“Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul
even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” Swami Sivananda
Saint Cecilia’s Wandsworth English Department
GCSE Revision Guide 2011
English Language - Paper 1
Section A – Multi part questions on reading of unseen non-fiction and media texts TOP TIPS – what to look for • Read the articles carefully – ASK who is the audience, what is the purpose? • What does the HEADLINE tell us? • Are there pictures? Positive or negative? • Layout – what is its function? Impact, easy to access the information, more picture than text, more text than picture? Why? • Look for FACT and OPINION (and opinion presented as fact) • Are there any quotes? Who from? A mixture of sources? • What is the tone? • Is the language formal or informal? Why? • Can you tell the writer’s opinion? DO NOT JUST IDENTIFY THESE – SAY HOW AND WHY THEY HAVE BEEN USED! Comparing Texts • Write what is the same • Write what is different Articles about the same story can be very different in terms of the message they put across. Section B – A choice of one from three or more questions testing writing
which seeks to argue, persuade or advise.
Top Tips - what to include:
• Establish Audience and Purpose – this will determine the tone and vocabulary you use. • Brainstorm ideas/points on which to base your argument/persuasion/advice. – think for and against. • Use opposing views to strengthen your argument. • Develop your ideas on each point • Think of some evidence to support your ideas – make up some facts and statistics to help your case. • Strong opening paragraph – to capture reader’s interest and make clear your point of view. • Use connectives to structure your argument • Conclude – summing up your argument. Extra techniques: • Rhetorical questions • Personal experience (make it up) • Others’ viewpoints (make it up)
English Language – Paper 2
Section A – Poetry from Different Cultures and Traditions. Answer ONE question comparing TWO poems. TOP TIPS: COMPARE, COMPARE, COMPARE! 1. THEME Give a definition of the THEME referred to in the question and explain HOW it is used in both poems. 2. STRUCTURE How does the structure of each poem relate to the theme of the question? What are the similarities and differences between the structures of each poem? Key Words: Line length rhyme rhythm stanza shape layout symmetry punctuation time scale repetition 3. LANGUAGE How does the language of each poem relate to the theme of the question? Compare the ways the two poets use language to convey the theme. Key Words: Images, similes, metaphors Assonance Plosive language voice onomatopoeia tone Questions personification Non standard English 4. FEELINGS Compare the feelings conveyed through the poems. What attitudes strike you? How are they similar / different? 5. PERSONAL RESPONSE How do the poems make YOU feel? Why? Do you prefer one over the other? Why?
Paper 2 Section B
Writing to Inform, Explain, Describe Writing To Inform - MAIN PURPOSE – to convey information as clearly and effectively as possible. Use: • Straightforward language • Base the ideas on facts • Get straight to the point • Structure points logically Information can be presented in many forms, including: • Advertisements • Articles • Guide books • Leaflets • Reports • Reference books • Web pages Writing to Explain - MAIN PURPOSE – to make something clear to your reader and convey this as effectively as possible. Address the questions: • What? • How? • Why? Information can be presented in many forms, including: • Articles • Instruction booklet
• Recipe • Reference books
Writing to Describe - MAIN PURPOSE - create a picture with words so you reader can imagine vividly the scene, person,
situation etc. – by carefully selecting your words. Inspiration can be drawn from a number of sources, including: • People you have met • Situations you have encountered • Experiences you have had • Sensations you have experiences through your senses (touch, sight, taste, smell, hearing) Information can be presented through a variety of techniques, e.g. • Imagery, such a similes and metaphors • Alliteration, onomatopoeia and assonance to give ‘sound effects’ • A variety of sentence structures and rhythm patterns to build up a particular mood or feeling. Writing Questions to attempt for each for each ‘type’ – 1. To inform Design a leaflet to provide the reader with information about a tourist attraction of your choice. (In designing the leaflet you should think about: • The title and headings • The information it should contain • The kind of language you should use (audience) • The layout • Any other ideas you think are important) 2. To explain Design an instruction booklet on how to use a mobile phone. (In designing the booklet you should think of: • What functions the phone offers
• Why the phone displays certain signs • How to view the various options and select them • How your information is presented – clearly and logically, concisely, layout that makes it easy to understand.)
3. To Describe Write a detailed description on one of the following:
• A beach party or garden barbecue • A school trip • A sea or air journey • A memorable moment • An unusual character. Remember to include: • Similes and metaphors to provide imagery • Repetition to emphasise your images • Language that appeals to the senses • A variety of sentences lengths to structure effectively • Colour
Sample Questions on Poetry from Different Cultures
Write essay plans and a sample paragraph for at least four of these questions. 1. Compare “Vultures” with one other poem, showing how the poets explore the idea of injustice. 2. Compare the ways in which the poets present ideas about rich and poor people in “Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes” and one other poem of your choice. Write about: • What rich and poor people are like • What the poets think about rich and poor people • How the poets use language to bring out the differences between the rich and poor • Which poem you prefer and why 3. Compare “Limbo” with one other poem and show how the poets use the sounds of spoken English to present their ideas. 4. Compare the ways in which the poets present different environments in “Night of the Scorpion” and one other poem of your choice. Write about: • What the environments are like • Why the poets use these environments • How the language reveals these environments 5. Compare the ways in which poems can express strong ideas and feelings about a subject in “What Were They Like?” and one other poem. Write about: • What their ideas are
• What their feelings are • The methods they use to reveal their feelings
6. Compare the ways in which the poets present relationships in
“Vultures” and one other poem. 7. Compare how sense of place is used to convey the main themes of the poem in “Nothing’s Changed” and one other poem. 8. Compare how the use of structure is used to enhance the main themes of “Blessing” and one other poem.
Which other poems are linked through the following themes? Contrasting Cultures
Nothing’s Changed Human Attitudes and Relationships What Were They Like? Sense of Place Island Man Repetition Limbo Political / Social Comment Two Scavengers... Sense of Identity Limbo Unusual Form and Presentation What Were They Like? Rich and Poor Blessing First Person Perspective Night of the Scorpion
