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Lesson 31 of 33
  • Year 10
  • Eduqas

Planning a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology

I can conceptualise and plan a comparative response on how two poems present the theme of love.

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Lesson 31 of 33
New
New
  • Year 10
  • Eduqas

Planning a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology

I can conceptualise and plan a comparative response on how two poems present the theme of love.

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. The poems that you choose to compare should both be linked to the focus and nuances of the question you are asked.
  2. It is useful to consider the similarities between poems and then consider any subtle differences between them.
  3. Thesis statements help you to refine your argument and give you a point of reference to return to as you write.
  4. Evidence should be selected judiciously - it is important to choose the quotation that best supports your argument.

Keywords

  • Nuance - a small detail that shows careful thought and helps you see more than one side of something

  • Judicious - exercising good judgement in a thoughtful and careful manner

  • Cohesive - In essays refers to all parts of your writing linking clearly and working well together.

Common misconception

The most effective comparisons only come from poems with the most obvious similarities.

Insightful comparisons can often emerge from contrasting poems. Exploring differences can uncover complexity and nuance, enriching analysis beyond what similarity alone can achieve.


To help you plan your year 10 English lesson on: Planning a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to tailor the question focus and poem selections to best suit the interests and learning needs of your own pupils.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following poems from the Eduqas anthology was written by Eve L. Ewing?

Correct answer: 'Origin Story'
'Disabled'
'Kamikaze'
'Decompostition'
'Blackberry-Picking'

Q2.
Which of the following poems from the Eduqas anthology traces the thoughts and feelings of someone waiting for a call from a lover?

'The Schoolboy'
'I wandered Lonely as a Cloud'
'Catrin'
'Remains'
Correct answer: 'Dusting the Phone'

Q3.
Which poem uses a third-person perspective?

'The Schoolboy'
Correct answer: 'Disabled'
'Catrin'
'Dusting the Phone'

Q4.
Which poem is the following quotation from: “How can the bird that is born for joy/Sit in a cage and sing.”

Correct answer: 'The Schoolboy"
'Blackberry - Picking'
'Kamikaze'
'Origin Story'
'Catrin'

Q5.
Which poem uses the metaphor of a "rope" to symbolise the binding and sometimes restrictive nature of maternal love?

'Origin Story'
Correct answer: 'Catrin'
'Kamikaze'
'Disabled'
'Sonnet 29'

Q6.
Complete the quotation from the opening line of the poem 'Cousin Kate': "I was a cottage "

Correct Answer: maiden

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following criteria makes for strong evidence?

detailed
Correct answer: judiciously-selected
Correct answer: precise
paraphrased
Correct answer: accurate

Q2.
Why wouldn't we choose this quotation for evidence: "I was a cottage maiden/Hardened by sun and air,/Contented with my cottage mates,/Not mindful I was fair."

it is too short
Correct answer: it is too long
it hasn't been embedded
it is not an accurate quotation

Q3.
Why can it be helpful to write your thesis statement before you start writing your full analytical response?

Your thesis changes as you write your response.
Your thesis forms the start of every paragraph - you recycle the same sentence.
Correct answer: Your thesis outlines what you will be illustrating or proving in your essay.
Correct answer: Your thesis is a great point of reference to keep returning to as you write.

Q4.
What does it mean for an essay to be cohesive?

The essay contains many quotations.
Correct answer: All parts of the writing link clearly and work well together.
The essay has an effective introduction.
The essay contains detailed analysis.

Q5.
Why might it be insightful to compare poems from different thematic clusters?

Correct answer: It highlights subtle or nuanced links and deepens understanding.
It guarantees both poems have the same tone and style.
It simplifies writing by focusing on obvious similarities only.
It overcomplicates the analysis.

Q6.
Which word beginning with 'n' can be described as: a small detail that shows careful thought and helps you see more than one side of something.

Correct Answer: nuance, nuanced, nuances, Nuance