Cross-ref.it

Crossref-it is a one-stop resource providing high-quality, easy-to-use resources forHigher and Advanced Higher English students. Some resources are also adaptable for use in National 5 courses.

The web site contains easy to understand background information, detailed commentary on common exam texts, and makes connections between texts and the writers’ experiences and beliefs. There are numerous tools to support textual analysis, engaging with the text, essay writing and revision (including Revision plans available through Cross-ref.it for Google Chrome)

Aimed specifically at young people, teachers nevertheless will also find the site of practical use. For example, the site provides downloadable lesson ideas, worksheets and investigative student tasks for a wide range of texts.

Specific texts for which significant study resources are provided include:

• The Great Gatsby, Frankenstein
• Poems of Wilfred Owen, Hardy, Chaucer, Gerard Manley Hopkins
• Various Shakespeare plays (including Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello)
• The most popular novels by Bronte sisters, Dickens & Thomas Hardy

There are also help pages to enable pupils to get the most out of literature and improve results.

The Cross Reference Project is a partnership created and supported by the Stapleford Centre, Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture at York University, the Bible Society and a team of experienced teachers and examiners working in schools and higher education. Since the sponsoring organisations are English-based, the website specifically refers to AS and A Level English Literature.

However, it equally applies in the Scottish context. It is currently receiving 100s (sometimes 1000s) of hits per month south of the Border, and deserves to be much more widely known in Scotland.