At HEMA Tutorial, we pride ourselves on our innovative approach to Key Stage 3 English that incorporates foundational concepts of Key Stage 4 (GCSE). Our aim is to introduce techniques and skills early on that students will find invaluable during their GCSEs. One such technique that we emphasise is the PETER paragraph structure.
PETER stands for Point, Evidence, Technique, Explanation, and Reader's Response.
This is an upgrade from the traditional PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation) or PEAL (Point, Evidence, Analysis, Link) models. By adding the Technique and Reader's Response elements, we align with the AQA exam board's recommended method and criteria, encouraging students to delve deeper into how a text is constructed and its potential impact on a reader.
To demonstrate how we integrate this technique into our teaching, let's explore a captivating extract from a short story recently covereed by our Key Stage 3 students, "The Temple". This narrative involves a woman investigating a mysterious, eerie sound in her garden, providing a perfect opportunity for students to exercise their analytical skills.
Here's a snippet from the story:
"How like a baby's cry, terribly distressing to hear! and the scratching, which came in spasmodic, desperate flurries, was yet more distressing, evoking an obscure horror."
In response to this, one of our Year 8 students might use the PETER paragraph structure to analyse the effect of the simile on the reader as follows:
Point: The author uses the simile "like a baby's cry" to describe the sound.
Evidence: "How like a baby's cry, terribly distressing to hear!"
Technique: The use of simile
Explanation: The comparison of the mysterious sound to a baby’s cry contributes to the distress and horror in the narrative.
Reader's response: The simile effectively creates unease and curiosity in the reader about the source of the sound.
These points, when woven together, form a substantial, elegant paragraph:
In the narrative, the author creatively employs a simile to describe the mysterious sound, likening it to a "baby's cry". This comparison significantly enhances the distressing and horrific atmosphere of the story. Additionally, it provokes unease and curiosity in the reader, driving them to ponder over the source of the sound.
By encouraging our students to utilise the PETER paragraph model, we provide a framework that promotes a deeper, more thorough analysis of texts. This equips them with the necessary skills to confidently tackle textual analyses at the GCSE level.
At HEMA Tutorial, we don't just focus on exam preparedness. With our unique text selections and techniques like PETER paragraphs, we aim to foster a rich, engaging learning environment that encourages a deeper appreciation for English literature. We invite you to join us on this exciting and enriching journey.