Writing excellent comparative essays on poetry from the Eduqas anthology
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a written response which meets a success criteria.
Key learning points
- A good analytical response begins with a clear and concise thesis statement.
- Comparative connectives can be used to link ideas together and explore connections between poems.
- Quotations can be signposted with where they appear in the poem e.g. ‘in the final stanza’.
- Analysis can focus on 'bigger' methods and then the effects of these methods.
- Context should be used to support your argument.
Keywords
Insightful - perceptive - showing a deep and personal understanding of something.
Concise - using as few words as possible to express as much meaning as possible.
Comparative connectives - words that indicate the relationships between things - the patterns in them e.g. whilst, both, however.
Common misconception
Students often think that they need to 'zoom in' on every word when analysing a quotation.
Often, it can be useful to discuss the 'bigger' method that the poet is using e.g. their use of personification. By thinking about bigger methods, the students may be more focused on the themes of the poem and the poet's intentions.
Teacher tip
You could set the full model answer as pre-reading for the lesson and then use the lesson to pick key parts out of it.
Equipment
A copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology is required for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How many poems are in the Eduqas poetry anthology?
Q2.Who wrote the poem 'London'?
Q3.Which poem featured in the Eduqas anthology was written by a Romantic poet after a significant encounter at a party?
Q4.Match the poem, taken from the Eduqas poetry anthology, to the figurative language used within the poem.
Q5.Complete the quotation from 'A Wife in London': "'Tis the morrow; the hangs thicker".
Q6.Match the poem, taken from the Eduqas poetry anthology, to its summary.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is not a comparative connective?
Q2.What does the word 'insightful' mean?
Q3.Being means using as few words as possible to express as much meaning as possible.
Q4.Which of these sentences is most concise?
Q5.How can you make your introduction in an analytical piece clear and engaging?
Q6.How should context be included in an analytical response?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Writing excellent comparative essays on poetry from the Eduqas anthology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Writing excellent comparative essays on poetry from the Eduqas anthology, 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 Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.