Tackling unseen poems can be uncomfortable and difficult. A simple acronym like ‘SMILE’ can help approach analysing a poem by focusing on the important aspects of a poem. Each letter stands for a separate poetic element, namely: structure, meaning, imagery, language and effect, which will be intr...

Using the ‘SMILE’ analysis this lesson will look at how to tackle an unseen poem, with close reference to ‘homage to my hips’ by Lucile Clifton. This poem is an empowering celebration of womanhood, whereby the speaker defies traditional beauty standards that demand women to be ‘fit’ and thin.

Direct and indirect speech is what we use to talk about what someone has said. This can be done by repeating the exact words spoken (direct speech) or by reporting the words spoken (indirect speech). In this lesson, we will look at the difference between the two and look at a few rules to help co...

Active and passive voice looks at the form of the verb that indicates whether the subject performs the action or is the receiver of the action. In this lesson, we will look at the difference between active and passive voice and look at steps that help us change active to passive voice and vice ve...

Visual literacy requires learners to make meaning from images. This lesson, we will focus on cartoons, and look at the language devices used to create deeper meaning such as humour, satire, wit or even irony, in order to develop learners’ critical skills.

Descriptive writing involves paying close attention to the details by using all of your five senses, in order to make your essay more interesting and engaging. In this lesson we will use our five senses to develop a descriptive piece.

Peel paragraph is a method used for writing literature paragraphs, in order to help structure paragraphs in a way that presents a single, clear and focused argument. It ensures that every point/argument presented is followed by evidence, analysis and conclusion.

This genre requires learners to analyse both sides of an argument in order to choose one stance and use evidence/ facts, in an attempt to persuade the reader. In this lesson we will look at how to formulate an argumentative essay by following a structure that includes: an introductory paragraph, ...

Preposition is a word or group of words that are used before a noun, pronoun or even a noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location and relationships. In this lesson, we will look at the different types of prepositions and look at ways in which to use them correctly.

Figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a figurative meaning, instead of a literal one. This lesson, we will look at the ‘shampoo’ figures of speech, which are: simile, hyperbole, apostrophe, metaphor, personification, oxymoron and onomatopoeia