LibGuides: English Home: English Topics

Plays

Find out about plays as a writing form and some key playwrights studied in school.

Drama Glossary - KET
This glossary combines with high-quality teaching resources to bring the excitement of the theater into the classroom. Teachers and students can use the definitions and word wall printouts below to better speak the language of the stage.

Year 7 & 8 Topic Guide: Shakespeare
by Bronwen Duffield Last Updated May 7, 2020 66 views this year

Poetry

Discover key terms and resources for poetry.

Glossary of poetic terms - Poetry Foundation
A comprehensive list of poetic terminology from Poetry Foundation.
Glossary of poetic terms - Poets.org
Key terminology from poets.org.

Poetry Foundation
A wealth of resources about poetry, including poems, biographies of poets, articles and other learning opportunities.
The Poetry Society
The Poetry Society was founded in 1909 to promote “a more general recognition and appreciation of poetry”. Since then, it has grown into one of Britain’s most dynamic arts organisations, representing British poetry both nationally and internationally. Today it has more than 5,000 members worldwide and publishes The Poetry Review.
National Poetry Library
The UK National Poetry Library is based on the Southbank in London. It provides information on poetry and access to some of the libraries collections through their website.
Poetry Archive
We care for and preserve these uniquely valuable voices, which might otherwise be lost, so that future generations can continue to enjoy them. We make our own recordings and poets also donate copies of their own archives to us so we can look after them in the long term. Hearing how a poet speaks their own poems brings us a deeper level of understanding and enjoyment of the work and provides a rich resource for poetry lovers, explorers, teachers and students of all ages. We have a fundamental belief that poetry is for everyone so, as a charity, the funds we raise are used to record new poets and keep sharing these wonderful collections free-of-charge with you.

Persuasion & Discussion

BrainPop - Debate
Want to learn how to win debates? No need to answer--that’s a rhetorical question. In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby (and Tim's clone) discuss rhetoric, the art of arguing.
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Logical arguments are just the start--see how public speaking skills and charisma are also essential to debate success. Explore time-tested strategies used by ancient Greeks and modern students alike, from rhetorical devices to appealing to the audience's emotions. It's not just what you say, but also how you say it! This speaking and listening video examines the skills and strategies of rhetoric in debates, from logical arguments to rhetorical devices.
BrainPop - Fact & Opinion
How can we separate what’s true from what someone thinks is true? How do you know whether someone is giving you solid information, or whether they’re trying to persuade you to embrace a point of view? Well, in this movie on fact and opinion, Tim and Moby break down the distinctions between these two important concepts.
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You’ll learn that facts are supported by evidence that everyone can agree on, while opinions are based on personal beliefs and judgments. You’ll also learn the difference between an informed opinion and an uninformed one, and how bias can blur the line between truth and fiction. So click on this movie--we promise, it’s thoroughly grounded in fact!
BrainPop - Public Speaking
Everyone gets nervous sometimes! In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will help you calm the jitters as you find out how to prepare for public speaking.
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In learning the four steps to giving a great report or presentation, you’ll discover things like how note cards can be useful; why you should make eye contact with your audience; why speaking clearly is important; how you might have to change your normal speech patterns; and what good facial expression can do. Plus, check out how visual aids can help you get your point across and see what you can do right before and during the beginning of your speech. Remember: practice makes perfect!

Introducing Persuasion by Anthony McLean
Call Number: 153.852 MCL
ISBN: 9781848317222
Publication Date: 2014-10-02
Introducing Persuasion uses psychology, expert advice and practical techniques to teach you how to influence the people around you in an ethical way. INCREASE YOUR PRESENCE by knowing when to talk and when to listenDEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS by preparing, planning and crafting opportunitiesSAVE TIME AND EFFORT by presenting the right content in the right context MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN by understanding what drives your audience
Developing Writers of Argument by Michael W. Smith; Jon-Philip Imbrenda
Call Number: 372.62 SMI
ISBN: 9781506354330
Publication Date: 2018-02-06
Better Arguments Make Better Students -- and Better CitizensThe ability to make effective arguments is not only necessary in students' academic lives, it's a transferable skill essential to students' future success as critical thinkers and contributing members of society. But how do we engage students and ensure they understand argument writing's fundamental components? Michael Smith′s book Developing Argument Writers, shows the way, with ready-to-implement lessons that make argument writing topical and relevant. Students form arguments about subjects of interest,and then reflect on the arguments' organization, giving them reusable structural models. Complete with guidance on applying the lessons' techniques in a unit-wide context, Developing Writers of Argument offers a practical approach for instructing in this crucial aspect of students' development.