GCSE English Literature for OCR.

Jay, Mary

GCSE English Literature for OCR

Student Book

D.C. Coleman et al

Oxford University Press 2010

ISBN 9780198329480

15.00 [pounds sterling] 164 pp

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OCR and Teachit have collaborated to produce this new GCSE English Literature Student Book.

Planned for a specific market of OCR candidates and teachers, this student resource covers the complete syllabus for both Foundation and Higher tiers, providing resources and support for the examination units and controlled assessment.

Four main sections cover the four modules in the syllabus clearly identified with Assessment Objectives and percentage weightings flagged up on the Contents page. The book is addressed to the student audience in a clear and direct manner which is never patronising but encourages students to develop their own critical abilities. Written in language which should engage young people, complex ideas are presented in a non-threatening way e.g. the opening to the poetry section, 'Poetry is like chocolate. It is very rich and intense.'

Key concepts and themes are explained in some detail with linked activities to reinforce ideas.

Each section is supported by sample tasks, student responses and examiner's comments. Threaded throughout the sections are side boxes with examiner's tips and extension activities.

The focal point of each section are the activities which are interactive, lively and varied, e.g. devising spider diagrams, completing grids, making PowerPoint presentations, creating storyboards and re-writing key scenes from literary texts in contemporary language. The poetry section includes an inventive activity which involves annotating masks with key quotations to illustrate shifting tones in a text.

The activities and extension activities aim to give students the confidence to analyse texts thoughtfully and to express personal opinion. The book is in colour and well illustrated, including stills from film and stage productions and graphic illustrations. This Student Book is supported by a Teacher Guide, OCR OxBox and OCR Skills and Practice publication. Although designed for OCR candidates, single copies of the textbook could prove useful to teachers of other specifications as an extra resource.