About this Standards File
This Standards File contains evidence for the following activities:
- Comparative essay – ‘Strange Meeting’ and How I Live Now
- Essay – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Essay – Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
- Discussion – comparing two texts about fathers
- Comparison – ‘Valentine’ and Sonnet 130.
The file exemplifies secure level 7.
Pupil profile
Pupil H is an enthusiastic reader who can engage with a range of texts and offer thoughtful interpretations based on a careful review of aspects of the text. He arrives independently at judgements after critically weighing up evidence and focusing closely on form, purpose and style.
Comparative essay – ‘Strange Meeting’ and How I Live Now
Assessment focuses: AF2, AF3, AF4, AF5, AF6, AF7 Context Pupils read and discussed a range of texts and extracts on the theme of war. Over an extended period they compared, examined and discussed in detail various aspects of the texts, with a focus on how the writers achieved various effects or made an impact on their readers. In this piece, written as part of that process, Pupil H compares the ways in which the enemy is presented in the poem ‘Strange Meeting’ by Wilfred Owen and the novel How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.
Essay – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Assessment focuses: AF2, AF3, AF4, AF5, AF6, AF7 Context Pupils read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. They examined and discussed in class various aspects of the text as they worked through it, and completed the unit of work by writing an overall appraisal of the novel and its appeal. Pupil's work
Essay – Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Assessment focuses: AF2, AF3, AF6, AF7 Context Pupils read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, examining, discussing, annotating and making notes in class on various aspects of the text. This essay was written in response to a specific question set after a discussion of the social and cultural context of the novel. Pupil's work
Discussion - comparing two texts about fathers
Assessment focuses: AF4, AF6
Comparison – ‘Valentine’ and Sonnet 130
Assessment focuses: AF2, AF3, AF4, AF5, AF6, AF7 Context With a view to writing a ‘compare and contrast’ response, pupils read and made notes on the poem ‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy and Sonnet 130 by Shakespeare for homework. As further preparation for the essay, which focused on close reading and interpretation of the two poems, pupils discussed them in class, referring to their notes and adding to them as they chose. Pupil's work
Assessment summary
AF2
Across the range of responses, Pupil H has consistently supported the development of a line of thought by pertinent selection and use of textual references. This frequently involves the apt selection of a number of points that clarify and support the evaluation, for example of the narrator's perspective or of the writer's viewpoint. He has also introduced knowledge from other areas – similar texts, issues of social context – to develop a line of argument.
Overall assessment judgement
Level 7 is awarded for AFs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and level 6 for AF7. This fulfils the minimum requirements for the award of level 7 overall (a minimum of four assessment focuses at level 7). There is some additional evidence of Pupil H beginning to address some of the level 8 criteria for AF2 (across the collection) and AF5 (in the final piece comparing the two poems). On the other hand, such strengths have to be balanced against the award of level 6 – a very secure level 6 and occasionally moving towards level 7 – for AF7.
