Transcript HOW based answers

HOW
How does Liz Jones try to
show that the village and
mine at Santa Filomena
are examples of the
benefits of Fairtrade?
It’s not only about the headlines,
pictures and presentation...
HOW
Examiner Tips
• TRACK the text – whether it’s a leaflet, an
article or a letter.
• Ask yourself: what is the intention behind this
detail? What is the effect?
• This question is asking you how the writer
makes his or her point – this is different to
WHAT the writer says as part of his or her
point
Use the following checklist:
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Approach
Content
Language
Structure
Tone
Headlines
Pictures
Presentation
• This question tests
knowledge and use of
text and
inference/interpretation
• It also tests
appreciation of
language
How to answer How
• ‘How’ is partly a matter of content (what is
said) and structure (how the text is put
together), and partly a matter of language
(the words that are used) and tone (the
attitude and mood that are conveyed).
• Look for HOW as opposed to simply WHAT.
• The best answers take the extra step to
ANALYSE the detail rather than spotting it.
This is sound but it
merely spots what
Liz Jones says about
the village and mine
A ‘what’-based answer
Liz Jones says that ‘it is almost too good to be true’,
and claims that the difference between it and San
Luis is ‘enormous’. She suggests that the ‘wages are
good’, and that ‘Fairtrade respects the
environment’. She states that ‘dangerous chemicals
are not allowed to enter the eco-system’, and that
there are facilities such as ‘shops and a health
clinic’. There are also a ‘creche and a school’, and
benefits such as ‘maternity leave and sick pay’.
There are ‘proper wooden houses’ and the article
claims that miners have ‘protection and a future’.
The candidate here has not really ‘stood
back’ and analysed the bigger picture.
Providing what is called ‘an
overview’ means looking at
techniques used by the writer to
communicate their message
A ‘how’-based answer will use material
from the previous answer PLUS:
Liz Jones uses contrast and comparison immediately to
show the benefits of Fairtrade, by claiming that the
difference between the village and San Luis is ‘enormous’.
She uses many facts and examples such as the facilities
available, details about the wages and the many benefits
such as ‘maternity leave and sick pay’. Additionally, she
uses the specific example of Paulina and her family, using
direct quotations to show the immediate impact of
Fairtrade on people like her. Overall, by listing all the
benefits of Fairtrade, she seems to give an honest and
balanced impression of how Fairtrade helps those in San
Luis.