A/A* Advice - Ted Snell

Notes from 6th May 2009

· Gaining the top grades is not just about ability, it is also about organisation, time management and completing every question. On the reading section of the papers every question is worth 10 marks and this equates to a whole grade on that paper. If you run out of time and don’t attempt all tasks you are throwing whole grades away!

· Being A* is about being good all of the time, not about being brilliant on one question and poor on another. Four answers worth 7 or 8 marks is better than two worth 10, one worth 5 and missing A4 out all together. Be consistent.

· On Paper 1 read the extract very carefully and be certain what the question is asking you to do. A “what” question does not require the language analysis that a “how” question demands. If you are being asked how a writer does something look closely at the writer’s choice of words and their effect on the reader – how have they done what they have done? Write your answer methodically – work through the text line by line. Make sure you only look at the section of text the particular question is directing you to. Watch the clock – only spend 12 minutes on each answer.

· On Paper 1 write around one A4 side (4-6 paragraphs) for B1. Plan the people in advance that you could use in any setting (such as an old age pensioner, a teenager, a mother with a toddler). Zoom in on these people for 5 sentences or so and then zoom back out to the setting. Don’t tell a story about them but allow them to bring your scene to life. A snippet of dialogue will help to make them real.

· On Paper 1 write two A4 sides ( 6-8 paragraphs) for B2. Plan story lines in advance that you will be able to tweak to fit with any titles. Think about things that have happened to you that you would be able to use. Also think about the characters and settings that could apply to lots of situations so that you can get on with writing quickly in the exam and you don’t need to use time thinking about what to write.

· On Paper 2 there is lots of reading to do. Read swiflty but carefully. Follow any instructions given to you – particularly when answering A4 which will ask you to compare the two texts. Use the bullet points in the question logically to structure your answer – don’t drift around the texts.
· For the writing tasks on Paper 2 take notice of the audience and purpose – who you are writing for and why. Don’t think of it as simply completeing an exam task – imagine the real audience. If you are writing to a friend make it sound like you are writing for a friend. Get the tone right.

· Think about the content before you start writing. What are you going to say? Plan 4 key points that you can develop into paragraphs. Add these to an introduction and a conclusion and you will have enough to say to write a full response.

· If you are asked to write a leaflet or magazine article don’t worry too much about layout. Concentrate on content and style. A bold heading and a labelled picture box or two will be enough to show that you have considered presentation.

· Win the marker over in your opening paragraph. Try and find a way to make your work stand out from the crowd. Be adventurous with your sentence variety and punctuation choices. Use repetition and rule of three too. Make your points with confidence and be in charge of your writing – don’t let it just happen by accident.

· Be lively. Humour/irony is good if used in a controlled way. Be prepared to take a gamble with how you engage your reader. Show them what a good writer you are.

· Good writing is directed at the audience. Make them feel as if you are addressing them and involving them in what you say. Use techniques such as rhetorical questions and personal pronouns.

· Be accurate with spelling, grammar and punctuation. Silly mistake could knock a potential A* down to an A.

· Be ambitious with your vocabulary choices. Show the examiner what you can do. Enjoy being clever with words.

· You should not finish before time is up – you will have to work flat out through the full 2 hours. But if you do have time, check your work at the end.

Basic Punctuation

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An Inspector Calls Activities

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Of Mice and Men Activities

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English Language Paper 2 - Writing Tasks

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English Literature - Empathy Questions

Empathy Questions (40 minutes, 20 marks)

There will be two 20 mark questions to choose from for both 'Of Mice and Men' and 'An Inspector Calls'. You will only do one on each text. You may choose to do an empathy style task. This is when you are asked to write as if you are one of the characters at a particular part of the play or novel. Don't be tempted to think that these are an easy way out of writing in detail about the text. You are still expected to write the same amount as for an essay and to show that you know the text really well.

Here are some example exam tasks:

'Of Mice and Men'

1. Imagine that you are Candy at the end of Chapter 3 when your dog has been shot, you've joined with Lennie and George's dream and Lennie has fought Curley. Write your thoughts and feelings.
2. Imagine that you are George at the end of the novel. Write your thoughts and feelings. Remember how George would speak when you write your answer.
3. Imagine that you are Curley's Wife after visiting Crooks's room on Saturday night. Write your thoughts and feelings.
4. Imagine that you are Slim. At the end of the story you think back over what has happened. Write your thoughts and feelings.

'An Inspector Calls'

1. Imagine that you are Sheila at the end of Act 1. Write your thoughts and feelings. Remember how Sheila would speak when you write your answer.
2. Imagine that you are Mrs. Birling at the end of Act 2. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Remember how Mrs. Birling would speak when you write your answer.
3. Imagine that you are Gerald Croft at the end of the play. Write down your thoughts and feelings about the Birling family.
4. Imagine that you are Eric at the end of the play. Write down your thoughts and feelings about how you and your family have behaved.

It is important to:

• write in the 1st person
• put yourself in the 'shoes' of the character
• use typical things they would say, but not quoatations
• show a good knowledge of the character, the events they would refer to and how they would feel
• use small specific details to show you know the text well
• try not to refer to things the character would not be aware of
• show the character's key qualities/personality traits
• avoid simply retelling the story - comment on it from the character's point of view
• remember that it is the small, accurate,specific details that get you the higher marks

Examples:

• Slim at the end of the novel: It's a mighty sad day today and that's the truth. I never thought such a thing coulda happened on this here ranch but I guess I didn't know Lennie so well. He's only been here a few days I s'pose but he seemed like a nice guy. Arrived with George. They've travelled together for years. Kinda nice that I reckon, having somebody to talk to. Anyway, George said Lennie was a hell of a worker and he sure was. Lifted grain bags like nobody I've never seen before...

• Sheila at the end of Act 1: Well, this evening has not gone as expected I must say. I had been so excited about my engagement to Gerald. I know we've had some difficult times, with him vitually vanishing last summer, but just lately everything has been wonderful. The celebrations were going so well. We'd had a delightful meal and Daddy was telling us all how we shouldn't be silly and worry about war. Eric insisted on interrupting - I think he's a little tipsy - but everyone seemed happy and in good spirits...

To revise:

• Plan a list of things that you could include in answers to the tasks above. Think about what events the character would refer to. Think about their views of other characters. Jot down typical words and phrases for the character.
• Carry on with the two examples started for you. Spend no more than 40 minutes on this.
• Write some of your other answers out in full.

English Literature - Essay Questions

Essay Questions (40 minutes, 20 marks)

• A good way to revise for essay questions is to read the texts again. This really does help give you the confidence to tackle any question.
• Another useful thing to do is to read through your exercise book and cut down your notes on characters and themes into memorable chunks - perhaps on cards or in 'poster' format.
• Finally, planning or even writing practice essays against the clock is a great idea.

Revising by planning/writing essays:

• Write the exam question down at the top of a page.
• Without looking in your books quickly list anything that comes to mind (in any random order) that you think you could include in your answer.
• Now go through your exercise book/notes, and as you do so, add any extra ideas to your list.
• Now re-organise the list you have made. You need to spread the list across 6-8 paragraphs (remember an introduction and conclusion). To do this, start by writing a heading for each of your 6-8 paragraphs. These headings might be character's names, key events or themes. Now write down what fits under each heading from your list.
• You now have a plan!
• Read it through again regularly.
• Perhaps even sit down fo 40 minutes and try to write the essay (with or without notes)

Here's a selection of typical questions for 'Of Mice and Men' and 'An Inspector Calls':

'Of Mice and Men'

1. What do you think of Curley and the way he is presented to the reader?
2. What do you think is the importance of Crooks to the novel as a whole?
3. Remind yourself of the ending of the novel. To what extent do you think that it is a satisfactory ending?
4. To what extent do you feel sympathy for Curley's Wife?
5. Loneliness is an important theme in the novel. How is it presented to the reader through different characters?
6. How is the title of the novel relevant to what happens to the characters?
7. What is the importance of the shooting of Candy's dog to the novel as a whole?
8. Write about the character of Lennie. How does the writer manage to make him a sympathetic character?
9. How does the writer gain and hold the reader's attention in the opening chapter?
10. How does the writer show us the harsh realities of life on the ranch?

'An Inspector Calls'

1. Choose what you think is the most dramatic part of the play. Show how the writer creates dramatic tension for the audience.
2. Remind yourself of the ending of the play. To what extent do you think that it is a satisfactory ending?
3. Write about the ways the writer presents the themes of guilt and responsibility in the play.
4. What do you think of Eric and the way he is presented to the audience?
5. Which characters do you feel the most and least sympathy for in the play.
6. What is Inspector Goole's purpose in the play and does he achieve it?
7. The mood in Act 1 of the play changes from relaxed to tense. Explore the ways in which the writer achieves this effect.
8. How does the writer suggest Eric’s guilt in Acts 1 and 2?
9. Do you think that Mrs Birling is more to blame for the death of Eva Smith than the other characters? Give reasons for your answer.
10. The older generation and the younger generation take the Inspector's message in different ways. Explain these differences and say what, if anything, the various characters have learnt.
    

Example plan:

Question: What do you think to the character of George and the way he is presented to the reader?

List 1 (quick ideas without books):

• father figure to Lennie and protects him
• shares the dream with Lennie and later Candy
• speaks for Lennie at the ranch
• doesn't like Curley or Curley's Wife
• wants to shoot Lennie himself

List 2 (more details from exercise book):

• Father figure to Lennie. Made very clear at start. Looks after Lennie's work cards. Takes dead mouse from him.
• Frustrating for George. Gets angry with Lennie - ketchup. Regrets this straight away. Cares for Lennie. Keeps him out of trouble. Incident in Weed. Used to tease Lennie but respects him now. (tells Slim this - junping in river, couldn't swim). Why does he stay with him?
• Shares the dream with Lennie. Wants to be his own boss and own his own land. Escape. Can retell lots of details of the dream. Practiced many times. George and Lennie are different because of friendship. Lets Candy join the dream - could come true with his money.
• Speaks for Lennie at the ranch. Explains what a good worker he is. Doesn't want trouble. Their friendship makes them different. Not lonely. Protective of Lennie at ranch. Worried about Curley - threatened by Lennie's size. Has to make Lennie fight and then stop fighting with Curley.
• Doesn't like Curley's Wife. Worried about Lennie's reaction. Doesn't want to lose their jobs again. Influenced by Candy's opinion - she's "a tart". Doesn't like her flirting or trying to talk to them. Puts the dream at risk.
• Wants to shoot Lennie himself. Knows sraight away Lennie killed Curley's wife. Dilemma. Feel sympathy for him. No real choice or Curley will get Lennie. Pathos with retelling of the dream.

List 3 (organise under paragraph headings)

Paragraph Headings:

1. Introduction
2. George as father figure
3. Frustrations for George
4. Friendship and loneliness
5. Sharing the dream
6. Threat from Curley and Curley's Wife
7. Shooting Lennie
8. Conclusion

Try arranging the notes from above under these headings for yourself. You could even add further ideas of your own.

Remember: introductions should briefly outline what you will be including and conclusions should briefly sum up your main points. You should clearly refer to the words of the question in both.

English Literature - Extract Questions

Extract Questions (20 minutes, 10 marks)

You will have a short part of the text reprinted for you on the exam paper. This will test your reading skills.

Here's the sort of thing you could be asked to do:

• Character based questions.

Read the extract, then with close reference to the text...

• What does this extract reveal about character's name?
• Show how the writer demonstrates character's name thoughts and feelings here.
• What does this extract reveal about the relationship between character's name and character's name?
• Look at how character's name is presented here. How does it affect your feelings towards him/her.

So, What does this extract reveal about Lennie?

Or, What does this extract reveal about Gerald Croft?

Or, Show how the writer demonstrates Curley's thoughts and feelings here.

Or, What does the extract reveal about the relationship between Sheila Birling and Mrs. Birling?

Think about:

• what the character says
• how the character speaks and behaves
• how the other characters react
• why does the character behave as they do
• how the character is feeling and why
• what their body language reveals
• how relationships change

• Style/Structure/Atmosphere/ Reader or Audience Response.

Read the extract, then with close reference to the text...

• Show how the writer creates mood and atmosphere in this extract.
• How does this extract influence the reader's attitude about given situation?
• How would the audience respond to this part of the play?
• How would the reader feel about the events in this extract?

Remember: a novel such as 'Of Mice and Men' has a reader. A play such as 'An Inspector Calls' has an audience.

Whether the question is about a play or a novel will affect how it is worded and the sort of things you would include in your answer.

Think about:

• what is the setting of the extract?
• how do the characters behave and interact?
• how is dialogue used?
• how is descriptive narrative used? (novel)
• what happens of importance?
• what are your thoughts and feelings about the extract?
• do your thoughts and feelings change? Why?

General Advice - Whatever the extract:

• Read it carefully.
• Use quotations to prove your points.
• Where possible explain the key words in your chosen quotations.
• Refer often to the question.
• Aim for about one A4 side (depending on your handwriting)

To revise, select your own brief passages from the text. Set yourself a question based on the ones above. Write your answer in 20 minutes.

English Language Paper 1 - Writing to Describe

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English Literature - The Facts

English Literature - The Facts

This exam is 2.5 hours long.

Section A will test your knowledge of 'Of Mice and Men'.

You should spend about 1 hour on this section.

You will answer 1 question worth 10 marks which will ask you to closely read an extract from the novel. You should spend 20 minutes on this answer.

You will also answer 1 question worth 20 marks which will ask you to produce an extended and more general response to the novel. You should spend 40 minutes on this answer.

Section B will test your knowledge of 'An Inspector Calls'.

You should spend about 1 hour on this section.

You will answer 1 question worth 10 marks which will ask you to closely read an extract from the play. You should spend 20 minutes on this answer.

You will also answer 1 question worth 20 marks which will ask you to produce an extended and more general response to the play. You should spend 40 minutes on this answer.

Section C will test your ability to respond to an unseen poem. You will answer 1 question worth 10 marks. You should spend 30 minutes on this answer.

English Language Paper 2 - The Facts

English Language Paper 2 - The Facts

This exam is 2 hours long.

Section A is a test of reading and you should spend about 50 minutes on it.

There will be 2 texts to read. One will be a media text and the other will be non fiction.

There will be 4 questions, each worth 10 marks (sometimes on the Foundation paper there will be 2 questions worth 5 marks each and 3 worth 10 marks). One of the questions will ask you to compare the texts in some way.

Section B is a test of writing.

You will be asked to produce 2 pieces of writing each worth 20 marks.

One of the tasks will ask you to argue/persuade/advise. You should spend 35 minutes on this task.

The other task will ask you to analyse/review/comment. You should also spend 35 minutes on this task.

Aim to write between 1 and 2 sides for each task (depending on the size of your writing).

English Language Paper 1 - The Facts

English Language Paper 1 - The Facts

This exam is 2 hours long.

Section A is a test of reading and you should spend about 55 minutes on it.

There will be a short story or extract of about 1.5 sides in length for you to read.

There will be 4 questions, each worth 10 marks (sometimes on the Foundation paper there will be 2 questions worth 5 marks each and 3 worth 10 marks).

Section B is a test of writing.

You will be asked to produce 2 pieces of writing each worth 20 marks.

Task B1 will ask you to produce a piece of descriptive writing - not a story! You should spend 25 minutes on this task. Aim to write about 1 side for this task (depending on the size of your writing).

Task B2 will ask you to produce a piece of narrative/personal writing - a story! You should spend 40 minutes on this task. Aim to write about 2 sides for this task (depending on the size of your writing).