Unit 1 Exam Revision.

LO: To respond to the ‘Of Mice and Men’ question.

Context…

• What do you remember about the context of the book?

• Who was is written by?

• When was it written?

• Where was it set?

• What was going on at the time?

A very brief context…

• Written by John Steinbeck

• Published in 1937

• Set in California

• The Great Depression was a strong influence on the novella, there had been a financial collapse in 1929, coupled with dry summers and drought, meaning that many people had to travel around looking for seasonal work on ranches.

Part A – From the extract.

Part B – The whole text and the wider context.

What if… I run out of points about the question?

• As we’ve said, have 4-6 points/key words/quotations in mind.

• If you run out, then try to show your knowledge of the text as a whole.

• Add extra bonus exam material, for example; if you have exhausted your comments about Crooks, then mention Slim or Candy and the dynamic between them and Crooks. It shows knowledge of Crooks AND of the text as a whole.

• The key to this exam is to keep writing, squeeze all your knowledge in even if you’re not entirely sure that it fits the question perfectly. Examiners are not looking for a perfectly formed essay, they’re looking for imaginative interpretations and risk takers. So if you run out of stuff to say, squish your extra knowledge in.

What if… I run out of time?

• Always offer a conclusion that refers back to the question, don’t let it seem unfinished.

• Don’t be afraid to use more than one quotation in a paragraph if you’re running out of time.

• Check you’ve hit AO4 – context… if you haven’t, use your conclusion for this.

• Check you’ve answered the question with what you have.

Remember…

• Plan!

• Aim for around 2/3 points per part.

• Use quotations to your advantage (from the WHOLE book)

• Don’t be afraid to use more than one quotation per paragraph.

• Show your understanding of CONTEXT.

• Be imaginative and original.

• Focus on the question (both parts!)

Step 1…

Go through the extract and highlight the best quotations.

Then, choose three of them, write them out and make brief notes next to them.

Try to get three different presentations of the relationship..

‘He used a deliberate, thoughtful, slowness.’

‘reached for a face card and studied it, then turned it upside down and

studied it.’

‘George, why is it both ends the same?’

‘I don’t know’ said George. ‘That’s jus’ the way they make ‘em.’

Other key phrases

Step 2

Go through the book, write down 3 quotations from elsewhere in the book to show how

Lennie and George’s relationship reflects the society…

Meeting the boss – how unusual their relationship is.

Talking to Slim – finding comfort in each other

Talking to Crooks – Loneliness

Lennie and Curley’s Wife – his trust in George

The ending – how it reflects ‘cruel to be kind’

Title: Of Mice and Men Revision

LO: To develop confidence with the requirements of Part A and Part B

What are our main presentations of…?

Candy

Write down three ‘presentations’ we get of Candy

throughout the book.

What are our main presentations of…?

Crooks

Write down three ‘presentations’ we get of

Crooks throughout the book.

What are our main presentations of…?

Curley

Write down three ‘presentations’ we get of Curley

throughout the book.

What are our main presentations of…?

George

Write down three ‘presentations’ we get of

George throughout the book.

Read back the extract and paragraph that you wrote yesterday.

• What were your ‘other quotations’?

• How would you link in context?

Let’s choose a quotation FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE NOVELLA and

write a PEEA paragraph together…

• In this extract/chapter, Steinbeck presents the relationship as as…

• This is particularly notable when…

• This implies that…

• The use of the phrase…

• It appears that Steinbeck is suggesting…

• Throughout the novella, we see that…

Structuring our answer…

Introduction…

• A brief overview of society at the time

• Links to the question

• What is the relationship’s role in the novella?

• What IS your understanding of their relationship?

Let’s choose a quotation FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE NOVELLA and

write a PEEA paragraph together…

• In this extract/chapter, Steinbeck presents the relationship as as…

• This is particularly notable when…

• This implies that…

• The use of the phrase…

• It appears that Steinbeck is suggesting…

• Throughout the novella, we see that…

Choose a quotation and write a PEEA paragraph…

• In the passage, Steinbeck presents George and Lennie as…

• This is particularly notable when…

• This implies that…

• The use of the phrase…

• It appears that Steinbeck is suggesting…

• Throughout the novella, we see that…

In our conclusion…

• Is the question answered?

• How can we link in other themes/character/ideas?

• Is AO4 covered?

• What is the strongest presentation of George and Lennie’s relationship?

• What can make yours stand out?

Example 2 • When you get this question – what are you

going to do?

• 5 minute plan – find your three best quotations from the extract and three from elsewhere. Consider how context links in.

• 20 minutes writing about the extract – focus on language, structure and effect.

• 20 minutes writing about the whole text – focus on language, structure, effect and context.

Part A

Use one of the quotations –

What does it tell us?

How is language used?

What is the effect on the reader?

Which are the key words?

Part B

Lives of ranch workers at the time…

• What examples can we think of?

Loneliness, card games, women – cat houses, what is valued? Segregation…

Part B Use a quotation from somewhere else in the book.

• What does it tell us about life at the time?

• How is language used/what does the quotation show?

• Which are the key words?

• What is the effect on the reader?