9/3/11 Starter

Cut out each of the exemplar paragraphs and stick

them into your books/folders. You should devote a
page to each exemplar paragraph.

Read through each and then decide on a grade for

each - Achieved, Merit, Excellence. Just pencil this
in for now, your decision might change later on.
 The Standard
Achieved Merit Excellence
Show convincing Show perceptive
Show understanding of
understanding of understanding of
specified aspect(s) of
specified aspect(s) of specified aspect(s) of
studied written text(s),
studied written text(s), studied written text(s),
using supporting
using supporting using supporting
evidence.
evidence. evidence.
Task
Beneath each exemplar draw up a T-Chart and then complete the following:
• For the A exemplar: write ONE thing they did well and TWO things they need to
improve.
• For the M exemplar: Write TWO things they did well and TWO things they need to
improve.
• For the E exemplar: Write THREE things they did well.
Then, using the judgement statement on your tables, beneath each exemplar write a
couple of sentences that explain why you think each example got the mark it go and
why it couldn’t get a higher mark.
 T.I.E.R - Your structure for writing
essays
This year all classes are following the same structure for
writing essays and we are planning to remain consistent
with this style of structuring from this point forward.
It revolves around:
T - technique/topic sentence
I - implications
E - evidence/explanation
R - relevance
 Technique/topic sentence
This is the first sentence of your essay paragraph. The aim of it
is to set up what you are going to talk about and why it is
relevant to the essay topic. This sentence should introduce the
technique and why it is important - this sets up your argument
for the rest of the paragraph.

Your first sentence should include the technique that you are
going to be discussing and also link directly to the question and
how this particular paragraph is going to be answering this
question.
 Implications
Your next few sentences should outline the implication of the
technique on the essay as a whole.
This can seem tricky but you are just looking to expand on your
opening sentence and give some indication as how you are going to
interpret the technique.
You might answer things like: How is the technique important to the
ideas of the poem? How does it foreshadow what is to come? How
does it link to what has come before?
Overall you are looking at introducing your thoughts about why you
think the technique has been used. You need to be setting yourself up
for the inclusion of evidence.
 Evidence/Explanation
This part of the paragraph should begin to use specific evidence
and explain, in detail, how each specific example has been used.
Remember the detail. You should be explaining how the author has
crafted their effects through specific language choices. Interrogate
specific words and elements of sentence structure, as well as the
larger images created.
Never limit yourself to a single piece of evidence – always try and
suggest/explain how a secondary piece of evidence supports your
first piece of evidence. This shows your ability to understand the
poem as a whole, not just as pieces.
 Relevance
At this point you are discussing the wider implications of
the author’s use of technique. You are trying to make
links between the use of the technique and what the
author was trying to achieve - linking to theme
statements.
Your last sentences should focus on the wider ideas of
the text. What is the relevance of this technique to the
ideas? What is the relevance to the audience and author
purpose? What is the relevance to you as a reader
(personal response)?
 Your turn
I want you to annotate the Excellence exemplar you have.
Identify all four parts of the paragraph and label them.
It could be a good idea to colour code each section of the
writing to make it easier for you to see what each of these
sections looks like.
We are doing this so that you can know for yourself what a
well written paragraph looks like. When you write, I will be
asking you to point out where all four sections are in each
paragraph.
 Essay writing
Over the course of the next couple of days we are going to work towards
producing your first two essay paragraphs of the year.
This will involve you selecting an essay topic from a list, planning your
writing and then completing the writing.
It is important that you plan your writing because you need to make sure
you are considering all four elements of the paragraph. You also need to
make sure that you can find enough evidence to support each point that
you are making.
Before you start writing your paragraphs you need to show me a completed
plan. If you start writing paragraphs and you haven’t shown me a plan and
then I find you’re writing isn’t well structured, I will tell you to start again.
 Topics
1. Describe at least ONE technique the writer used to present their ideas in EACh text.
Explain why the technique(s) helped the writer to present their ideas in EACh text.
Note: Techniques could include vocabulary, imagery, style, structure, or narrative point-of-view.

2. Describe an idea that interested you in EACH text.

Explain why the idea interested you in EACH text.

3. Describe a powerful moment in EACH text.

Explain why the moment was powerful in EACH text.

4. Describe a memorable setting (time or place) in EACH text.

Explain why the setting was memorable in EACH text.

5. Describe a character or individual who surprised you in EACH text.

Explain why the character or individual was surprising in EACH text.

6. Describe at least ONE vivid detail or description in EACH text.

Explain why the vivid detail or description was effective in EACH text.