New Hodder English 2: Level 2

There is something refreshingly pre-millennial about this new series from Hodder & Stoughton - no three-dimensional mapping matrix; an abundance of hand-drawn illustrations; and an introduction that dares to own the adjective "progressive". Although the blurb claims that the key stage 3 strategy is addressed, there is barely a mention of the word "objective", and this alone will endear the series to the hearts of thousands of English teachers. What is on offer here is a structured programme of half-termly units, each of which addresses the same type of material - but with appropriate progression and development - in Years 7, 8 and 9. These include in each case a discrete language unit, (although language points are address throughout) a poetry unit, a unit focused on extended writing and a unit about a major literary genre. The books do not shy away from tackling hefty chunks of literature, including an abridged but unparaphrased edition of The Withered Arm in the Year 8 book, and a unit based on Macbeth in Book 3. While inevitably some units have less appeal than others, there is originality and insight here; the idea of the Language Factory, a sort of copy-writing workshop where an apprenticeship is served and craftsman status attained, is cannily boy-friendly, and would merit a book of its own. -- Times Educational Supplement 20020201 What is on offer here is a structured programme of half-termly units, each of which addresses the same type of material - but with appropriate progression and development - in Years 7, 8 and 9...There is originality and insight here; the idea of the Language Factory, a sort of copy-writing workshop where an apprenticeship is served and craftsman status attained, is cannily boy-friendly, and would merit a book of its own. -- Times Educational Supplement 20020201