Aims of the lesson

1. Aims of the lesson To explore what the themes of the poetry might be To analyse the language and structure of Half-caste To write one paragraph in response to an exam question

2. Home Learning Use the internet to research the following poems: • Half-caste by John Agard • Parade’s End by DaljitNagra • Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson • Our Sharpville by Ingrid de Kok • Exposure by Wilfred Owen • Catrin by Gillan Clark • Your Dad did what? By Sophie Hannah • The Class Game by Mary CAsey • Cousin Kate by Christina Rossetti • Hitcher by Simon Armitage • The Drum by John Scott • O What is that Sound by W.H. Auden • Conscientious Objector by Edna St. Vincent Millay • August 6, 1945 by Alison Fell • Invasion by ChomanHardi • Try the following sites to begin with: • http://www.fairfieldenglish.org/public_html/?page_id=530 • http://smartenglishrevision.wordpress.com/tag/edexcel-poetry-anthology/ • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/poetryconflict/belfastconfetti1.shtml • GOOGLE

3. Clashes and Collisions?

4. Half-caste What does the term mean? Do you find it offensive at all? Why might some people see the term as offensive? Listen to the poem! What do you think the poem is about? What does Agard think about the term Half-caste?

5. Excuse mestanding on one legI’m half-caste.Explain yuselfwhayu meanwhen yu say half-casteyu mean when Picassomix red an greenis a half-castecanvas?explain yuselfwhayu meanwhen yu say half-casteyu mean when light an shadowmix in de skyis a half-caste weather?well in dat caseengland weathernearly always half-castein fact some o dem cloudhalf-caste till demovercastso spiteful dem don’t want de sun passah rass/explain yuselfwhayu meanwhen yu say half-casteyu mean tchaikovskysit down at dah pianoan mix a black keywid a white keyis a half-caste symphony/ • Explain yuselfwhayu meanAh listening to yuwid de keenhalf of mih earAh looking at yuwid de keenhalf of mih eyean when I’m introduced to yuI’m sure you’ll understandwhy I offer yuhalf-a-handan when I sleep at nightI close half-a-eyeconsequently when I dreamI dream half-a-dreaman when moon begin to glowI half-caste human beingcast half-a-shadowbut yu must come back tomorrowwid de whole of yu eyean de whole of yu earan de whole of yu mind.an I will tell yude other halfof my story. How does Agard use language to convey his message?

6. Explain how Agard uses language to put his point across Agard shows both anger and humour in the way he responds in “Half-caste.” He speaks very aggressively to the reader using first person when he starts the poem “Explain yuself / whayu mean.” These words show that he is challenging the reader and asks them to explain their behaviour. This also shows that he doesn’t understand why they use the term half-caste as it suggests that people of mixed race are inferior. Furthermore Agard uses humour to make a serious point when he says “Excuse me / standing on one leg / I’m half-caste.” This shows that he is trying to politely show that by using the term half caste, people are suggesting that people of mixed race are only half a person. Can you identify where I have: Made a clear point? Given evidence to support the point? Explained how the evidence supported my point? Showed how it reflects the poet’s point of view?

7. Now it’s your turn… • Did my partner give a clear point which used the key words of the question? • Did my partner integrate quotations effectively and set them out like the poem? • Did my partner analyse individual words and phrases? • Did my partner suggest how the language coveys the writer’s point of view? • Did my partner answer the question? /5