Of Mice and Men

Exam PreparationLesson 1

WARNING: MOCK EXAM W/B 11th

MarchInspector Calls and Of

Mice and Men

Your GCSE Assessment

English

Unit One: •Understanding and producing Non-Fiction Texts

Unit Two:•Speaking and Listening

Unit Three:•Controlled Assessments

Literature

Unit One:•Of Mice and Men•An Inspector Calls

Unit Two•Relationships Poetry•Unseen Poem

Unit Three•Controlled Assessment

23rd May

20th May4th June

Your GCSE Assessment

English

Unit One: •Understanding and producing Non-Fiction Texts

Unit Two:•Speaking and Listening

Unit Three:•Controlled Assessments

Literature

Unit One:•Of Mice and Men•An Inspector Calls

Unit Two•Relationships Poetry•Unseen Poem

Unit Three•Controlled Assessment

23rd May

20th May4th June

Week Beginning What We’ll Do Which Exam?

25th Feb Of Mice and Men Literature

4th March Of Mice and Men Literature

11th March Of Mice and MenInc Mock Exam

Literature

18th March English Unit One A English

25th March English Unit One A English

1st April EASTER

8th April EASTER

15th April English Unit One B English

22nd April English Unit One B English

29th April Poetry Anthology Literature

6th May (Mon = BH) Poetry Anthology Literature

13th May Unseen Poetry Literature

Literature: Unit 1 20th May, Unit 2 23rd MayEnglish: Unit 1 4th June

Let’s Start With OM&M…

• Your English Literature exam is on Monday 20th May

• It is 1 hour 30 minutes long• 45 minutes is spent answering ONE

question on ‘Of Mice and Men’ this is one question separated into two sections. You need to answer BOTH sections – it’s worth 20%)

(The other 45 minutes is spent on ‘An Inspector Calls’ – worth 20%)

Of Mice and Men Task FrenzyRules:1.You work for 5 minutes per task only – so you have to go fast! Do not dawdle! 2.You CO-WRITE! One person speaks, the other writes. Keep swapping if you both have ideas. Do not allow one person to think and write while the other person chills!3.Use any paper but DO NOT write on the original!

‘Of Mice and Men’ A – Z activity

• Complete the alphabet task with words you associate with the novel. How many letters can you complete in 5 minutes? Some ideas to get you started …

• A = American Dream

• B = Brush• C = Curley’s Wife

2. Animal imagery hypothesis – (Why does Steinbeck use animal imagery?)

?

1. For each animal, explain its significance, role or relevance to OM&M. Think of another significant animal and explain it too…

The American Dream • You can be successful if you work hard and

live morally.• America is the land of opportunity.• Freedom to work hard and be happy is

enshrined in the Constitution.• The Dream assumes equality of opportunity,

no discrimination, freedom to follow goals and freedom from victimization.

• From the 17th Century onwards, immigrants have dreamed of a better life in America.

• Many people immigrated to America in search of a new life for themselves or their families.

Write about 3 examples from the novel to show that Steinbeck is using the novel to explore dreams and reality. 1.State the example2.Write how it helps to explore dreams and reality.

Is Curley’s wife presented in a negative or positive way after her death?

1. Read the extract carefully.

2. List:•Positive words that are used to describe her•Negative words that are used to describe her•Any use of colour•Any words or phrases that could link to the key themes of the novel•Any references to her thoughts and feelings

3. COMPLETE IN SIX SENTENCES: Do you believe Steinbeck presents Curley’s wife in

a sympathetic way or not?

Based on your reading and understanding of the text you need to make a decision. However, you need to be able to support your ideas with textual evidence from the

novel.

To write a successful response you need to:

•Have a clear opinion•Have textual evidence (quotes) from the text to support your opinion•Make references to the different techniques the writer uses (e.g. description, use of colour, imagery, sentence length)

Curley’s wife lay with a half-covering of hay. And the meanness and plannings and the discontent

and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and

reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips

were parted.

As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement

stopped for much, much more than a moment.

1. Arrange these events in chronological order in which they happen in the book

2. Arrange them in order of importance to the novel’s effectiveness

3. Group them in terms of what ideas or themes they help to explore

“Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture.”

• Explain the meaning of this quote, and put it in context

(explain where it is in the novel and what is happening)• Explain the significance of it (Why is it important? What does

it show?) • Discuss the specific language choices made by Steinbeck

(pick out the most interesting word/s and explain your choice)

Write your answers to these questions in a PEE paragraph, in full prose, in the style of an exam response

This student has answered the following question with a great point but no examples or explanations. Fail!

1. Help them out by adding the EE to their P:

‘Soledad’ is Spanish for loneliness. Why do you think Steinbeck chose this setting?

Steinbeck chose ‘Soledad’ because it reflects the loneliness of the characters and of the whole country at the time the novel is set.

For example, the character…

Also, the time in which it was set could be considered lonely because…

P

E

E

Some readers feel that Of Mice and Men is so balanced and thoughtful in structure that the novel is a work of art. Other readers feel that the structure makes the book predictable, taking away from the reader's interest.

Evidence to suggest that the novel is balanced and structured – a work

of art?

Structure makes the book predictable and uninteresting?