GCSE Language Non-Fiction

Q: Explain how the presentational devices (headline, images, text font/colour/size, use of text boxes, logos, structure) support the text's purpose.  8 marks (12 minutes)

(Remember to use PEA format for answering this ie Point, evidenence, analysis.
Aim to make 3-5 points and explain the evidence to support each point)

The AQA guide to reading and understanding Texts

This is the AQA guide to reading and understanding texts for Section A of your lanuguage exam.  Have a look as part of your revision. It is useful to know what your examiners recommend and what they are looking for.

Good luck on Tuesday

URGENT

Please do not think that you can waltz into your final exam with no preparation.  It is worth 40% of your total GCSE in English language and so is very important.

Read my posts for this exam (AQA GCSE English Language Non-fiction Unit 1).  Follow my links to the AQA website (enter GCSE and English Language into the seach options) to have a look at some past papers and look at the powerpoints we have used in class to prepare for this exam.  Also, have a look at this website.  It has been put together by a leading English teacher with decades of experience and is very useful.  If you have invested in the revision booklets for this exam, then read them and do some practise questions.

EQUIPMENT: You will need:

1. Highlighers for the exam
2. Pens that work
3. A reliable watch

REVISION TIPS:

• You need to revise the features of different types of writing (ie persuasive, descriptive, informative)
• Presentational features (font, image, headline, size, sub-heading, text box, bullet points etc)
• Language techniques (word choice, register, imagery, figurative language, emotive, technical etc)
• How to address and sign off a letter
• Persuasive techniques (AFOREST)
• Counter argument (Many people think...; however, evidense shows...)

SKILLS:

• PEEA (point, evidence, explanation, analysis)
• Writing with a variety of sentence structures and lengths for effect (simple, compound and complex)
• Paragraphs: organising your ideas into pargraphs (3-5 per side of A4)
• Linking ideas using connectives
• Writing with the appropriate register (ie formal or informal) for the task
• Calm reading and picking out the important/relevant facts and techniques
• Comparison - being able to draw links between two different texts (when in doubt just introduce each new point with a comparsion connective ie On the other hand, in contrast etc)

EXAM SCHEDULE:

1. Spend first 5 minutes reading the questions in Section A
2. Spend next 10 minutes reading and annotating the texts - picking out relevant language techniques, presentational features to answer the questions - use highlighters and pens for this
3. Spend approx 12 minutes on each 8 mark question
4. Spend 24 minutes on a 16 mark question
5. Spend in total 1 hour on Section A
6.  Spend 25 minutes on the first question in Section B
7. Spend 35 minutes on the second question in Section B

AQA English Language Unit 1

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English language exam writing questions

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English Language Non-Fiction Section B

GCSE English Lanuage Exam Section B: WRITING

You should spend 60 minutes on this section

25 minutes on Question 5

35 minutes on Question 6

Both questions are compulsary: there is no choice

Identify the GAP (genre, audience, purpose) of each task and write appropriately to task

Plan your work carefully - think about the structure

Write about 2 sides of A4 for each (REMEMBER TO PARAGRAPH 3-5 paragraphs per side of A4)

Q5:  This will ask you to write to explain, describe

Writing to Describe/Explain:

• Explanations have analysis in them so you need to break down all the details of what you have to explain into the main componants, put them in order and then expore the effectos of each part
• Your writing needs to be authoritative in tone, have a balanced view point and be objective
• Use a clear paragraph structure
• Develop your ideas , building layers to interest the reader
• Create a clear picture using small but interesting details
• Use a range of sentence structures
• Use a variey of punctuation
• Ensure your spelling is accurate
• Use a variety of interesting vocabulary
• Use a variey of advervbs and adjectives
• Use a range of imagery through figurative language
• Include a wide range of detail
• Use sensory description

Q6: This question will ask you to write to argue or persuade

Writing to persuade:

• Alliteration
• Facts/figures
• Opinion - include your own and other peoples opinions
• Rhetorial question - use rhetoric to create emphasis and effect
• Exaggerate - use exaggeration and hyperbole to emphasis your point of view and use EMOTIVE language (appeal to the reader's feelings/emtions)
• Second person narrative - address the reader   'You' and use imperative verbs such as 'act now', 'listen'
• The rule of three - and repetition
• Plan to write 3-5 paragraphs per side of A4
• A new point and persuasive technique in each paragraph
• Use a mix of short and long sentences
• Aim to start and finish paragraphs with a short sentence

Writing to argue:

• Start with your thesis:  It is a well know fact that ...
• Balanced sentences
• Use counter argument ie Many people may have been led to believe that...: however, recent statistics show...
• Formal language
• Opinions and specifica examples
• Range and variety of points
• Listing
• Hyperbole
• Emotive language
• Syllogistic argument (if, but, then - remember Coy Mistress)



Questions 1-4 Non-Fiction Exam

Non-Fiction Texts Exam

Question 1

• Provide a summary of what you have leaned from the article
• Ensure that you deduce and infer meanings rather than just state the obvious
• Provide 'connections and comments' about the concerns raised in the text
• Use quotes to support your answer
• You do not need to analyse language features (no PQE)

Question 2 

• Avoid general answers - be specific
• What does the image show?  Does it contradict or support the article?  Is it ironic?
• When responding tho the headlines or anything with words in, concentrate on each individual word, its meaning and how it links to the article. 
• If there is a language technique being used - name it and say why its being used
• Similarly name the presentational feature
• Use quotes where appropriate
• Use PQE

Key words:  font, colour, headlines, sub-headings, logos, slogans, tabloid, pictures, quotations, photographs, diagrams, italics, bullet-points, text wrap, charts, caption

Question 3

• Ensure you only write about the parts of the text that are relevant (ie only the parts that are tense and exciting or where you find out what the writer is feeling)
• Avoid comments suc as 'it makes you want to read on'
• Practise explaining why the writing is effective for the reader by making perceptive comments related to: your own experience, other parts of the text, or the context of the situation
• Write in detail
• Use quotes to support your points

Question 4

• This one tests yuor language analysis and knowledge of language techniques and the effect of them on the reader
• Use PQE throughout
• Use comparison connectives (one the other hand, similarly, in contrast etc)
• This question has 16 marks so your answer needs to be twice as informed as your previous answers
• The best responses from candidates are ones that pick out exciting techniques using a quote and then really analyse the quote and technique in detail, using close word analysis and evaluative comments.
• In addition to this, you need to pic kout a similar point to compare the quote to from the other article.

Key words:  informal, formal, technical, scientific, emotive, serious, descriptive, first person, second person, third person, humorous, impersonal, fact, opinion, colloquial, ironic, repetition, informative, bias, anecdote, persuasive, rhetorical, hyperbole, alliteration, imagery

REMEMBER to expand your answers fully.  Here are some sentence starters to make your answer effective:
This quote suggests...
The words '...' suggest...
The reason a (simile) is being used is ...
This quote could also suggest ...
This is ironic because ...
This image juxtaposes with the article because...
This article excites me because ...

GCSE Non-Fiction 29th May 2012

I have been trudging through the net to find you the best revision sources for this exam.

Its an important exam.

It is worth 40% of your whole GCSE English Language

I will be adding more material over the next week - SO STAY TUNED

Here is another teacher's revision on non-fiction texts - they explain very clearly the importance of GAP and how knowing the features of different types of writing is key to being able to comment on them and write them yourself.

Non Fiction - Pat

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