Transcript YEAR 11 REVISION - Sprowston Community High School

YEAR 11 REVISION
LAST MINUTE REMINDERS
16th May Paper 1 9- 11am
18th May Paper 2 1.30- 3.30
WHAT IS PAPER 1?
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Paper 1 tests your reading and writing ability
Section A tests your reading ability. You will
be presented with an unseen extract and you
will be asked 4 questions on the extract worth
10 marks each.
Section B tests your writing ability. You will
be asked to write a descriptive piece of
writing and an imaginative piece of writing
Before reading…..
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Before you even begin to look at the text you should
read the questions A1- A4.
Each question will relate to a separate chunk or
paragraph of the extract so you should be able to
find the information needed quickly. Draw lines on
the exam sheet which correlate with each question
so you actually break the text into 4 chunks.
Highlight the key phrases that you need to look for
in each question.
Whilst reading….
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Read the whole text through once so you
understand the extract.
Look back at the questions and read the chunk of
the section that relates to the question and highlight
evidence on the exam paper.
Highlight words and phrases rather than big chunks
The question is worth 10 points so try to find 10
separate pieces of information to use as evidence.
Be specific and look at the
question
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If the question asks about how the writer
creates mood and atmosphere, say straight
away what the mood and atmosphere is.
If it asks you what you learn about a
character.. Make sure you explicitly explain
how the evidence helps form a picture in your
mind
Make sure you refer explicitly to the question
How long on each question..?
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Spend 10 minutes reading through the
questions and texts and highlighting key
information
Spend 10 minutes on each question
Spend 5 minutes checking through your
answers
If the question asks you how a
particular effect is created, consider:
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Use of sentence structures
Use of punctuation
Use of words/ phrases for effect
What is actually happening in the story and
what affect does that have on the reader?
If the question asks about the
character’s viewpoint….
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Think about HOW you get that impression
Choice of words/ phrases?
Sentence structure?
Punctuation?
Paragraph structure?
Structure of the text?
What makes the difference
between a C and an A
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It’s not enough to simply look for the answers
and repeat them back
The examiner will be looking for you to
understand the subtleties of the text.
Think about why an extract ahs been
chosen? How does it grip an audience? What
do you think is going to happen next? Has
happened previously? Why is it happening?
Empathise with a character
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Think about how a character is thinking,
feeling and what they are doing?
Look for the details, what clues are there in
the writing that a character is thinking or
feeling a certain way?
Think about who, what , where, why, how?
What are examiners looking
for?
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Read with insight- can you notice the details?
Make appropriate references to texts- select
key info ( not huge quotes)
Consider alternative interpretations- sustain
discussion on interpretation
Evaluate how writers use words and structure
their writing to make it more effective.
Remember
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A writer has deliberately crafted the way they
present their information. They consider
every full stop and every choice of word.
Think about how they’ve crafted their writing
and why?
What does it contribute to the story?
How does it make you feel?
What is the effect?
Think about?
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What is really going on here?
How is the atmosphere of the text created?
Are there any changes in the mood or pace
of the story?
Are there any literary devices usedmetaphors, personification etc- what is the
effect?
PAPER 1 SECTION B
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The first writing task is always testing your
descriptive writing skills and there no choice
will be given. You must answer the task
provided. It is worth imagining with
descriptive writing that you are a camera with
a zoom lens. Take a picture of what you see(
write about the scene) and then zoom in on
details in the whole picture( write in detail
about the specific details of the scene).
PAPER 1- SECTION B
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Use standard English and avoid slang
Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee your
reader is interested and continues to read.
Choose one tense to write in and stick to it, sometimes it’s easier to choose
past tense
Constantly refer to your senses, what could you see, hear, smell, feel, taste?
Use similes and metaphors
Use personification and onomatopoeia
Describe every detail
Use lots of adjectives
Do not just tell a story. The examiner wants you to describe what happened. It
doesn’t matter if you don’t finish or even if you start in the middle of the
event. The description is the most important.
Remember, you are trying to make the reader see what you see. Use words or
images which create pictures in their heads. Use lots of imagery.
Focus on the details
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Imagine you are a video camera filming the
area around you. What can you see, hear,
smell, feel, taste?
Zoom in on the details- describe in detail then
zoom in on something else
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING IS ALL ABOUT
THE DETAILS
Getting an A/ A*
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Getting an A/ A* is about making your piece
of writing stand out from the crowd.
Remember the examiner will be reading
hundreds of examples of the same thing.
How can you make yours different?
You could choose to describe from the
perspective of a character?
Be creative, show originality and flair.
PAPER 1 SECTION B2
IMAGINATIVE
WRITING
25 MINUTES
20 MARKS
Get creative!
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Imaginative writing is one the best aspects of
the English exam as it allows you an
opportunity to be truly creative and
imaginative. There is no right or wrong to this
section of the exam- as long as your writing
makes sense and is well crafted, you can’t go
wrong. This is your opportunity to let your
imagination shine!
IMAGINATIVE / NARRATIVE
WRITING
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For this section of the exam you will be provided
with a choice of 5 titles and you must choose one to
write about worth 20 marks. Quite often the
questions provide the opportunity to write about
personal stories, so it is worth considering in
advance about a time you felt happy/sad/ guilty/
proud/ ashamed/ scared etc. You should consider
all the techniques of descriptive writing as they apply
to imaginative writing as well but you are focusing
on producing a story.
Techniques to remember….
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Senses- what can you see, hear, smell ,feel,
taste?
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Colours and textures
Similes and metaphors
Physical descriptions to portray emotionshands quivering, fist tightening, smile fading..
General points to remember…
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You will be assessed on your use of spelling,
sentence structure, punctuation and paragraph use.
If you forget about all these things you can go back and
add paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the
examiner you want a new paragraph there.
Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this
automatically gives you more marks.
Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures
for effect. Use long descriptive sentences followed by
short snappy ones.
Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not
normally use. It doesn’t matter if you’re not completely
sure how to spell them. You get points for trying.
Use standard English and avoid slang
Think of a character!
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For imaginative writing you do not have to write from
the perspective of yourself. For example, you may
wish to write from the perspective of a persona
or character in the third person. If the question
asked you to write about a time you felt guilty, you
may wish to think about a character in prison and
write from their perspective. Remember the
examiner will be reading lots of papers from people
your age so if you can invent a character you will
gain the interest of the examiner more.
To get an A/ A* you must…..
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Carefully select material- don’t ramble- think about what
you are writing
Think about your paragraph structure and sequence of
ideas, vary the pace of your story
Think about the details- imagine you are writing a
sequence in a film- what details would you want a
director to focus on?
Use a variety of connectives.. ( although, however,
despite, consequently)
Use a wide range of ambitious vocabulary
Use a wide range of sentence structures
Use at least 5 different types of punctuation to vary pace
and for deliberate effects
Ensure if you change tense you do this securely ( don’t
keep swapping from past to present tense)
ENGLISH EXAM
PAPER 2
2 HOURS
SECTION A- MEDIA/ NON
FICTION COMPARISON- 50 MINS
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This section will ask you to analyse non fiction texts.
This could be newspaper articles/magazine articles/
leaflets/ websites/ reviews etc. It is testing your
ability to read for meaning and understand how
arguments are presented and developed. There will
be 4 questions which comprise 2/3 questions on text
A, 1 question on text B and 1 question comparing A
and B. Each question is worth 10 marks.
Before reading both texts….
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Before reading the extracts make sure you
have read the questions. This will help you
quickly find what you are looking for.
Underline the key phrases of the question
and then underline the extracts as you read
them. This will help you quickly respond to
the question.
Own words/ list?
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If the question asks you to explain something
in your own words, you do not need to use a
quote. The examiner is interested in your own
understanding so make sure you use your
own words. You can use a quote to back up
your opinion but your opinion is the most
important.
If the question asks you to list, make sure
you write a list or use bullet points.
What are the questions looking
for?
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One question will be comprehension, which
tests your reading ability.
Another question will ask you how a certain
impression, view or tone is portrayed. For
these questions you should consider choice
of language, sentence structure, use of
punctuation and the content of the writing.
How effective is the text?
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One question will ask you to consider how the text
attracts its audience or how effective it is for its
purpose. Consider:
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Presentational devices ( subheadings, titles, captions,
pictures, use of bold etc)
The use of language ( how is persuasive? Emotive?
Informative? etc. What particular words or phrases give
you clues? Pick out quotes to help you back up your point)
The writer’s attitude/ ideas/ opinions ( what words or
phrases give you clues?)
How they develop an argument or point of view ( think
about the structure of the piece- how is it organised?)
Always remember TAP!
When commenting on a text, think about:
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TOPIC- what are they writing about?
AUDIENCE- who is the writing aimed at?
PURPOSE- why has this been written? What
is the writer trying to achieve?
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Make sure you give your own opinion. Do you
think the extract has worked? How could they
have been improved?
Comparing the texts….
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The last question will usually make a
thematic comparison. This means it will ask
you a direct question about the ways both
texts present their themes. You will need to
use information and quotes from both texts.
The question will usually give you some bullet
points to help you organise your ideas- make
sure you focus on these.
SECTION B1WRITING TO ARGUE/
PERSUADE/ ADVISE
35 MINUTES
20 MARKS
B1- writing to argue/ persuade/
advise
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This section will be a writing task. You will be
provided with one question that my be linked
to the theme of the previous extracts and will
test your ability to write to argue/ persuade or
advise..
It is important to remind yourself of the
specific techniques associated with each
writing style.
WRITING TO ARGUE
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This is where you need to balance both sides of an argument
and then give your own opinion. It is important that you
acknowledge the opposing argument and then try to counter argue
with your point of view.
Start with a statement that you may not agree with. For example,
‘Some people believe that ……….however, I believe……..
Use useful linking phrases like ‘However’, ‘Therefore’,
‘Nevertheless’
Offer your own opinion, ‘I believe that….’
Use the media texts to help you. You can quote from these for
extra marks.
Use facts and figures to back up your point. ( if you don’t know
any, make them up but make sure they are believable)
Use rhetorical questions
Use emotive language.
WRITING TO PERSUADE
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When writing to persuade, imagine you are a used car salesman.
You must convince the reader that you are absolutely right. You
are trying to persuade someone to do or think something so use all
your persuasive powers.
Exaggerate and stress points. Underline your main points
Use ‘we’ and ‘us’ when you can. This makes the reader feel more
people are on the side of your opinion.
Remember the magic 3 rule. Say your point 3 times to make the
message more effective. For example, ‘These people are helpless,
vulnerable and destitute’
Use repetition
Use emotive language
Direct your points personally at the audience, ‘Surely you would
agree?’
Use rhetorical questions. ‘Is this really what you want?’
Finish on a strong point, ‘Think about it!’
WRITING TO ADVISE
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Break your idea or information down into a series of instructions
Structure your advice clearly, so it follows a logical sequence
Use bullet points, subheadings or numbering
Use anecdotes or jokes to keep the reader interested
Make sure your advice is clear and easy to understand
Use imperative verbs ( must, put, place, add, move etc)
Offer helpful alternatives
Consider other places the audience can get help ( organisations,
charities, internet etc)
Be encouraging and keep your tone friendly.
Remember to….
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Make sure you include a plan, this can be a list or spider diagram or a
flow chart. Examiners automatically feel happy when they see a plan
and it is a good idea to keep examiners happy.
You must ensure you plan and spend time checking. You will be
assessed on your use of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation
and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things you can go
back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the
examiner you want a new paragraph there.
Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you
more marks.
Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use
long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones.
Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It
doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get
points for trying.
Remember to…
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Use standard English and avoid slang
Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to
guarantee your reader is interested and continues to read.
Remember to highlight the key points of the question.
Consider TAP
What do they want you to write?
Who do they want you to write it for?
How do they want you to present it? ( magazine article, letter,
webpage – make sure you set it out like the presentational
feature requested.)
SCREAM 3 !
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A Useful phrase to remember could be SCREAM3
S Sentence length and variation, superlatives and
similes
C Contrast ( state one thing then the opposite)
R Repetition, rhetorical questions
E Emotive language
A Alliteration, Adjectives
M Metaphorical language
3 Magic 3 rule
PAPER TWO SECTION
B2- REVIEW/
ANALYSE/ COMMENT
35 MINUTES
20 MARKS
Section B2- 35 minutes
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This section will be a writing task. You will be given
one question to answer which will be either writing to
review/analyse/comment.
Remember to highlight the key points of the
question.
Consider TAP
What do they want you to write?
Who do they want you to write it for?
How do they want you to present it? ( magazine
article, letter, webpage – make sure you set it out
like the presentational feature requested.)
Remember to….
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You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentence structure,
punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things
you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to
show the examiner you want a new paragraph there.
Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you
more marks.
Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use
long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones.
Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It
doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get
points for trying.
Use standard English and avoid slang
Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to
guarantee your reader is interested and continues to read.
Writing to REVIEW/ ANALYSE/
COMMENT
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Be very clear who your audience is and what format you have
been asked to use.
Choose language that would appeal to your target audience
If reviewing something make sure that you consider all aspects of
the product and who it might appeal to.
Consider the pros and cons of the product you are reviewing
If writing a review, try to sound like an expert and imagine that you
have done this many times before.
If giving your opinion on something, remember that you could
take on the persona of a character. For example, you could be a
very fussy film critic or you could choose a character from TV and
imagine they are writing the review or giving their opinion. Be as
imaginative as possible and don’t be afraid to use humour.
Be as imaginative as possible and make your answer stands out
from all the others the examiner will read. Don’t be afraid to use
humour- this is especially important if you are writing from the
perspective of a character.
GOOD LUCK!
DO
LOTS OF ACTIVE
REVSION BY HAVING A
GO AT PAST PAPERS
AND THE IDEAS IN
YOUR REVISION
GUIDE.