A Power Point Introduction to Techniques and Devices and how to use them to analyse a text

As English teachers we know students often fall into a description of a text, as opposed to an analysis which often ends up capping their response in the C range. This Power Point focuses on the HOW of a question by teaching students HOW to explain the ways in which a specific text has shaped its meaning. As such this PowerPoint is designed for both teachers and students and while being aimed at a Stage 5/6 audience, students in earlier Stages could definitely benefit. It is intended that teachers use the resource as a series of lessons where they simply move through the power point as the each lesson progresses, this making it effective for relief teachers by simply picking being able to up from where the classroom teacher finished in the previous lesson. Depending on the length of your lessons there is probably a 3 week resource here which covers the mechanics of analysis as well as providing links to technique and device glossaries which are intended to further develop the students’ visual and literary analysis; these of course are just recommendations and should be used at the discretion of the teacher. The PPT also includes several practice questions and longer responses, along with a marking criteria, which are intended to test students’ knowledge and understanding of textual analysis as they learn, this makes for effecting teaching and learning as the teacher is then able to gauge student knowledge and difficulties at each stage. In addition to this there are also worked examples included in the longer response to assist students as to how to begin their analysis. Analysis sheets are also included and should be downloaded and given to students as a means of starting the process of analysis, so as students will build on their knowledge by using the additional resources and practices included in the power point. This offers a great way to break down analysis and from my own experience has proved highly effective in shaping analytical responses.