section A consists of four questions that you have to use two sources to answer the questions correctly.
the two sources are from different time periods are usually focus on how something has changed over
time.- both sources seem to be have a similar topic. one source is always extracted from the 19th century,
in order for you to be familiar with that English you should probably read articles or extracts from that
time period. the other source depends on the source you got from paper 1, it will either be a source from
the 20th or the 21st century. whats really important to point out is if the source is spilt into two sections,
its really important as a question may be based on one section rather than both. expected to spend 15
minutes reading all together.
Question 1: directed to a certain section of the source
and choose four statements that are true(usually) and
you have to look at the source and identify the
answers. this is worth 4 marks and you should spend
about 5 minutes on the question. line references are
important so before reading the extract, highlight the
section your answer has to come from. a couple of the
answers will be explicit(obvious) and others would be
inplict( less obvious).
based on A01- focus is on your
understanding not just your
basic understanding but also
your capability of reading in
between the lines.
Question 2: based on summary writing- retelling in your
own words, using quotations to back up your points, no
analysis is needed. focus of the question is relating to
the DIFFERENCES, therefore focusing on both the
sources. this question is worth 8 marks. you need to give
a perceptive answer, you want to think about the less
obvious answers, you will make developed inferences
using comparative phrases.you have to use quotations if
you don't then you are in risk of repeating your self. NO
ANALYSIS, can refer to specific words but don't refer to
the meaning or effect of the word.
this question is also assessing A01 and you should be
spending about 12 minutes on the question.
Question 3: this question is worth 12 marks and so you should spend about 15 minutes on your
answer. this question is based on language analysis,sometimes the extracts come from a diary
and therefore very personal therefore, its difficult to find specific language devices. this is the
LANGUAGE TO INFLUENCE question, when asking you to speak about language the examiners
are asking you to look at individual words,sentence forms and language techniques. the
complex approach to language analysis is where is language used to its literal meaning, need
to find an individual technique, talk about why its deliberately used. where is language used
beyond their literal meaning, pointing it out (if written well) would give you the top marks. you
have to link back to the question.
language techniques, arrested: Alliteration, Repetition, Rhetorical question, Statestics, Emotive language,
Rule Of Three, Exaggeration, Direct address, few language techniques that might help you formulate
your answer.
Question 4: this question is worth
16 marks and you should spend
about 20 minutes on this
question. this assess A03,
comparing the writers attitudes.
this will be based on the whole of
both the sources. you should
compare the different attiudes,
support your points with evidence
and quotations, you are given
bullet points, its asking you for a
WHAT, WHEN and WHERE. this is
not asking you to analyse
language, the different attitudes
between the writers are usually
very easy to spot. what does thw
riter do to present these
attitudes, don't just identify but
explain but developing the point
by adding evidence. this is a
comparison question find
similarities as well as differences.
highlight the key words in the
focus of the question. you want to
write about ideas and writers
perspectives and HOW they are
conveyed. you need to use a
judicious quotations- by that I
mean pick a quotation that you
could talk about and develop the
point by having more then one
implication.
section B consists of only one question. this question is worth 40 marks and 16 of these are given for VSPAG. you will be given a statement and you have to formulate a
letter/article/speech giving your opinion. you need to use various different persuasive techniques such as statistics and personal address. when writing your argument you have to
address unique ideas rather then projecting common views. a sophisticated form of persuasion is the use of anecdotes- creating a personal nature will help develop a bond with the
reader/audience. before the reader/audience can retort your argument you have to address common points of view that opposes your overall conclusion. you have to anticipate
your readers response and you have to take great consideration on the form of your answer. another important thing that should be in your writing, you need to show some
personality and humour- it makes it original and individual.
PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, FORM!
PERSONAL- UNIVERSAL
if you are criticising an aspect of society or reality, you need
to provide an alternative, showing resolution makes your
argument much stronger.
paper 2 is an hour and 45 minutes. both section A and Section B
are both worth 40 marks and you should be spending 45 minutes
on each section and both are vaguely linked. you should spend
about 15 minutes of your exam reading the sources and the
questions.