Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences
The prescribed text for the Common Module is:
Billy Elliot film by Stephen Daldry 2000
The prescribed text for Module A is:
Shafana and Aunt Sarrinah: A Soft Revolution drama by Alana Valentine 2010
The prescribed text for Module B is:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
The prescribed texts for CoW are...? Note: Authors must be named
'The Pedestrian' by Ray Bradbury and 'The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination' by JK Rowling
What is a metaphor?
a figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as.
What is the context of the film Billy Elliot?
Set in Durham, England during the year long miner’s strike against the Thatcher government.
Identify two examples of symbolism from Shafana and Aunt Sarrinah: A Soft Revolution.
tubeworms, cooking, kitchen, hijab, who weekly
What genre is your Module B text?
What is discursive writing?
Texts whose primary focus is to explore an idea or variety of topics. These texts involve the discussion of an idea(s) or opinion(s) without the direct intention of persuading the reader, listener or viewer to adopt any single point of view.
“As white as a ghost” is an example of…
Simile
Name seven human experiences represented in Billy Elliot.
Grief and Loss, Communities in Crisis, Conflict, Family Dynamics, Love & Security, Anger, Homosexuality (other answers can be accepted if relevant)
Provide a quote from the set text that reflects the importance of cultural identity.
Student’s personal response.
Name 3 distinct qualities of your Module B text
What is the purpose of each prescribed text for Mod C?
Open to student responses
What is a hyperbole? Provide an example
A figure of speech in which a composer purposely and obviously exaggerates to an extreme.
Student response
What is a paradox in relation to human behaviour?
Behaviours which conflict with human motivations.
What are two settings in the text and why are they significant?
University lab - education, change, power of women
Kitchen - cultural connections to cooking, belonging, women's domain
Other answers may be accepted if relevant
Summarise the entire plot of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows the story of Christopher Boone, a 15 year old, who is exceptional at Maths but finds people confusing. The play opens with Christopher discovering a dead dog in his neighbour, Mrs Shears', garden. Despite his father, Ed, warning Christopher not to get involved, Christopher decides to investigate the death of the dog. In doing so he discovers that his mother is not dead as his father had told him, but alive and well, living in London. He also discovers that it was his father who killed the dog.
Christopher feels that his father is a murderer, who he cannot trust. He can no longer live with him and so he bravely travels to London to find his mother. Christopher has difficulty settling into his new life in London and returns to Swindon to take his A-level Maths exam. The play ends with him passing the exam and the realisation that he can do anything he puts his mind to.
Identify the text type for each of your prescribed texts.
'The Pedestrian' - Prose Fiction
'Fringe Benefits' - Speech
Define juxtaposition and provide an example
Student response
Identify a piece of evidence from the set text that helps to convey your understanding of the human experience. Share the evidence and discuss its meaning.
Student’s personal response.
How is the theme of stereotypes and prejudice prevalent in the study of this text?
The text aims to break stereotypes by presenting the different ways that Muslim people can connect with their cultural identity. It also aims to highlight the experiences of prejudice faced within and outside of Muslim culture.
Provide a quote from your Module B text, provide a quote and analyse its meaning
Student's personal response.
What is the structure of a reflective writing response?
Intro
Body paragraphs (What? So what? Now what?)
Conclusion
What is anaphora? Provide an example
anaphora is a rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis
Student response