JC

CrEaTiVe wRiTiNg WiTh AnDy C

JCMay 20, 2024

When DJing, Andy C puts his whole heart into creating the most mind-blowing mixes. You should take the same approach to your creative writing. When you pack yo... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

RhYmE WiTh ChArLi XcX, WiLkiNsOn, CoLdPLaY, AyRa StARR & MorE

JCMay 17, 2024

Let's listen to some brilliant songs and then write a poem with real focus on rhyming for effect! MUSIC FOCUS: Ayra Starr, Coldplay, Charli XCX, Icona Pop,... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

aRgUmEnT & aNaLySiS WiTh OnE sTeP cLoSeR

JCMay 17, 2024

One Step Closer make real ART. We should definitely spend some time diving into the band's lyrics. So poetic and so powerful!! MUSIC FOCUS: One Step Closer. ACTIVITY FOCUS: Argument-driven analysis. ACTIVITY 1 Read the question below ... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

CrEaTiVe wRiTiNg WiTh BoW aNDErSoN

JCMay 14, 2024

We love the way Bow Anderson speaks directly to her body. Let's use her song as inspiration for a serious - but very fun - writing activity! MUSIC FOCUS: B... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

rHyMe WiTh eMiNeM

JCMay 10, 2024

Rhyming words is a lot fun! Let's find some exciting vocabulary and then pair it up with other vocab that is equally full of energy! MUSIC FOCUS: Eminem. ... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

cOnTeXt WiTh NiRvAnA

JCMay 10, 2024

When we read a text, we have to consider the time at which it was written. We need to understand whether the author's ideas aligned with the majority - or if those ideas actually served as challenges to the 'norm', thus underlining the writer's own ... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

aQa eNgLiSh LaNgUaGe PaPeR 2 WiTh LoUiS dUnFoRd

JCMay 9, 2024

Let's make sure that practising the skills needed to complete AQA's Language Paper 2 is fun for us!! Today, we're going to listen to Louis Dunford's 'North Lon... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

cOnTeXt WiTh MaDoNNa

JCMay 3, 2024

Madonna's music a made an enormous impact. Let's think about how her songs hit even harder than they might have otherwise because of the world - Ronald Reagan'... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

‘WhErE i BeLoNg’ bY cHiArA

JCMay 2, 2024

Following our work on the 'Location, Location, Location' series, the amazing Chiara wrote a truly beautiful song. She thought carefully about the setting and how it absolutely informed the voices and feelings at the heart of her work. Listen belo... Read More...

GCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

SzA: wRiTiNg WiTh PaSSiOn & pErSoNaLiTy

JCApril 25, 2024

Explore the significance of disappointment in SZA’s ‘Kill Bill’. Read the 'Kill Bill' lyrics and prep by considering the 3 questions directly below. Dec... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

AgAiNsT tHe CuRReNt: HoW To SuMMaRiSe WiTh sPaRkLe

JCApril 25, 2024

With Slam Dunk just a month away, here's a list of our favourite Against The Current tracks! See if you agree with our choices, then have a go at the activity ... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

sOpHiE’s StOrY

JCApril 25, 2024

Sound of Pen student, Sophie, writes soooo beautifully. Here are the opening chapters to the story she's been working on. Prepare to be DAZZLED! Chapter 1 If there was ever a girl able to make herself disappear it would be Rose, I thought, as ... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudyText Specific 4

SoUnD oF PeN’s ToP 20 aLbUmS oF 23

JCDecember 21, 2023

Soooo many albums that made our hearts whoosh! Here's a list of the best 20 long-players of 2023... MUSIC FOCUS: The best albums of 2023.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Com... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

SoUnD oF PeN’s ToP 10 ePs oF 23

JCDecember 21, 2023

Short and very, very sweet - here are the EPs that made us jump up and down the most in 2023! MUSIC FOCUS: The best EPs of 2023.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Come up with... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyWriting With Style 4

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 Rodrigo ACTIVITY FOCUS: Analysing quotations in a precise, energetic, multi-layered manner. Read the short reviews below. Then,... Read More...

A-LevelContextGCSELanguage Analysis 4

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTiVe WriTiNg SeRiEs ParT 8 – eNd Of ThE wOrLd

JCDecember 14, 2023

Faint December

Faint December 2

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

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTiVe WriTiNg SeRiEs ParT 7 – tOo LaTe

JCDecember 6, 2023

Faint December

Faint December 2

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTiVe WriTiNg SeRiEs ParT 6 – eMpTy SpAcEs

JCNovember 17, 2023

Faint December

Faint December 2

AnKoR & bLaZe ThE tRaiL @ mOtH cLuB

JCNovember 15, 2023

You know what they say about the things that come to those who wait... MUSIC FOCUS: Ankor; Blaze The Trail.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Write your own review. Ankor &... 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

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTiVe WriTiNg SeRiEs ParT 5 – NoBoDy CaN sAvE mE

JCNovember 10, 2023

Faint December

Faint December 2

eMo & aQa GcSe LaNgUagE pApEr 2

JCNovember 4, 2023

Language Paper 2 is TOUGH - in large part because it revolves around extracts written in that more challenging Victorian style. For now, then, let's concentrat... Read More...

GCSELanguage AnalysisQuestion Specific 4

AniA: UnTiTLed

JCNovember 2, 2023

Sound of Pen's favourite poet has written something new! It won't take you long to notice how beautifully Ania writes - but can you spot all the different song titles referenced within the poem?! Untitled Ania completed her wor... Read More...

Pen Gen 4

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 SiGniFiCaNcE oF yUnGbLuD: pArT 2

JCOctober 27, 2023

MUSIC FOCUS: YUNGBLUD.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Write your own essay about the significance of a character, theme or artist of your choice! Listen here to some of th... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

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 MUST USE A BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING CREATIVE WORD WHICH ALL STUDENTS CAN THEN AIM TO INC... Read More...

A-LevelLanguage AnalysisStudy 4

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTiVe WriTiNg SeRiEs PaRt 4 – LooKiNg FoR aN aNsWeR

JCOctober 19, 2023

Faint December

Faint December 2

tHe SiGniFiCaNcE oF yUnGbLuD

JCOctober 18, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqKb7dIVZq8 Music: 'Your Hand In Mine' by Explosions In The Sky MUSIC FOCUS: YUNGBLUD.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Focus on that word 's... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

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

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTiVe WriTiNg SeRiEs PaRt 3 – HiGh VoLtAgE

JCOctober 12, 2023

Faint December Chapter Two

Faint December 3

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

LoNdOn WiTh LoUiS dUnFoRd & WiLLiAm bLaKe

JCAugust 19, 2023

Both Louis Dunford and William Blake write about London in a way that makes us feel so strongly about the city. Let's compare 'The Angel (North London Forever)' and 'London' - and then write our own poem! MUSIC FOCUS: Louis Dunford.ACTIVITY FOCUS... Read More...

Essay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

LiGhT & dArK iMaGeRy WiTh To KiLL AcHiLLeS

JCAugust 18, 2023

So many of our favourite songs are as multi-layered as any of the texts we study in school; with the new term dawning, we listed the best tracks of the year so... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

BeSt SoNgS oF 2023 So FaR

JCAugust 17, 2023

So many of our favourite songs are as multi-layered as any of the texts we study in school. With the new term dawning, here are the tracks that have already kn... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

cHaOs WiTh ShAkEsPeArE & tRoPhY eYeS

JCAugust 17, 2023

So many of our favourite songs are as multi-layered as any of the texts we study in school. With the new term dawning, we listed the best tracks of the year so far. Below, you'll find the activities linked to our number 1 choice: 'Life In Slow Motio... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingLanguage AnalysisStudy 2

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

fAiNt DeCeMbEr: CrEaTIvE WrITiNg SeRieS paRt 1 – WaKe

JCAugust 11, 2023

Faint December Chapter One

Faint December 2

PeRsUaSiVe wRiTiNg WiTh dAiSy JoNes & mAnEsKiN

JCAugust 8, 2023

In recent years, rock music may have been buried out of sight. Thankfully, it's likely to return to the frontline at just about the same time as you perfect your persuasive writing skills! MUSIC FOCUS: Måneskin; Daisy Jones & The Six.ACTIVITY... Read More...

Essay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

AnDrEw McMaHoN & wRiTiNg PoEtRy

JCAugust 7, 2023

Listen to the brilliant Andrew McMahon and then have a think about your own brilliant life! MUSIC FOCUS: Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMah... Read More...

GCSEStudy 2

OrSoN: rEcOrD sHoPs FoReVeR

JCJune 23, 2023

As part of his preparation for this year's GCSE English Language exams, Orson wrote about an issue close to his heart. If you don't already care about record s... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyVocabWriting With Style 2

cOmPaRiNg aTTiTudEs WiTh TrOpHy eYeS

JCJune 22, 2023

Of course, both our reviews of 'Suicide and Sunshine' focus on the fact that it's an utterly brilliant album! But let's look more closely at how Daisy and JC convey their thoughts in different ways... MUSIC FOCUS: Trophy Eyes.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Expl... Read More...

GCSEStudy 2

tRoPhY eYeS, sUiCiDe & SuNsHiNe: A pErFeCt aLbUm FrOm ThE bEsT bAnD iN thE wOrLd

JCJune 21, 2023

Trophy Eyes, ‘Suicide and Sunshine’ (Hopeless Records) Think about the truly important albums: Nirvana’s raw yet resplendent ‘Nevermind’; Biffy Clyro’s hear... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudyVocabWriting With Style 2

sLaM dUnK 2023

JCJune 1, 2023

We went to Slam Dunk and it was the PERFECT day. Read our review, then write about your own perfect experience. MUSIC FOCUS: Enter Shikari; Malevolence; PVR... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSEStudyVocabWriting With Style 2

PoWeR & CoNfLiCt PoEtRy WiTh TrOpHy EyEs

JCMay 26, 2023

Today, the best Australian band of modern times are going to help you with your 'Power & Conflict' poetry. How lovely of them. MUSIC FOCUS: Trophy Eyes.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Listen to our Trophy Eyes playlist and let the band's lyrics illuminate yo... Read More...

Essay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

BeAuTy ScHooL dRoPoUt @ iSliNgToN AcAdEmY

JCMay 24, 2023

Our New Favourite Band Injects Us With (Greased) Lightning! MUSIC FOCUS: Beauty School Dropout.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Practise the skills needed to answer question... Read More...

Essay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

aNaLySiNg StRuCtuRe: ToP 10 sLAm DuNk SoNgS 23

JCMay 15, 2023

Let's think about how the final moments of Slam Dunk will hit harder because of the songs you've enjoyed during the earlier parts of the day! MUSIC FOCUS: M... Read More...

Essay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

pOeTrY & tHe FeMaLe PoSiTiOn WiTh eLLiE GoULdiNg

JCMay 2, 2023

Accelerate your ability to analyse poetry - and deepen your appreciation of the female position - with a quick study of 'Better Man'. MUSIC FOCUS: Ellie Goulding.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Answer some quickfire questions about 'Better Man'. ACTIVITY 1... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

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 les... Read More...

A-LevelGCSEStudy 2

aNaLySiNg StRuCtUrE WiTh PvRiS & SiNcErE EnGiNeeR

JCApril 28, 2023

Why do things happen in the order they do? Who can say? YOU can. Or, at least, you will be able to once you've completed this class! MUSIC FOCUS: PVRIS, Sin... Read More...

Essay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

gLaStOnBuRy fEsTiVaL & PeRsUaSiVe wRiTiNg

JCApril 23, 2023

Glastonbury! Exactly the kind of important event we should write about when asked to write about something important! MUSIC FOCUS: Glastonbury Festival.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Use our GLASTONBURY acronym to structure your own persuasive piece of writing.... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 4

tHe pOwEr Of AvA mAx

JCApril 20, 2023

Ava Max sings songs that dissect the concept of power whilst making you feel like you can take on the world. Perfectly meta. MUSIC FOCUS: Ava Max.ACTIVITY F... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

wRiTiNg A LeAfLeT WiTh iNsOmNiUm

JCApril 8, 2023

Question 5 AQA's Language Paper 2 will require you to write a letter, speech, essay, article or leaflet text. Let's practise the leaflet writing. MUSIC FO... Read More...

GCSEStudyWriting With Style 2

nF & dUaLiTy

JCApril 8, 2023

It's been a while since Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde wrote their novels about humanity's duality. But the conversation is NOT over... MUSIC FOCUS: NF.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Write your own rap. ACTIVITY 1 Watch NF's 'HOPE' video and mak... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudy 2

aQa GcSe LaNgUaGe PaPeR 1 WiTh FAiNt DeCeMbEr

JCApril 7, 2023

The first time Linkin Park came to England, I got to hang out with them for a couple of days. This is a story inspired by my love for the band. MUSIC FOCUS:... Read More...

A-LevelEssay WritingGCSELanguage AnalysisStudyWriting With Style 2