Year 11

English Language and Literature

Revision Booklet 2012

English Language Exam (Foundation) 40% of GCSE

2 hours and 15 minutes 15 minutes reading time 1 hour to answer 4 reading questions 1 hour to answer 2 writing questions Reading (1 hour): 3 non-fiction texts (e.g. newspaper article, leaflet, advertisement, webpage, biography, travel writing etc.) Q1a/b Retrieval of information (4+4 marks) Q2 Interpretation (8 marks) Q3 Analysis analysing language PQC (12 marks) Q4 Comparative question presentational devices (12 marks) Hints and Tips Reading Read the question first Highlight / underline key words in the question what is it asking you to do? Skim and scan Active reading as you are reading, underline key points / annotate Look at the images / presentational devices to help you decode the text Writing (1 hour): Q5 writing to inform, explain or describe; 25 minutes (16 marks) Q6 writing to argue or persuade; 35 minutes (24 marks) Hints and Tips - Writing GAP: Genre? Audience? Purpose? Follow the PLAN / WRITE / CHECK structure Use mind maps / lists to plan Check your work carefully: punctuation, spelling, grammar TiPToP paragraphs (time / place / topic / person) Start sentences in different ways Use connectives to join ideas together

English Language Exam (Higher) 40% of GCSE

2 hours and 15 minutes 15 minutes reading time 1 hour to answer 4 reading questions 1 hour to answer 2 writing questions Reading (1 hour): 3 non-fiction texts (e.g. newspaper article, leaflet, advertisement, webpage, biography, travel writing etc.) Q1 Retrieval/interpretation finding information in the text (8 marks) Q2 Effects looking at presentation (8 marks) Q3 Interpretation thoughts and feelings, fact and opinion (8 marks) Q4 Comparative question language analysis (16 marks) Hints and Tips Reading Read the question first Highlight / underline key words in the question what is it asking you to do? Skim and scan Active reading as you are reading, underline key points / annotate Look at the images / presentational devices how do they relate to the text? Writing (1 hour): Q5 writing to inform, explain or describe; 25 minutes (16 marks) Q6 writing to argue or persuade; 35 minutes (24 marks) Hints and Tips - Writing GAP: Genre? Audience? Purpose? Follow the PLAN / WRITE / CHECK structure Check your work carefully: punctuation, spelling, grammar Variety: vocabulary; punctuation; sentence structure Adapt your writing to suit the purpose e.g. use of rhetorical questions or rule of 3 if writing to persuade

English Literature Exam (Foundation) 40% of GCSE

1 hour 30 minutes Section A answer one question on An Inspector Calls (45 minutes) Choice of two questions only answer one 30 marks each Questions may ask about how the writer presents characters / themes / places etc. Section B answer one question (part a and b) on Of Mice and Men (45 minutes) Part a) will ask you to analyse a given extract Part b) will ask you to look at the novel as a whole You will need to consider what you know about context (e.g. attitudes towards racism / women / the American dream etc.) Hints and Tips Highlight / underline key words in the question Always do a PLAN first (mind map or list) Remember PQC A lot about a little choose short quotations that you can comment on in detail

English Literature Exam (Higher) 40% of GCSE

1 hour 30 minutes Section A answer one question on An Inspector Calls or The Crucible(45 minutes) Choice of two questions only answer one 30 marks each Questions may ask about how the writer presents characters / themes / places etc. Section B answer one question (part a and b) on Of Mice and Men or To Kill a Mockingbird (45 minutes) Part a) will ask you to analyse a given extract Part b) will ask you to look at the novel as a whole You will need to consider what you know about context (e.g. attitudes towards racism / women / the American dream etc.) Hints and Tips Highlight / underline key words in the question Always do a PLAN first (mind map or list) Use quotations to support your points Embed quotations in to your own writing Focus on analysing the language / techniques used A lot about a little choose short quotations that you can comment on in detail

Suggested Revision Activities

English Language Practise reading non-fiction texts (see the list above) Practise identifying key points Practise spotting techniques (e.g. persuasive devices / language used to entertain / presentational devices) Learn the sorts of techniques writers use (there is a list of key terms at the end of this booklet) Learn how to spell the key English words (see the Literacy area of the school website) Practise drawing comparisons between texts Complete past paper questions English Literature Re-read your texts (Of Mice and Men / To Kill a Mockingbird and An Inspector Calls / The Crucible) Use the notes you have made in class and (if you have one) the notes in the revision guide to help you Create mind maps exploring how the writer presents key characters, places and themes Make sure you know the difference between a simile and a metaphor etc. (see the list of key terms at the end of this booklet) Practise writing PQC paragraphs about characters, places and themes Complete past paper questions

Language Term 2 person pronoun

nd

Definition The word you I (singular) or we (plural) The technical term for a command Statements or data that can be proved to be true Saying the same thing more than once to add emphasis Listing 3 things / reasons to add emphasis This does not need an answer The most extreme form of the adjective (e.g. biggest / best / smallest / most ) Word which describes a noun

1st person pronoun Imperative Facts and statistics

Repetition

Rule of 3

Rhetorical question Superlative

Adjective

Adverb

Word which describes a verb

Literature Term Simile Metaphor

Definition A comparison using as / like Describing something as though it is something else Giving something human characteristics Starting successive words with the same letter Reporting what the character says in speech marks Word which describes a noun

Personification

Alliteration

Direct reported speech / dialogue

Adjective

Adverb

Word which describes a verb

Useful phrases to start your comment: This suggests This implies This creates the impression This makes the reader feel The use of the word suggests By using a metaphor, the writer suggests