of each paragraph stating its main idea
exploration of moments, quotations and methods from the text
last sentence of each paragraph; focus on writer's intention
moves from the specific to the general; focus on the writer
Q4.When you read an essay question on 'Leave Taking', what is the first step of the planning process?
Q5.When planning an essay on 'Leave Taking', you should complete a detailed plan. Match each section of the planning grid to its definition.
overarching argument supported by the whole text
first sentence of the paragraph stating your main idea
references to the text
final sentence of a paragraph, concluding your idea
sums up your essay's overall thesis
Q6.A pupil drafts a sentence answering a question about Viv in 'Leave Taking': "Pinnock reveals Viv's unhappiness with the education system in Scene Two." Is this a topic sentence, or a thesis statement?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Writing a ‘Leave Taking’ essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging, 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.