Modern text 2: building the conceptual essay
Two questions, one choice, forty-five minutes. This lesson shows how to choose, plan and write a Section A essay that argues rather than describes.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures with accurate spelling and punctuation.
Key learning points
- • Choosing between the two questions
- • The conceptual line
- • Paragraph engine
- • Timing and AO4
This lesson at a glance
- 30 minutes
- 21 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 21
Visual introductionPicture this
Modern text 2: building the conceptual essay
Two questions, one choice, forty-five minutes. This lesson shows how to choose, plan and write a Section A essay that argues rather than describes.
In a nutshell
Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures with accurate spelling and punctuation.
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 21
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Choosing between the two questions
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 21
Learn
Choosing between the two questions
Pick the question you have evidence for, not the one that sounds easier. Spend ninety seconds listing three moments for each; whichever list fills faster is your question.
Reset break
Part 4 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 21
Learn
The conceptual line
A conceptual line is one sentence you could defend if challenged, repeated in different clothes at the start of each paragraph. It should mention the writer and a purpose: 'the writer uses…so that the audience…'.
Quick check
Part 6 of 21
Quick check
Part 7 of 21
Reset break
Part 8 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 21
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Paragraph engine
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 21
Learn
Paragraph engine
Claim, moment, method, effect, purpose. Five moves, in that order, in every paragraph. It feels mechanical in practice and reads as fluent argument once you write at speed.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 21
Learn
Timing and AO4
Eight minutes planning, thirty writing, five checking. In checking, hunt for missing apostrophes, repeated sentence openings and any paragraph that describes without arguing.
Reset break
Part 12 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 21
Quick check
Part 14 of 21
Explore the idea
Part 15 of 21
Worked example
Essay task
How does the writer of your modern text present the way one generation judges another? Write about the ideas and the methods used to present them. (30 marks + 4 AO4). Use the five-move paragraph engine and check your conceptual line appears in every topic sentence.
Reset break
Part 16 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 21
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 18 of 21
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
A conceptual line is one ____ you could defend if challenged, repeated in different clothes at the start of each paragraph.
Challenge round
Part 19 of 21
Game · Recall cards
How should you choose between the two Section A questions?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 20 of 21
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Modern text 2: building the conceptual essay
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. How should you choose between the two Section A questions?
2. What belongs in a conceptual line?
3. What is the correct order of the paragraph engine?
4. What is the best use of the final five minutes?
Lesson round-up
Part 21 of 21
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 21 · Watch & discover