English Literature Macbeth Revision task

Thinking of the 'Combination drawing' game, I wanted to try and create an equivalent with GCSE English Literature revision in mind. Click on the image below for a copy of this resource. 

Instructions:

Students create their own exam style question for (AQA) Macbeth. They write down their names and fold/glue the AO1 question in order to keep it covered. Students then pass on the folded AO1 section to a different student in the class.

Student B has to write down everything they can remember about Macbeth for AO2 (quotes, events and analysis) and AO3 (context) without looking at the folded mock exam question.

Student C has the joy of revealing what the AO1 mock exam question was (by gently unfolding the AO1 section) and checking if any of the AO2/AO3 information is actually relevant to the essay question.

Purple Pen 
Student C's next task involves using  a copy of Macbeth in order to find relevant quotes for the essay question and relevant contextual information. Student C also has to cross out in purple pen any irrelevant quotes/contextual information. For homework, students have to write up their essay response to the essay question. 

Why did they use this activity?
1. Students understood the importance of using relevant quotes for their chosen exam question.
2. Students considered the importance of using relevant historical, social and political contextual information.
3. Clear formative assessment opportunity for the teacher to gain an insight into their students' knowledge of: the play, quotes and contextual information.
4. It's a kinaesthetic task which involves students moving around and looking forward to discovering what their question was all along.

The way forward? 
Next time, I'll add an extract to the AO1 section as it was quite difficult for them to formulate a question without the extract in front of them. However, for Set 1, not having the extract meant that students could decide (using purple pen) on the best extract for their question.

Book Check

Book Checks are aimed at considering the quality of teacher marking/feedback and the level of progress over time. In particular, we use Purple Pen time to allow students to work on their target areas for improvement.


Some students need to recognise that their books are a representation of their potential target grades and areas of strength. Before Parents' Evening, most students decide to complete their work a little bit neater or to give that extra 10% effort but by then it's usually too late. Students need to consider the quality of their notes and their presentation standards every lesson (and for their homework too).


Thinking in respect of ways to communicate the importance of their Purple Pen work and presentation, I've decided to use the following sticker to award students with a pride number...5 being the best! Let's see if it improves the level of care shown towards their books.

#markingdirt

Dirt stands for:

• Directed/dedicated 
• Improvement/Independent
• Reflection 
• Time

We very much value our students completing their D.I.R.T work (as a result of good marking).

However,there's another area we could improve on:

The marking of our students' D.I.R.T responses.

 I believe that it's important to promote student self-reflection and peer assessment as it goes along with the cherished motto of: brain, book, buddy and boss.

As a result, I've created a D.I.R.T marking sticker/hand-out for my students. It's still in its draft stage and I intend to gather feedback on how best to adapt it for my students' learning.

It's a D.I.R.T Check up:

It encourages the student to evaluate their D.I.R.T effort and level of understanding for the D.I.R.T task as some students don't actually understand what the D.I.R.T task is or how completion of the DIRT would develop their learning. By ensuring that the students are able to answer the why questions (what's the point of completing this D.I.R.T task?) we're one step closer towards a higher standard of progress.

Feel free to download your own copy, of the D.I.R.T check up, here!