Securing the transition from KS3 to KS4 under the new National

Curriculum for English

Rationale:

Under the new National Curriculum for Key Stage 3, pupils are now required to read whole novels.

We are looking at how best to prepare pupils for Key Stage 4 under the new GCSE Curriculum in light of the fact that assessment is soon to be linear as opposed to modular and there will be no coursework.

Our idea is to start examining themes of novels in KS3 to build up a broader skillset and contextual knowledge amongst pupils that can inform their study of set texts at GCSE.

KS3 KS4

Othello12 Years a SlaveWhy?

Common Themes

Discuss the role that race plays in Northup’s Twelve Years A Slave. How do the other characters react to Northup’s skin colour/status? How does Northup see himself?

Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello. How do the other characters react to Othello’s skin colour or to the fact that he is a Moor? How does Othello see himself?

Skillset

AOs

KS3 KS4

Othello12 Years a SlaveWhy?

Common Themes

Discuss the role that race plays in Northup’s Twelve Years A Slave. How do the other characters react to Northup’s skin colour/status? How does Northup see himself?

Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello. How do the other characters react to Othello’s skin colour or to the fact that he is a Moor? How does Othello see himself?

Skillset

AOs

Key Stage 3:New Programme of Study

Key Stage 4: New GCSE Specification

12 Years a Slave vs Othello: Common themes

1) Violence2) Race3) Setting4) Gender5) Characterisation6) Tragedy7) Love8) Jealousy

KS3 questions:• Discuss the role that race plays in Northup’s Twelve Years A Slave. How do

the other characters react to Northup’s skin colour/status? How does Northup see himself?

• Discuss the importance of setting in the novel, paying close attention to the particular character of each location and segregation on the plantations.

• Analyse Patsey’s role. To what extent is she merely a passive victim of Edwin Epps, the plantation owner? How does her character change when she is not around Epps?

• Discuss the role of Mary Epps. Does her character change throughout the novel, and if so, how? Do you think that she is aware of her own husband’s brutality?

• How does the character of Patsey compare to female characters in related novels such as The Colour Purple (1982), Oroonoko (1688), and Roots (1976)? What does this suggest about changing perceptions of slavery?

KS4 questions:• Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello. How

do the other characters react to Othello’s skin colour or to the fact that he is a Moor? How does Othello see himself?

• Discuss the importance of setting in the play, paying close attention to physical details that differentiate Venice from Cyprus and that define the particular character of each location as it pertains to the plot of the play.

• Analyse Desdemona’s role. To what extent is she merely a passive victim of Othello’s brutality? How does her character change when she is not with Othello?

• Discuss the role of Emilia. How does her character change during the course of the play? Pay particular attention to moments when Emilia decides to be silent and when she decides to speak. What is the effect of her silence about the handkerchief? Do we forgive this silence when she insists on speaking in spite of Iago’s threats in the final scene?

• How does the character of Desdemona rank among Shakespeare’s characters?

Assessment ObjectivesAO1 Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations.

AO2 Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings.

AO3 Make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating writers’ different ways of expressing meaning and achieving effects.

AO4 Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts; explain how texts have been influential and significant to self and other readers in different contexts and at different times.

Skillset

Thinking creativelyAnalysis

Making links; compare and contrastInferenceDeductionDiscussionEvaluationSynthesis

KS3 KS4

Othello12 Years a SlaveWhy?

Common Themes

Discuss the role that race plays in Northup’s Twelve Years A Slave. How do the other characters react to Northup’s skin colour/status? How does Northup see himself?

Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello. How do the other characters react to Othello’s skin colour or to the fact that he is a Moor? How does Othello see himself?

Skillset

AOs

Securing the transition from KS3 to KS4 under the new National Curriculum for English