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Extended Reading Controlled Assessment(GCSE English Language: 15% of coursework)

Consider Steinbecks presentation of Crooks in Of Mice and Men1

3The assessment title: Consider Steinbecks presentation of Crooks in Of Mice and MenFocus on section 4Explore the different ways Steinbeck reveals his character through close analysis of descriptive language, plot and dialogueShow the significance of Crooks to the themes of the novel and how Steinbeck uses him to present ideas about society

1200 words over 3 hours (minimum) to 4 hours (maximum)As you write you have ONLY your notes page (see next slide) and your blank copy of the text. YOU CANNOT HAVE ANY ANNOTATIONS IN YOUR BOOK (that includes no post-its with notes on). 30 marks 15% of total Language GCSE(Coursework accounts for 40% of your Language GCSE see the table in the front of your book)The notes page to be done 28/1, in classYou do this, quietly, in class, in one lesson.You need to transfer any information you have in your exercise book or from other notes onto this sheet. One side of A4 onlyNo complete sentences notes only or you have to do it again.Note on content of IntroKey areas, prioritised refs to pages for evidenceNote on content of ConclusionNo complete quotes note down page number s and the openings to quotes. Eg: loneliness: pg 105 A guy.../pg 108 How would...Make a note of any terms you need to use, eg cyclic, symbol, semantic field, adverb, elision, double negatives, dialect... Properly spelt!You have this notes page and the text when writing. It MUST stay in school. You may add notes to it (from your head) as you work.

Remember you need 60% or more of marks to stay on track for a grade C, i.e. 18 out of 30... Thats top of Band 3/Band 4. Look what you need to do... Some tips... 1Plan the order of your essay and refer back to it tick off areas as you go. Remember to use paragraphs and to signpost sections so your reader knows where they are in your essay. You are given credit for clarity of expression and a well-structured essay.

Dont start with In this essay...! Instead, make a statement on why YOU think Steinbeck included the character of Crooks in his novella. This has to be YOUR own view, your own opening. The main part of your essay will then be you providing evidence for your view.

Dont fall into retelling the story - everyone knows it and youll get no marks for it! Be analytical.

Stay formal: no slang and avoid contractions (isnt, hes)

You need about 5 key points/areas of discussion. Prioritise these as you think best. For each section, have a short introduction Eg One way Steinbeck .... or The first aspect of Crooks character Steinbeck explores is... End each section with a short summary, then move on. Some tips... 2You need PQEE make a point about Steinbecks presentation of Crooks and/or his purpose, find the best quote(s) then analyse the language closely. Use terms where you can (dialect, elision, symbolism, semantic field, associations...) Sort, embedded quotes are best if your quotes are too long you lose focus on the detail. You can underline words you want to pick out. You can quote one word (e.g. adverbs, words linked by a semantic field). The rule is, write a lot on a little rather than skim lots of ideas the examiners want close, thoughtful analysis. Remember are you being shallow, deep... Or PROFOUND?

Focus on Steinbeck and his craft he created Crooks character. Look over your page every so often: can you see Steinbeck or The writer dotted over the page? (Dont call him John and dont overuse his name!)

Finish with a conclusion where you evaluate sensibly the presentation of the character (not Steinbeck is a genius.! )Some of the ways a character can be presented:

How a character is named (is the name meaningful?)What the character looks likeTheir environmentWhat the character does; their actions and motivesWhat the character says (dialogue) and thinksHow the character speaks, including their speech habitsWhat others say and think about the characterWho they connect with/their relationships with othersCharacterisationA character can also be a mouthpiece for a writer - conveying his ideas to the reader from within the text, commenting on themes9Some of the ways a character can be presented:

How a character is named (is the name meaningful?) how others address himWhat the character looks likeTheir environment (his room)What the character does; their actions and motivesWhat the character says (dialogue) and thinksHow the character speaks, including their speech habitsWhat others say and think about the character, how they refer to himWho they connect with/their relationships with othersCharacterisationThis is a show-not-tell technique and is more than simply telling a story. Instead of TELLING us about the character of Crooks, Steinbeck SHOWS us aspects of his character so we can make our own judgement and feel more involved in the plot and the idea of The best laid plans... The fact the story was written in an experimental form, almost as a play, means Steinbeck used a lot of dialogue and we hear Crooks personality and attitudes through his own voice, as a black ranch worker. 10Approaches to your essay...Because the essay is about how Steinbeck presents Crooks, you could work through these different ways of presenting character.

If this feels daunting, you could base it on the structure of the section and refer to Steinbecks methods as you go.

I cannot give you a plan but you might like to consider something like this...

Different ways Steinbeck presents Crookse.g.Steinbeck gives Crooks a section of his own it begins with his name. All the sections open with a description to set the scene but this section is different as it is particular to Crooks. Steinbeck presents Crooks and his circumstances symbolically, through a description of his room and what is in it. Steinbeck structures the plot carefully so this scene can happen... Only Lennie could ask the question which gives Crooks chance to talk about his life... Crooks could only tell Lennie because he knows Lennie doesnt understand (like Curleys wife later confides pointlessly in lennie in section 5)... Lennie is only able to wander in because its Saturday and George is in town... Curleys wife is looking for company because Curley is out... Steinbeck presents Crooks as a bitter, hostile character through the way he behaves and speaks to Lennie the dialogue shows emotionSteinbeck gives Crooks the chance to explain his attitude to others and reveal his unhappiness and fears again, the dialogue is importantSteinbeck shows how vulnerable Crooks and black workers like him were, by bringing in Curleys wife and having her threaten Crooks. Steinbeck uses Crooks as a mouthpiece to comment on the workers hope of a home the theme of the American dream YET even Crooks is temporarily drawn in... Steinbeck gives the section a cyclic structure (like the novel has) to show how Crooks is trapped by his circumstances. Crooks character why is he like this?CrooksConcerned with his rightsLonelyBitter and cynicalCan be cruelPrepared to sacrifice pride in order to surviveCan be kindStill just about capable of hopeIntelligent Proud not a southern negro Suffering from his loneliness its not psychologically healthy to be on your own. Can you find evidence in the text to support these points, then PQEE it?Jealous of Lennie having George as a friendFor highest marks... Write as clearly as you canFocus on SteinbeckUse short, relevant, embedded quotes as evidence and ANALYSE the language, considering its effectUse terms when you canTalk about how Steinbeck presents his concerns through Crooks and what is happening to him. Link Crooks behaviour and circumstances to that of others in the story show how Steinbeck is exploring themes through CrooksDont waste time in lessons arrive on time, stay focused and dont distract othersRevise in between lessons by looking on StudyWiz at these resources (you cant bring in extra notes but you can remember things and add notes to your planning page.)