Give your child a structured revision roadmap and practice questions (model essay answers included!) in Unseen Poetry. This online program is taught by a former Head of English Literature teacher and is helpful for Lower Sec G2/G3/ IP students.
Note that this is a 'live' online lesson on Zoom and if you are unable to attend 'live', you will be able to re-watch then recordings. If you're looking for self-study Unseen Poetry resources instead, click here for the digital course.
As a parent of a Sec. 1 or 2 student struggling with English Literature, you’re not alone. You want to support your child, BUT IT'S SO HARD because....
You have no idea how to help your child in English Literature—it wasn’t your strength when you were in school.
Even with Unseen Poetry guidebooks, your child does not know how to improve and is constantly feeling demoralised & stuck with lower marks.
You cannot find any model essays or practice questions for Lower Sec Unseen Poetry. Even if you find something online, it's not designed for the MOE Singapore syllabus.
Your child’s school teachers provide minimal feedback or guidance in school. Your child feels unsupported and lost, leaving them lost and unsure of how to improve.
[P.S. These are learnt through hands-on practices during both sessions!]
❌ “I don’t understand the poem, so how do I even start writing my analysis?”
❌ "I got a poor score because the poem was too difficult. My marks are dependent on how hard the paper was. I cannot control this..."
Through my step-by-step annotation & analysis framework, your child will learn a structured way to tackle poetry—even if they don’t understand every line.
❌ "I already mentioned there is alliteration here. Why is my score so low?"
❌ "There's no rhyme in this poem, so.... what should I actually explain?!!"
Poetic devices can be very technical and confusing. Your child will learn to cut through the noise and focus on key literary devices which are found in EVERY poem. Beyond mere identification of poetic devices, your child will practise explaining their devices -- the exact thing that helps them score higher marks in their essays!
❌ "My teacher keeps saying ‘Elaborate more!’ but I don’t know what to write.”
❌ "My child's essays are filled with feedback that it's too narrative + lacks literary analysis. But what should she do?"
Many students fall into the trap of narration—simply lifting or paraphrasing quotes instead of explaining the ‘why’ behind the Unseen Text. In this program, I'll show your child how to expand their analysis using literary devices, pushing them above the class average. This method helps them say goodbye to vague, incomplete and shallow answers!
❌ "My teacher said my character analysis is too repetitive."
❌ "I can't think of any other feelings to write about...."
Your child will encounter questions like these ALL THE TIME in Literature: "What is your impression of Character X" or "What are your feelings for Character Y"? They will practise using easy-to-use keywords to sharpen their essay analysis and strengthen their points with precise and strong vocabulary. Say goodbye to repeating generic phrases and losing marks for a lack of precision and literary analysis!
Select any 1 or 2 sessions:
3 June: Figurative Language & Word Order
4 June: Diction, Sound Devices & Form
25 June: Figurative Language & Word Order
26 June: Diction, Sound Devices & Form
Timing for all sessions: 10:30am - 12pm
Fees: 95 SGD for each session (incl. Post-workshop Assignment Feedback)
Discount: 10% off if you sign up for 2 sessions before 28 May 2025
Spotting a metaphor is one thing. But explaining its emotional impact—clearly and concisely—is what earns top marks. This session teaches students to go beyond labelling literary devices. They’ll learn how to unpack similes, personification, and hyperbole with precision, and discover how a poet’s use of enjambment, end-stopped lines, and word arrangement affects flow, pacing, and meaning. These subtle techniques appear in nearly every poem—but are often missed by students who aren’t trained to look for them.
Most poems won’t spoon-feed your child with obvious similes or metaphors—and that’s exactly why a sharp eye for diction becomes the key to standing out. In this workshop, students will learn how word choice subtly shapes meaning and tone, and how to confidently analyse sound devices like assonance, consonance, and alliteration. We’ll also build connections between the analysis of rhyme scheme and common poetry answering techniques—taking away the guesswork students face when they tackle poetry questions.
✔ 10% off Discount if you sign up before 28 May!
✔ 2 additional Unseen Poems + Questions + Model Essay Answers
✔ Video-recorded feedback for 1 Unseen Poetry (i) & (ii) Assignment
✔ Thematic Word Bank Cheatlist
"He was quite surprised he did well. So I really have to let you know to share my happiness although it's just WA1."
"The workshop made her understanding of the techniques clearer and she found it useful."
"Thank you for making Literature alive! I really like enjoy your Literature classes a lot!"
"I'm glad to tell others that I've been taught by Ms Lie. Thanks for being a patient teacher all along and your lit lessons have been really interesting. You always make the whole lit class laugh. Thank you Miss Lie!"
Hi! I'm Cheryl :)
As a former English Lit Subject Head in the Singapore Ministry of Education, I know that many students fear the Unseen section of their exam paper, and ESPECIALLY poetry.
I remember reflecting on my own journey with Unseen Poetry and Prose, and how I grew so in love with poetry while I did Lit in "A" levels and in my university.
At 12 to 14 years of age, many students understandably struggle with deep literary analysis, nevermind abstract themes about experiences that feel foreign to them.
To write an essay about a poem or a prose that they have NEVER seen before can really make students blank out, and it's definitely worse in a test setting.
Why is a higher mark so elusive? Why does my teacher say that I am too vague or lack literary analysis? What does that even mean?
So I dedicated myself to cracking the code of Unseen Poetry / Prose for young students. I have curated an online course which includes my tried-and-tested methods to help students meet the exact criteria that their teachers are looking for.
After submitting this form, you'll receive a Whatsapp message on the next steps for payment to confirm your child's place.
As part of the MOE English Literature Syllabus, all students are exposed to Unseen Poetry at Sec 1 and 2. Their exams would usually include 1 Unseen Poem that they have never seen before (hence "Unseen"), and your child will be required to answer the set of questions that demonstrate their knowledge and skills in literary analysis. And yes, it is usually 50% weightage in their End-of-year exam!
Everyone will have access to the recording after the lesson, so your child can watch replays if they miss the 'live' online class, whether due to other holiday plans or sickness.
Your child will also be able to submit homework to me for my detailed marking and feedback, so they don't miss out on valuable steps to improve!
Your child can still sign up for 1 day if need be. Email me at cheryl@literature-academy.com to explore options.
Yes, these lessons will not cover the poems that have been taught in the Scoring in Lower Sec Lit regular program. Your child can attend these for additional practice and help :)
I don't offer regular 1-1 tutoring, but I do have an online program called the Scoring in Lower Sec Lit Program that is especially targeted at students studying The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, or Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed at Sec 1 and 2 levels. You can find out more here.
If you're keen on attending monthly Unseen Poetry masterclasses or if you have other requests, please write in to cheryl@literature-academy.com with your request.
Schools usually go through Unseen Poetry in class, but it's quite rare for a school to provide the eventual model essay to students. Your child will receive the model essays (not in point form!) after they have submitted their homework for my evaluation. They are able to learn how to write and analyse effectively via the provided model essays.
In my classes, I will also focus on showing your child what strong literary analysis is (vs. weak ones), and they will get 'live' feedback on the spot. Due to time constraints, school teachers usually lack time to focus on those aspects. Ironically, your child's key to scoring better in English Lit. is improving their skills in writing strong explanations with literary analysis.
This is my recommended roadmap which I touch on in my Welcome Instructions:
1. Process / Watch / Print everything in the 'Lit Ammunition' Section. This includes important vocabulary lists (e.g. How to describe emotions, tone, characters) that they should use in their annotation, assignments, revision and exams.
2. Print the 5 Unseen Poems and 2 Unseen Prose Questions and Answers. [Parents can keep the answer schemes while your child works on their practice questions.]
3. Process / Watch resources in the Unseen Poetry section, starting with 'How to Annotate Poetry'.
4. Practise annotating the first poem (with my guidance in the 'How to Annotate Poetry' video).
5. Practise writing the first essay for Unseen Poem 1.
6. Complete self-assessment by reading the Suggested Answers for Unseen Poem 1 and identify what's missing in their own answers.
7. Repeat the process for the other Unseen texts!
That means your child's school has "Seen Poetry" as part of their Lower Sec. curriculum, and yes, these workshops will definitely be helpful for them. The focus is on having deeper analysis and stronger writing skills, so the learning is transferrable! If your child wishes, he/she can submit a poetry essay related to their school's Seen Poetry -- I'm happy to mark those!