cOnTeXtUaLiSiNg & LaYeRiNg YoUr LaNgUaGe aNaLySiS WiTh HoLdiNg AbSeNcE, AgAiNsT tHe CuRReNt & MoRe

JCDecember 21, 2023

MUSIC FOCUS: Holding Absence, Taylor Swift, Against The Current, YONAKA, Chrissy Costanza, Lil Lotus & Olivia RodrigoACTIVITY FOCUS: Analysing quotations i... Read More...

A-LevelContextGCSELanguage Analysis 4

SoUnD oF PeN’s ToP SoNgS oF 23

JCDecember 9, 2023

Soooo much music that made our hearts go BOOM! Here our the best 75 songs of 2023... MUSIC FOCUS: The best releases of 2023.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Come up with you... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

RhYmE WiTh PrOpEr, mAcHiNe GuN KeLLy, tAyLoR sWiFt & MoRe

JCNovember 11, 2023

MUSIC FOCUS: Proper, Machine Gun Kelly, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, The Cure, Kittie, Ava Max, LOLO, Maggie Lindemann.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Develop your understanding of different types of rhyme and why those different rhymes might be employed. ACTIV... Read More...

A-LevelConflict PoetryGCSEPen GenPoetry AnalysisPre-1900 PoetryUnseen Poetry KS4Unseen Poetry KS5 2

FoLkLoRe & ThE PoSiTiOn Of WoMen

JCOctober 27, 2023

MUSIC FOCUS: Taylor Swift.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Explode the quotes from 'folklore'! …Ready for it? ACTIVITY 1 How does Taylor Swift use 'folklore' to explor... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudy 4

ThE bEsT 52 tAyLoR sWiFt SoNgS

JCOctober 19, 2023

OKAAAAY. THIS CLASS IS NOT FINISHED - PLEASE CAN YOU HELP!! PICK A TAYLOR SONG FROM OUR TOP 52 (LISTED BELOW) AND WRITE A SHORT REVIEW! IN THAT REVIEW, YOU... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudy 4

HoW dOeS tAyLoR sWiFt uSe FoLkLoRe To eXpLoRe iDeAs AbOuT LoVe & tHe FeMaLe PoSiTiOn?

JCOctober 17, 2023

The Sound of Pen students spent two sessions listening to 'folklore' and exploring the position of women in love. Here's an essay built from the ideas discussed! MUSIC FOCUS: Taylor Swift.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Sharpen your ability to define a convincin... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

eXpLoRe ThE SiGniFiCaNcE oF LoVe iN DoRoThEa

JCOctober 11, 2023

The Sound of Pen students spent a session exploring the significance of love in Taylor Swift's 'dorothea'. Here's an essay built from the ideas discussed durin... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

LoCaTiOn, LoCaTiOn, LoCaTiOn PaRt 3: WiTh tAyLoR sWiFt, mAcHiNe GuN KeLLy, WiLLoW, RiNa SaWaYaMa, DaShBoArD cOnFeSSiOnAL & PaLe WaVeS

JCAugust 13, 2023

Lots of our favourite songs feature scarves, photos, makeup and all sorts of other 'props'. But, why are they there?! What is their purpose?! Let's find out, s... Read More...

A-LevelGCSELanguage AnalysisMaking PointsStudy 4

iNtRoDuCinG SoUnD oF pEn: FoR sTuDeNtS & TeAcHeRs oF gCsE & a-LeVeL eNgLiSh

JCApril 28, 2023

Sound of Pen classes use music as a doorway to a deeper understanding of GCSE & A-Level English texts. Sound of Pen is home to original, unique free lesson plans and resources that will accelerate A-Level and GCSE English learning. For use by... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudy 2

eXpLoRiNg ThE pAiN oF LoVe iN a-LeVeL LiTeRaTuRe WiTh ToVe Lo, HoLDiNg AbSeNce, tAyLoR sWiFt, bMtH & MoRe

JCMarch 26, 2023

Sometimes, when studying English Literature, it can feel like the experience of love will be utterly joyless. Soooo much pain! MUSIC FOCUS: Prospa, Taylor S... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudyText Specific 4

iNvEsTiGaTiNg ThE rAiN MoTiF WiTh PaLe WaVeS, SiGriD, PaRaMoRe & MoRe

JCMarch 21, 2023

Our top ten songs about rain are all GORGEOUS. But what do they mean? What does the rain symbolise? MUSIC FOCUS: Taylor Swift, Pale Waves, Paramore, Tove Lo... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudyText Specific 4

ThE NaTuRe oF dReAmS iN a-LeVeL LiTeRaTuRe WiTh YeArS & YeArS, AtC & MoRe

JCMarch 16, 2023

The texts we study are so full of dreams. Which sounds lovely. But - like love - dreams are complicated, unwieldy things. Here are the ten songs you should listen to if you want to really understand their multi-dimensional nature. MUSIC FOCUS: P... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudyText Specific 4

fTrE: cHaPtEr 1

JCJanuary 4, 2023

Bright Star is locked in her manager’s office, Cynthia is locked in a friend’s basement and Ayley is locked in her bedroom. Sound of Pen’s ‘fTrE’ novel explore... Read More...

A-LevelGCSELanguage AnalysisPen GenStudy 4

BrAiNsToRm WiTh ArM’s LeNgTh, ChAt PiLe, cArLy CoSgRoVe & BaRtEEs StRaNgE

JCDecember 31, 2022

Our brainstorm activities don't so much focus on one idea as collate a whole stack of thoughts - all of which will feel absolutely relevant to one or other of ... Read More...

A-LevelGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

HoW tAyLoR sWiFt HeLpEd Us SmAsH oUr eNgLiSh LiT eXaMs

JCDecember 30, 2022

Read Sound of Pen's essay about Taylor Swift and develop your ability to make interesting points + to address context/typicality + to incorporate critical quotes. MUSIC FOCUS: Taylor Swift.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Read our essay and take note of all the d... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

tOp tWeNtY aLbUmS oF 2022 & sOpHiStiCaTed CrEaTiVe VoCaBuLaRy

JCDecember 17, 2022

Underneath our number 1 pick, you'll find some vocab activities - read them through and then have a go at sprinkling magic dust on your creative writing! MU... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudyVocab 4

tAyLoR sWiFt & PeRsUaSiVe wRiTiNg

JCDecember 16, 2022

Our review of Taylor Swift's 'Lover' will serve as the launchpad for your own successful piece of persuasive writing. ... Read More...

Language AnalysisStudy 2

ThE bEsT 75 sOnGs Of 2022 & wRiTiNg ExCiTiNg iNtRoDuCtiOnS

JCDecember 15, 2022

How do the best songs of 2022 help us make sense of the texts we're studying at school? Look at the list of our top 75 tracks of the year - then have a go at the activities at bottom of this page! MUSIC FOCUS: Years & Years; LOLO; Maggie Lind... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingLanguage AnalysisMaking PointsStudy 4

tAyLoR sWiFt & CrEaTiVe wRiTiNg

JCOctober 14, 2022

It's impossible to read 'Where The Crawdads Sing' or listen to Taylor Swift's 'Carolina' and not feel inspired! Our aim today is to write a description that so... Read More...

GCSEStudyVocabWriting With Style 4

ToP TeN sOnGs: cOMMuNiCaTiOn & TeChNoLoGy

JCSeptember 14, 2022

In most stories, there's a letter being posted... or a phone ringing... or an email being sent. Characters are communicating and - whatever the era - they're u... Read More...

A-LevelGCSELanguage AnalysisStudyText Messages 4

ToP TeN sOnGs: CoLoUr

JCAugust 31, 2022

A lot of songwriters make use of colour in their lyrics - and some of those artists employ blacks, whites, greens, pinks etc. as potently as actual painters. Here are the 10 songs that make the most impressive, inspired use of tints and tones! MU... Read More...

A-LevelGCSELanguage AnalysisStudyText Messages 4

tAyLoR sWiFt & LoVe PoEtRy PaRt 5

JCAugust 29, 2022

This is the final part in a series we created so that you can indulge your love for the inimitable Taylor Swift AND develop your confidence with unseen poetry ... Read More...

A-LevelContextLoveUnseen Poetry KS5 3

tAyLoR sWiFt & LoVe PoEtRy PaRt 4

JCAugust 29, 2022

This is the fourth part in a series we created so that you can indulge your love for the inimitable Taylor Swift AND develop your confidence with unseen poetry... Read More...

A-LevelComparing TextsLoveUnseen Poetry KS5 2

tAyLoR sWiFt & LoVe PoEtRy PaRt 3

JCAugust 29, 2022

This is the third part in a series we created so that you can indulge your love for the inimitable Taylor Swift AND develop your confidence with unseen poetry tasks. Before working through these activities, you'll probably want to look at part 1 the... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingEssays KS5LovePoetry AnalysisUnseen Poetry KS5 2

tAyLoR sWiFt & LoVe PoEtRy PaRt 2

JCAugust 29, 2022

This is the second part in a series we created so that you can indulge your love for the inimitable Taylor Swift AND develop your confidence with unseen poetry... Read More...

A-LevelContextLove 2

tAyLoR sWiFt & LoVe PoEtRy PaRt 1

JCAugust 29, 2022

This is the first of a five-part series which will allow you to indulge your love for the inimitable Taylor Swift AND develop your confidence with unseen poetr... Read More...

A-LevelContextLoveUnseen Poetry KS5 2

ReViEw wRiTiNg WiTh tAyLoR sWiFt

JCJuly 6, 2022

NOTE: THERE IS ONE MOMENT OF SWEARING DURING THE TRAILER. Review writing can be tricky. You might love a record or a film or a book soooooo much - but how do you possibly pack all the positive energy you're feeling into one snappy write-up?! Look... Read More...

GCSEReviews & Life LessonsStudy 2

fTrE: cHaPtEr 4

JCMarch 9, 2022

Bright Star is locked in her manager’s office, Cynthia is locked in a friend’s basement and Ayley is locked in her bedroom. Sound of Pen’s ‘fTrE’ novel explore... Read More...

Language AnalysisPen Gen 4

sWiFtOgEddOn & aNaLySiS oF UnSeeN TeXtS

JCFebruary 20, 2022

Swiftogeddon Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Leeds 18th February 2022 Outside Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, the queue stretches up the hill. T... Read More...

A-LevelGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

wHaTeVeR hAppEnEd tO dAiSy BuChaNaN? aN inVeSTiGaTiOn WiTh tAyLoR sWiFt

JCFebruary 12, 2022

Taylor Swift’s 2020 albums – ‘folklore’ and ‘evermore’ – are like water. In the surface of them, we see ourselves, as vague and actual as we really are. Underneath that surface, though, things get more complicated. Of course they do. Our whole lives... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudy 4

A-LeVeL: tAyLoR sWiFt & LoSS oF LoVe

JCFebruary 1, 2022

So many A-Level Literature texts deal with what it means to lose out in love. If you look closely at Taylor Swift's 'Exile', you'll realise our favourite pop ... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGatsbyLanguage AnalysisLoveOthelloPre-1900 PoetryUnseen Poetry KS5 2

fTrE: cHaPtEr 2

JCJanuary 12, 2022

Bright Star is locked in her manager’s office, Cynthia is locked in a friend’s basement and Ayley is locked in her bedroom. Sound of Pen’s ‘fTrE’ novel explore... Read More...

Language AnalysisPen Gen 4

BeSt SoNgS oF 2021

JCDecember 17, 2021

From number 50 to number 1, here are the songs we loved most this year. 50. While She Sleeps, Nervous 49. Doll Skin, Control Freak 48. Creeper, Midnight 47. The Summer Set, Back Together 46. One Step Closer, Chrysanthemum 45. Mayda... Read More...

A-LevelContextGCSELanguage Analysis 4

AniA: mAkE A WiSh

JCNovember 15, 2021

Once in a while, you read something that takes your breath away. Today is that once in a while! Year 10 student, Ania, wrote this poem and it's BEAUTIFUL x ... Read More...

Pen Gen 4

tAyLoR sWiFt: FiFtEEn & UnSeeN PoEtRy

JCNovember 11, 2021

Being a teenager is hard! But one thing we know for sure - listening to Taylor Swift makes us feel way less alone! Here's 'Fifteen'... https://youtu.be/... Read More...

Poetry Analysis 2

sOuNd oF pEn: AcHiEvEmEnT AwArDs

JCAugust 28, 2021

We want to support AND recognise your dedication and development. Thus the Sound of Pen achievement awards! There are three different categories and you will be scored based on the work you send into us. Look through the criteria below, then have a ... Read More...

Pen Gen 2

ThAnK U & hAvE aN aWeSoMe SuMMeR

JCJuly 18, 2021

And so we reach the end of another school year. Where did the time go?! It's been an amazing first twelve months for Sound of Pen. It started with a collect... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEPen Gen 2

SoNgS oF 2021 So FaR: MaKiNg pOinTs & DeVeLoPiNg VoCaBuLaRy

JCJune 14, 2021

We've heard so much amaaaaazing music in 2021 already! Here are the songs we've enjoyed most. Each mini-review includes a word that you can try to use in your ... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEMaking PointsVocab 2

tAyLoR sWiFt: LaNgUaGe aNaLySiS

JCMay 28, 2021

So, you KNOW we love it when our favourite artists offer us a way into the texts we’re studying in class. We especially love it when that artist is TAYLOR SWIFT. And so it was impossible not to start feeling just a little bit dizzy when, in 2020... Read More...

A-LevelGatsbyLanguage Analysis 2

sOuNd oF pEn: WhErE tO sTaRt

JCApril 24, 2021

There are a lot of activities already available at Sound of Pen. And, yes, they'll help you develop the skills you'll want to sharpen in advance of any GCSE an... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEPen Gen 2

GcSe: tAyLoR sWiFt & RoMeo & JuLieT qUoTeS

JCMarch 24, 2021

You know how easily you remember the lyrics to your favourite songs? Let's make sure you can recall all the 'Romeo & Juliet' quotes with the same amount of... Read More...

GCSEQuote RevisionRevisionRomeo & Juliet 2

ThE hAnDmAiD’s TaLe: WoMeNrCooL

JCFebruary 20, 2021

womenrcool. YOU do not need telling. If only there'd been someone with your good sense running Gilead. Thankfully, the future IS in your hands - and the world IS a better place with you in it. Now all we need to do is make sure you've got the ... Read More...

A-LevelHandmaid'sRevisionText Specific 2

A-LeVeL: SoNgS oF tHe YeAr & VoCaBuLaRy

JCJanuary 1, 2021

We LOVED so much of the music released in 2020. Here are our top 50 songs. Each mini-review includes a word that you should be using when writing your A-Level ... Read More...

A-LevelCore SkillsGCSEVocabWriting 2

aDeLa: iNtO ThE WooDs

JCDecember 8, 2020

The first piece of student work has arrived! Adela was tasked with summarising her A-Level 'Love' learning. No one could have expected what came next - this... Read More...

Pen Gen 4

iNtRoDucToRy ViDeO: tHiS iS wHo We ArE

JCOctober 3, 2020

https://youtu.be/FeFf7I4A0zA ... Read More...

Pen Gen 2

50 BeSt SoNgS oF 2020 So FaR

JCJune 28, 2020

How is it even possible to sum up the experience of living through 2020? Here are the songs that have helped us through the first 6 months! Listen to all 50... Read More...

Pen Gen 2

fTrE: tHe StOrY sO fAr

JCJanuary 1, 1900

If you simply want to read the 'fTrE' story, you'll find the text below. We'll add the new chapters in at the same time as each respective class is posted. ... Read More...

Language AnalysisPen Gen 4