Crossref-it.info hits the national media

In an interview published in today's Guardian, Andrew Motion, the poet laureate, makes the point that, without a knowledge of the Bible it will be difficult to understand the very concepts that lie at the centre of English literature.

"Take any of the metaphysical poets, almost any of the Victorian poets," he says. "Even reading the great romantics like Keats requires you to know things about the Fall, who some of the people in the Bible are, ideas of sinfulness and virtue."

The article also mentions that "If Motion is correct, today's newly qualified teachers may themselves have limited knowledge of the Bible, so how can they be expected to integrate this in their teaching? Accessing suitable teaching resources could be problematic. Aside from the Cross Reference Project, which ... provides resources to help students to understand how literature has been shaped by the Bible, there is little out there." (Italics added)

The Cross Reference Project, or Crossref-it.info is a free comprehensive English Literature website that contains interactive A-Level study guides, background material, literary analysis, essay and exam help and more - geared towards helping students succeed in their exams and course work.

30 tips to help you write a good English exam answer

People do not write good English exam answers by coincidence. There are some steps you can take which will help you to improve your prospects of getting good results.

1. Make sure you understand the question fully. Underline the key words of the question.
2. Understand the key words: make sure you have a definition in your head of what exactly the key words mean.
3. Take a moment to consider what exactly is being asked.
4. Answer the question asked, not what you would have liked to have been asked.
5. Avoid being irrelevant. Stay focused.
6. Make sure that you clearly show how all of your ideas relate to the question that was asked.
7. If asked to analyse a text: Look closely at it, think about the writer's use of language.
8. Do not waffle or generalise!
9. Do not just go for the most obvious approach in answering the question - be willing to think creatively.
10. Try to cover a good number of ideas, but without straying from the question! (See point 5).
11. DO NOT keep repeating the question in your essay ('This essay asks about ... and I am going to write about ...')
12. Do not start off with a dictionary definition.
13. Instead, create a strong opening, for instance by opening with a short, controversial statement.
14. Another good way to create a strong opening is by way of a relevant quotation or a relevant piece of evidence.
15. Whatever you do, think about a way of creating a strong opening - this will wake the person marking the exam up and ensure that they approach your work with a more positive attitude.
16. A strong ending is as important as a strong opening - it will create that lasting impression that you want. Equally, a weak ending can have a negative impact.
17. One way to create a strong ending is to save a new, strong, relevant point to the end.
18. Another way to do this is to end with a strong quote.
19. Sorry for the repeat but it needs to be said again: generalising are waffling are bad ideas!
20. Use brief but relevant quotations to prove each point you are making.
21. Think out each sentence (very quickly) before you write it down. Does it say what you want? Does it make the point?
22. If you know you have problems with spelling or punctuation, do something about it before the exam.
23. Examiners often award points for 'quality of language' - something to work on before the exam.
24. Know your text really well - know it so well, that relevant quotations and ideas come to your mind quickly and easily.
25. Blend textual quotations seamlessly into your own sentence structure.
26. Only quote memorised quotations if they are really relevant. Otherwise, resist the temptation of quoting them anyway!
27. Avoid repeating ideas.
28. Say what you want in a clear way, without going in circles.
29. 'As I mentioned earlier' will rarely earn you any extra marks - only use it if, somehow, it is really helpful.
30. Most essays require a formal register of language. Avoid colloquialisms. To help your language skills, read some literary criticism during your course.
    

For more advice read How to write a good English exam answer on Crossref-it.info

A Valediction: of Weeping by John Donne

We want this blog to be fun to read. Occasionally, we are thus going to post short literary 'snippets'. Today's 'snippet' is a poem by John Donne - A Valediction: of Weeping. Enjoy!

Let me pour forth
My tears before thy face, whilst I stay here,
For thy face coins them, and thy stamp they bear,
And by this mintage they are something worth.
For thus they be
Pregnant of thee ;
Fruits of much grief they are, emblems of more ;
When a tear falls, that thou fall'st which it bore ;
So thou and I are nothing then, when on a divers shore.

On a round ball
A workman, that hath copies by, can lay
An Europe, Afric, and an Asia,
And quickly make that, which was nothing, all.
So doth each tear,
Which thee doth wear,
A globe, yea world, by that impression grow,
Till thy tears mix'd with mine do overflow
This world, by waters sent from thee, my heaven dissolvèd so.

O ! more than moon,
Draw not up seas to drown me in thy sphere ;
Weep me not dead, in thine arms, but forbear
To teach the sea, what it may do too soon ;
Let not the wind
Example find
To do me more harm than it purposeth :
Since thou and I sigh one another's breath,
Whoe'er sighs most is cruellest, and hastes the other's death.

For synopsis, commentary and a discussion of the themes and language of this poem please go to John Donne: Poem analysis > A Valediction: of Weeping

10 Useful John Donne resources

I've compiled a list of 10 web sites which, I think, can be useful and informative when researching John Donne and his works.

1. Luminarium - Contains easy to read sections on his quotes. works, life, and more.
2. John Donne @ Poets.org
3. http://www.online-literature.com/donne/ - Various articles and essays on John Donne
4. http://www.englishverse.com/poets/donne_john - Short introduction to John Donne
5. Searchable database of John Donne's sermons
6. John Donne @ Wikiquote
7. http://www.sonnets.org/donne.htm - A large selection of John Donne's works
8. Poetseers.org - A large selection of John Donne's poems
9. A biography of John Donne at Britainexpress.com
10. And finally, last but definitely not least, our very own Crossref-it.info. Get John Donne's biography, poem analysis, context material and timeline - all in one place (also contains resources on other Metaphysical poets)

Interactive Frankenstein Timeline - Explore the world of Mary Shelley

So often, when looking at a text like Frankenstein, we fail to appreciate the full context in which the work was written.

What kind of world was Mary Shelley born into? What was happening at the time? Who else was writing at the time?

Let's look at the image on the left, for instance. This is a little excerpt from the Frankenstein timeline on Crossref-it.info.

• It shows you when Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein (1816).
• It shows what was happening politically and economically
• It shows who else was writing
• And it gives a really good overview of the turbulent events in her own life around that time.

What all this means is that you are able, just by glancing over one web page, to get a really good feel for what the world was like for Mary Shelley. Definitely an advantage for your exam revision!

It is for this reason that at Crossref-it.info we supply extensive time lines for the various study guides. In fact, a vast time line, currently stretching from 1330 to 1930 forms the back bone of all the content on Crossref-it.info!

TIP: Try clicking on a time line entry and see what happens!

Free access, so why register for Crossref-it.info?

Full access to over 1000 pages of English literature info?

It seems we are not the only ones who think Crossref-it.info is a useful site: the number of registered users is in the thousands and is continuing to grow. Not bad for such a young website!

So if the thirst for literary knowledge is so huge, why would we suddenly decide to make all content available to all users, whether they are registered or not?

The reason is simple: we want as many people as possible to be able to benefit from this site. This site is for you - it will help equip you for your exams. Use it and spread the word!

So why would anyone register?

Registration is free and will mean that, when you return, the site will tell you where you left off the last time. A bit like putting a bookmark in a more old-school study guide.

Also, watch this space, as we will be making continuous improvements for registered users!

Crossref-it.info is a free English literature resource that contains high quality in-depth study guides, background material, biographies, exam and essay help, teacher resources, and more. Written and verified by leading academics, it cross-references authors, works, historical events and literary background.

To use the site and / or to register, simply go to www.crossref-it.info

AS / A2 English mock results - improve your grades

Under pressure to do better?

At www.crossref-it.info/articles/312/How-to-write-a-good-English-exam-answer are helpful pages on how to answer well in Eng. Lit exams (though the skills apply to history, geography etc. if that's what you're after).

For most of you, term has restarted – and you fit one of these scenarios:

• If you are unlucky, you are sitting your AS or A2 mocks, just when you want to slump in a huddle in the common room
• Or you are receiving the news of how you performed in mocks taken during the pre Christmas party season (when you weren't necessarily at your best…)
• Or you are a teacher planning revision lessons and trying to improve potential pass rates for your class.

Don't panic - help is at hand. Crossref-it.info has been written by A Level teachers and examiners to help students and colleagues do their best.