Julie Tagg| Think and Write for English| September 27, 2025 Exploring Themes, Symbolism, and Historical Context in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Classic Introduction “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a seminal work in American literature, first published in 1892. The story is often celebrated for its powerful depiction of psychological distress and its critique… Read More The Yellow Wallpaper: An Analysis
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for English| August 04, 2025 Thinking about starting that first novel? Or do you just want to write a story for any occasion? Below is a brief overview of the different types of plot that can help you to get through the first stages. Various types of plots are commonly… Read More Types of Plot
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Writing a memo (memorandum) is a straightforward process that follows a specific format. Memos are typically used for internal communication within an organization and can convey important information, reminders, or announcements. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a memo: Memo Format Example… Read More How to Write a Memo
Sample Friendly Letters with Explanations Understanding the Art of Writing Friendly Letters Introduction Writing friendly letters is a timeless way to communicate with loved ones and share personal news or thoughts. These letters can strengthen relationships, provide comfort, and express emotions in a meaningful way. This document will provide sample friendly letters along with explanations… Read More Types of Friendly Letters with Examples
Grade Level: Middle or High SchoolSubject: English Language ArtsDuration: 60–90 minutesObjective:Students will be able to identify and write different types of letters, including formal, informal, and business letters, by understanding their structure, purpose, and tone. 1. Engage (10 minutes) – Hook & Warm-up 2. Explore (15 minutes) – Types of Letters 3. Explain (20 minutes)… Read More 5E Lesson Plan: Letter Writing
Letter Writing is an important aspect of the Language Curriculum. Students at all levels of the education system need to learn this topic to be self-sufficient in the future. Download the PDF below.
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English| January 18, 2025 Exploring the World of Short Fiction Teaching short stories offers a wealth of opportunities to engage students in the exploration of literature. Through the analysis and creation of short fiction, students develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deeper appreciation for the written word.… Read More How to teach the short story – Unit Plan for 4 Weeks
Engaging Students with the Art of Free Verse Poetry Lesson Overview In this lesson, students will explore the concept of free verse poetry, understand its characteristics, and create their own free verse poems. Students will appreciate the freedom and creativity inherent in free verse and express their thoughts and emotions without the constraints of traditional… Read More Lesson Plan: Teaching a Free Verse Poem
Julie Tagg| January 03, 2025| Think and Write for English A and B Download for Lesson Plan
Here’s a quick quiz about verbs that you can use to test your knowledge. It covers basic and intermediate verb usage. Verb Quiz Part 1: Identify the Verb Find the verb(s) in each sentence: Part 2: Verb Tenses Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence:6. She _____ (walk/walks) to school every day.7. I… Read More Essential Verb Exercises for All Levels
Julie Tagg| January 3, 2025| Think and Write for English A and B ______________________________________________________________________________ High school students typically learn different types of verb types as part of their grammar and language studies. Here’s a breakdown of the main types of verbs they should be familiar with: 1. Action Verbs 2. Linking Verbs 3. Helping (Auxiliary)… Read More A Comprehensive Guide to English Verb Types for High Schoolers
Julie Tagg| January 3, 2025| Think and Write for English A and B Grade Level: Middle School/High SchoolDuration: 45-60 minutesObjective: Students will identify prepositions and prepositional phrases in sentences and use them to enhance their writing and comprehension. Lesson Outline Engage (5-10 minutes) Explore (10-15 minutes) Explain (10 minutes) Elaborate (15 minutes) Evaluate (5-10 minutes)… Read More 5E Lesson Plan: Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other elements in the sentence. They often indicate location, direction, time, or relationship. Common prepositions include: Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the… Read More Prepositions, prepositional phrases and quiz with answer sheets for high school students
Julie Tagg| January 3, 2025| Think and Write for English A and B Grade Level: Middle School and High SchoolDuration: 45-60 minutesObjective: Students should be able to identify, describe, and use adjectives to enhance their writing and speech. Materials Needed: Lesson Outline: 1. Introduction (10 minutes) 2. Lesson Explanation (15 minutes) 3. Practice Activities (20… Read More Lesson Plan: Teaching Adjectives to Middle and High School Students
Julie Tagg| January 3, 2025| Think and Write for CSEC English Adjectives can be categorized based on their functions in sentences. They add richness to the written or spoken language by describing, quantifying, or specifying nouns. Here are the main types of adjectives and a sample quiz with answers that could be used for high… Read More Types of Adjectives Explained with Examples
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for English (TWE) | November 08, 2024 Nouns are essential in English because they represent people, places, things, and ideas. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of nouns: 1. Common Nouns 2. Proper Nouns 3. Concrete Nouns 4. Abstract Nouns 5. Collective Nouns 6. Countable Nouns 7. Uncountable (Mass)… Read More Types of Nouns Explained with Examples
Grade Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8)Duration: 45 minutesTopic: Parts of Speech (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections) Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: Materials: 5E Instructional Model 1. Engage (5-10 minutes) Goal: To capture students’ attention and get them thinking about the topic. Activities: 2. Explore (10-15… Read More Lesson Plan: Parts of Speech
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B (TWE)| November 08, 2024 Exercise 1: Label Each Word Read the following sentences and label each word with its corresponding part of speech: Noun (N), Pronoun (P), Verb (V), Adjective (Adj), Adverb (Adv), Preposition (Prep), Conjunction (Conj), or Interjection (Int). Exercise 2: Fill in… Read More Parts of Speech Exercises for English
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B| November 08, 24 The 8 Parts of Speech: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Grammar Introduction: Grammar is the backbone of effective communication, and understanding the different parts of speech is the first step to becoming a more confident and precise writer. Whether you’re a… Read More Understanding the 8 Essential Parts of Speech in English
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English| November 07, 2024 Characterization is the way writers reveal and develop the personalities, traits, and motives of the characters in a story. It helps readers understand who the characters are, what drives them, and how they interact with the world around them. There are two main types… Read More Understanding Characterization in Literature
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English Who is the protagonist and antagonist in literature? The protagonist is the central character in a story who typically evokes the audience’s empathy and support. They are usually the one who drives the plot forward and are involved in the majority of choices or conflicts that arise… Read More The protagonist and antagonist in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English What is Story Conflict? Story conflict is a fundamental element of any narrative, emerging when a character encounters obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals. It creates tension and drama, driving the plot forward and deepening the emotional connection between your characters and the audience. Conflict… Read More How to create conflict in your story or novel?
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Fantasy stories are a genre of fiction that is set in an imaginary or magical world. These stories often include elements that don’t exist in reality, such as: magic, mythical creatures, and imaginary lands. They allow authors and readers to explore new worlds and… Read More How to write a fantasy story?
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Crafting a summary for a book, article, or movie is no easy task. It requires the ability to identify the most significant ideas and themes and present them in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. The purpose of a summary is to provide an… Read More Effective steps to writing a summary.
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Follow This blog post aims to provide a comprehensive guide for individuals looking to enhance their narrative writing skills. We explore different techniques and strategies that can help writers create engaging and captivating narratives. What is Narrative Writing Narrative writing is a form of… Read More A Guide to Mastering Narrative Writing
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Write an essay discussing the poems “A Stone’s Throw” and “The Woman Speaks to the Man Who has Employed her Son”. The essay should briefly describe what is happening in each poem, the speaker’s attitude towards the woman in each poem, and examine one… Read More Sample Essay- Themes in Poetry (English B) – Patriarchy and Men in Power (A Stone’s Throw” and Goodison’s “The Woman Speaks to the Man who has Employed her Son”)
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Death Owen’s poem “Dulce Et Decorum Est” and Goodison’s poem “The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son,” explores the theme of death or tragic loss of young lives. With close reference to the poems, discuss how each speaker responds to… Read More Sample Essay -Themes in Poetry (English B) – Death or Tragic Loss (Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” and Goodison’s “The Woman Speaks to the Man who has Employed her Son”)
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Note: The response can be used for any of these TWO questions. The poems “Mirror” and “Little Boy Crying” both present the theme of pain that humans experience. Write an essay that compares the pain that speakers experience in EACH poem. In addition, comment… Read More Sample Essay -Themes in Poetry (English B) – Painful experiences (Platt’s “Mirror” and Morris’ “Little Boy Crying”)
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B The poems ‘It is the Constant Image of Your Face’ and ‘Dreaming Black Boy’ both address the themes of confessions of hopes and desires.” Write an essay in which you discuss the theme of hopes and desires that are portrayed in EACH poem. Finally,… Read More Sample Essay – Themes in Poetry: Hopes and Desires in “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” and “Dreaming Black Boy”
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English Note that this response/essay will help with any theme question that relates to childhood experiences, parental role and parental love, family relationships, and love. It will also help with answering questions on literary devices (allusion, emotive words and narrator voice) Mervyn Morris’s poem “Little Boy Crying” delves… Read More Sample Essay – Analysis of Mervyn Morris “Little Boy Crying”
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B These are possible CSEC questions and answers for poetry. These questions are similar and the response applies to both. (Rubadiri’s An African Thunderstorm” and Wordsworth “Sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge” Question A In “An African Thunderstorm” and “Sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge”, the speaker… Read More Sample Essay – The theme of Nature in CSEC Poetry – Comparative Essay
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B Write an essay about power abuse in Animal Farm and how it can lead to dictatorship due to the fear of losing control. Also, analyze a literary technique used in the novel to convey themes of fear and power. Animal Farm, written by George… Read More Sample Essay – The theme of the abuse of power and dictatorship in Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B The play Twelfth Night is a type of comedy that has a painful aspect to it. Your task is to write an essay in which you describe two different instances of comedy from the play. In your essay, you should discuss how the humor… Read More Discuss the play Twelfth Night as a Comedy Essay
Understanding the value of themes in literature by Julie Tagg (Think and Write for CSEC English) Definition of theme A theme in literature is a concept or message that is explored throughout a work. Literary themes are universal in nature, meaning that they are ideas that not only apply to the specific characters and events… Read More What is the function of themes in literary works?
Julie Tagg Symbolism is a powerful literary technique that is used by writers to represent abstract ideas through the use of physical objects or phenomena. A symbol is a tangible thing that stands for or represents an intangible concept, idea, or thought. A strong symbol is one that shares key characteristics with whatever it is… Read More What is symbolism in literature?
Alistair Campbell “Anansi” [by Julie Tagg, April 03, 2024] Antagonists, protagonists, and main characters The play centers around a young girl who is on board a ship as a slave. At the beginning of the story, the girl is hopeless and distraught due to the system of slavery that she finds herself in. However, as… Read More Use of language and features of writing -Anansi
Personification In this play, Girl narrates her journey from Africa and describes the river as having human qualities that carry her further and further away from her mother on its great brown back. This personification not only shows the force of nature but also highlights how Girl is helplessly separated from her birthplace. The playwright… Read More Personification in Alistair Campbell’s “Anansi”
Similes and metaphors play an important role in the play. They bring out the playwright’s perspective on the characters, highlight the key issues of the play and help the audience to better visualize the images to be conveyed. To illustrate Girl’s struggle and devise a method of survival, Woman tells her to “weave your little… Read More Similes and Metaphors in Anansi by Alistair Campbell
Irony Irony is used to reinforce meanings. In the play, Campbell uses irony and this has a direct impact on the lessons of morality that arise out of its contents. He also uses irony to demonstrate the transfer of power among characters for greater audience appeal. The play explores the conflicting views on the treatment… Read More Alistair Campbell’s Anansi – Using Irony
