English Department

Year 7 Handbook

Set Texts

Myths and Legends: extracts

The Breadwinner: Novel

Intro to Poetry

The Tempest: Shakespeare

Boy: Autobiography

Spoken Language

Welcome to Year 7 English at Compass

School Southwark!

During Key Stage 3, we study a wide variety of literature and

language texts to prepare you for your GCSEs.

Year 7 is all about providing a challenging curriculum to build a

foundation and promote a love for learning.

Half-term 1 Half-term 2 Myths and Legends

What skills do I need to be successful in English?

Students will begin this unit learning about life in Ancient Greece, philosophy and the purpose

of myths. They will then study a number of different myths, all the while considering

philosophical questions about life.

They will be assessed on their creative writing skills which are integrated throughout the unit. Writing: Writing to describe

The Breadwinner (novel) How has the role of women changed

throughout history and do things still need to change?

Students are transported to war-torn

Afghanistan to meet Parvana, a young girl who must struggle to survive in a man’s world.

Students will be encouraged to link the events in the novel to events that they are familiar with and will be encouraged to speak about real-world issues. Students will continue to

develop their understanding of using PEAL to respond to texts.

Assessment: Language Writing: Writing to describe

Half-term 3 Half-term 4 Introduction to Poetry

Why do we read poetry?

Students will be introduced to a range of poetry

– from modern to heritage. They will engage with the poems in a number of creative ways in

order to fully understand and analyse them. Students will also be encouraged to consider

the purpose of poetry and will also write some of their own creations.

Writing: Writing to persuade

Romeo and Juliet What was the Shakespearean era like?

Students will be introduced to Shakespearean language. They will engage with a number of

scenes from the famous play, Romeo and Juliet, and consider creative ways to analyse the

language. They will even begin to memorise quotes from the play. Finally, students will also

write persuasive pieces.

Writing: Writing to persuade

Half-term 5 Half-term 6 Boy by Roald Dahl

Are autobiographies still relevant in today’s

world of social media?

Students will consider what an autobiography

is and why they are written before moving on

to read Roald Dahl’s unique contribution to

the genre.

Students will be encouraged to consider

aspects of language and structure in relation

to characterisation in order to further build

on the skills they have been developing.

Writing: Writing to argue

Spoken Language

Can speeches change the world?

Students will study a number of influential

speeches, from Martin Luther King to Malala

Yousafzai, and even speeches taken from

well-known movies. They will consider what

makes an effective speech, learning how to

analyse persuasive features. Students will

then use these skills to construct their own

persuasive speeches.

Assessment: Language (reading and writing)

Understanding Assessment Objectives

From the onset of Key Stage 3, Compass School Southwark uses GCSE

Assessment Objectives in order to create continuity between Key Stage 3 and 4

and too clearly identify your progress.

GCSEs are marked using Assessment Objectives set out by the exam board

(AOs). It is important that you understand the AOs and the Year 7 targets for

these, so you can make sure you are meeting all of them in your work.

English Language Assessment Objectives

AO1: identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and idea. Select and synthesise evidence

from different texts

AO2: Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and

influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views

AO3: Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or

more texts

AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references

AO5: Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and

register for different forms, purposes and audiences. Organise information and ideas, using structural

and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts

AO6: Candidates must use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and

effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. (This requirement must constitute 20% of the marks

for each specification as a whole.)

English Literature Assessment Objectives

AO1: Read, understand and respond to texts. Students should be able to:

- maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response

- use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.

AO2: Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using

relevant subject terminology where appropriate.

AO3: Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were

written.

AO4: Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate

spelling and punctuation.

Half-term 1: Myths and Legends

Summary: Students will be introduced to the origins of storytelling through the stories of the Greek

Gods and Goddesses. They will consider some of the ‘big ideas’: morality, immorality, crime and

punishment, all while building the key skills needed to be successful in English.

Assessment:

Myths and Legends Key Words and Spellings

Please add your own as we read.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Mythology Morality Anxiety Prophecy Herculean

Ancient Dubious Vengeance Oracle Hamartia Philosophy Immoral Elysium Destiny Hubris Established Academic Justification Fulfilling Discord Empathised Annotate Committing Oedipus Resolve

Creation Evidence Punishment Terminology Pursuit Archetypes Theme Dishonour Satisfying Implies

Chronic Chronological Sisyphean Chorus Implication Analysis Allusion Tantalising Socratic Consequences

Connotation Purpose Subordinate Judgement Odysseus Quotation Technique Clause Analytical Interpretation

Kronos Descriptive Construction Forewarning Presentation Gaea Pandora Demeter Prophet Resolution

Uranus Epimetheus Persephone Premonition Determination Zeus Curiosity Mythological Portent Extraordinary

Half-term 2: The Breadwinner

Summary:

Our second scheme of work is centred on

the moving story of Parvana in Deborah

Ellis’ The Breadwinner. Students are

encouraged to explore the context of the

novel as well as analyse the language

methods in their new-found PEAL format.

In addition to analysing language, they

will practise their descriptive writing.

They are assessed both on their ability to

analyse a short passage and on

descriptive work.

Sample Assessment

The Breadwinner Key Words and Spellings

Please add your own as we read.

Half-term 3: Introduction to Poetry

The Breadwinner Spelling Lists

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Afghanistan Parvana Jealous Features Tension

Taliban Nooria Friendship Conventions Punishment Country Dominate Loyalty Emotive Corporal

Bias Sympathy Bravery Caption Soldier Stereotype Sympathetic Courageous Article Debate

Reversal Provider Daring Statistics Penalty Subvert Burden Resolute Opinion Discussion Bravery Shoulder Determined Alliteration Argument

Responsible Courage Patriarchal Hyperbole Consideration Responsibility Gender Matriarchal Exaggeration Acknowledge

Summary

This scheme of work introduces students to a wide range of poems. We aim to

familiarise students with poetic devices and provide them with the tools to

analyse poetry. The assessment focuses on writing a full essay in response to

an unseen poem.

Sample Assessment

Introduction to Poetry Key Words and Spellings

Please add your own as we read.

__________________

_

Intro to Poetry Spellings

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Introduction Rhyming Annotate Analyse Symbolism Alliteration Pattern Personification Punctuation Hyperbole Explanation Technique Stanza Describe Imagery

Simile Quotation Poet Powerful Develop Poem Viewpoint Identity Implies Analyse

Rhythm Repetition Onomatopoeia Impact Diadem Comparison Couplet Evidence Language Vexed

Effect Structure Purpose Connotation Monster Discussion Poetry Metaphor Convey Whisper

Interpretation Scheme Quality Reader Prowled

Half-term 4: Romeo & Juliet

Summary

This scheme of work introduces students to

one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Our

Year 7s are encouraged to familiarise

themselves with the language of the time by

reading and then writing modern translations

of the text. With so many of our words in the

English language invented by Shakespeare, it is

essential that students understand his import

on the canon. Finally, this unit will serve as a

springboard for further reading of

Shakespeare.

Sample Assessment

Romeo and Juliet Key Words and Spellings

Please add your own as we read.

Half-term 5: Boy

Romeo and Juliet Spelling Lists

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4 List 5 Romeo Status Tempestuously Authority Costume Juliet Unrequited Element Thou Props

Montague Submissive Elizabethan Destiny Description Capulet Opportunity Playwright Blasphemous Dialogue Tybalt Relationship Protagonist Insolent Persuade

Prologue Dominant Fate Hence Creature Sonnet Weakness Dramatic Irony Pilgrim Heavens

Shakespeare Rosaline Sword Feud Iambic Foreshadowing Opportunistic Friar Lawrence Scenery Pentameter

Performance Apothecary Prejudice Stage Hail

Summary:

Our scheme of work on Boy, by Roald Dahl, focuses

on the genre of autobiography and allows our

students to gain an appreciation for non-fiction texts.

Based on the life of famous author Roald Dahl, who

many students will have read in primary school, Boy

explores a range of themes that continue to be

relevant today. By the end of this unit, students will

be able to write their own narratives using dialogue

and anecdotes, as well as analyse Dahl’s use of

language.

Sample Assessment

BOY Key Words and Spellings

Please add your own as we read.

Half-term 6: Spoken Language

Boy by Roald Dahl - Spelling Lists

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4 List 5 ambitious jaunty victim Mr Coombes holiday

tremendous bizarre treasure sidle details excruciating linger mouse riveted destination

harbour baffle Mrs Pratchett exhort outrage overwhelmed loathsome liquorice reluctant traveller

grief troop anecdote Norway onomatopoeia catastrophe prise feature idyllic corporeal

autobiography strive triumph dauntless punishment biographical strut smithereens raucous debate

narrative victor perch ancient metaphor

Summary:

Our final scheme of work focuses on

cementing the various skills students have

been taught over the course of Year 7.

Students will analyse famous speeches and

write their own. They will focus on improve

their use of persuasive methods. By the

end of this unit, students should feel

comfortable responding to several

Language questions and have had the

opportunity to present speeches to the

class.

Sample Assessment

Spoken Language Key Words and Spellings

Please add your own as we read.

Speech Spelling Lists

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4 Abolitionist Activist Rhetoric Anecdote

Pioneers Injured Emotive Language Elegant Frontier Dignity Healthy Siege Creed Ambition Farewell Gender

Sweltering Culprit Rehearse Especially Despair Obesity Statistic Stretch

Symphony Dietary Calorie Persecute

Persuade Rhetorical Question Susceptible Corruption Alliteration Address Habit Inspire Repetition Audience Illiteracy Empower

Sample Y7 PEAL writing

Sample Y7 Persuasive writing

Sample Y7 Persuasive writing

Sample Y7 PEAL writing

Further Reading and Support

Support:

www.nofearshakespeare

www.bbc.com/education

Year 7 Reccomended Reading:

Adventure

Stormbreaker / Anthony Horowitz

Swallows & Amazons / Arthur Ransome

Lion Boy / Zouzou Corder

Cold Tom / Sally Prue

Troy / Adele Gèras

The Thief Lord / Cornelia Funke

The Moon Riders / Theresa Tomlinson

Alpha Force Series / Chris Ryan

Classics

Little Women / Louisa May Alcott

The Secret Garden / Frances Hodgson Burnett

Heidi / Johanna Spyri

Carrie’s War / Nina Bawden

The Lost World / Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Railway Children / Elizabeth Nesbit

The Hobbit / J R R Tolkien

The Water Babies / Charles Kingsley

Black Beauty / Anna Sewell

Ballet Shoes / Noel Streatfield

The Wizard of Oz / Frank Baum

Anne of Green Gables / L.M. Montgomery

Peter Pan / J. M. Barrie

Real Life/Teenage

The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot

Noughts and Crosses / Malorie Blackman

Refugee Boy / Benjamin Zephaniah

Madame Doubtfire / Anne Fine

Plague 99 / Jean Ure

Granny the Pag / Nina Bawden

Step by Wicked Step / Anne Fine

Mates, Dates & Sole Survivors / Cathy Hopkins

Saffy’s Angel / Hilary McKay

Holes / Louis Sachar

Lola Rose / Jacqueline Wilson

Vicky Angel / Jacqueline Wilson

The Story of Tracy Beaker / Jacqueline Wilson

Feeling Sorry for Celia / Jaclyn Moriarty

Fantasy

Moon Riders / Teresa Tomlinson

Northern Lights / Philip Pullman

Stormchasers / Stewart & Riddell

Redwall / Brian Jacques

The Hobbit / JRR Tolkien

The Earthsea Quartet / Ursula Le Guin

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase / Joan Aiken

Stravaganza: City of Masks / Mary Hoffman

Inkheart / Cornelia Funke

Artemis Fowl / Eoin Colfer

A Series of Unfortunate Events / Lemony

Snicket

The Spiderwick Chronicles / Tony Di Terlizzi &

Holly Black

Cry of the Icemark / Stuart Hill

The Blade of Fire / Stuart Hill

The Wind of Fire Trilogy / William Nicholson

Harry Potter / J.K. Rowling

Narnia / C.S. Lewis

Watership Down / Richard Adams

The Named / Marianne Curley

The Edge Chronicles / Stewart & Riddell

Biography/Autobiography

Diary of Anne Frank

A Child Called ‘It’ / David Pelzer

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit / Judith Kerr

Chinese Cinderella / Adeline Yen Mah

My Family & Other Animals / Gerald Durrell

All Creatures Great and Small / James Herriot

Science-Fiction

The Day of the Triffids / John Wyndham

Plague 99 / Jean Ure

History

Goodnight Mr Tom / Michelle Magorian

(WWII)

The Wheel of Surya / Jamila Gavin

(Indian independence)

Kiss the Dust / Elizabeth Laird

(Kurdishrefugees)

Roman Mysteries / Caroline Lawrence

Sweet Clarinet etc / James Riordan (WWII)

The Silver Sword / Ian Serraillier

Carrie’s War / Nina Bawden