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The more difficult topicsThe more difficult topics

Link QuestionsLink Questions

Link questions act as a link between Link questions act as a link between understanding and analysis, so understanding and analysis, so although it is officially coded u, there although it is officially coded u, there will be similarity between this type of will be similarity between this type of question and analysis questions.question and analysis questions.

Remember links always go Remember links always go backwards and forwards in some backwards and forwards in some relevant way.relevant way.

Showing How the Link WorksShowing How the Link WorksIn answering link questions fully, you In answering link questions fully, you must consider/identify four things:must consider/identify four things:

1.1. What word or phrase in the sentence What word or phrase in the sentence links back to the idea(s) of the previous links back to the idea(s) of the previous section?section?

2.2. What word or phrase links forward to the What word or phrase links forward to the ideas in the rest of the present section?ideas in the rest of the present section?

3.3. Explain what the backward word/phrase Explain what the backward word/phrase refers to from the previous paragraph.refers to from the previous paragraph.

4.4. Explain what the forward word/phrase Explain what the forward word/phrase refers to from the following paragraph.refers to from the following paragraph.

Understanding SummaryUnderstanding SummaryUnderstanding questions give you a Understanding questions give you a chance to show how well you have chance to show how well you have understood the writer’s ideas, and how the understood the writer’s ideas, and how the passage is structured. passage is structured.

Recognise that completing understanding Recognise that completing understanding questions helps you to grasp the central questions helps you to grasp the central ideas of the passage, and so can often ideas of the passage, and so can often help you complete the final question.help you complete the final question.

Remember that link answers usually Remember that link answers usually should have should have four four specific parts.specific parts.

AnalysisAnalysisAnalysis questions ask you to consider and Analysis questions ask you to consider and explain what a writer explain what a writer doesdoes to make their to make their point. point.

When to analyse:When to analyse:

the question is coded Athe question is coded A

it asks “show how”it asks “show how”

a particular feature or technique is named a particular feature or technique is named in the questionin the question

there is an instruction to look at the writer’s there is an instruction to look at the writer’s language.language.

Common Mistakes in AnalysisCommon Mistakes in Analysis11stst Category: Category: ignoranceignorance

Candidates assume Candidates assume language language simply simply means meaning , and means meaning , and so paraphrase the so paraphrase the lineslines

Pupils don’t know the Pupils don’t know the difference between difference between word choice and word choice and imagery.imagery.

22ndnd Category: fear Category: fear

Pupils allow analysis Pupils allow analysis questions to intimidate questions to intimidate them, so either don’t them, so either don’t attempt these attempt these questions or do so questions or do so rather half-heartedly.rather half-heartedly.

Assuming they’re too Assuming they’re too difficult, candidates fail difficult, candidates fail to realise a systematic to realise a systematic approach works.approach works.

Analysis Question TypesAnalysis Question TypesWord ChoiceWord Choice

This is a simple idea.This is a simple idea.Why did a writer use that word? Not Why did a writer use that word? Not just what does it mean? More, what just what does it mean? More, what does that word offer that another does does that word offer that another does not? in other words, what are the not? in other words, what are the connotationsconnotations of that word? of that word?Rule: always use the word Rule: always use the word connotationconnotation in a word choice answer. in a word choice answer.

Word Choice Answer SystemWord Choice Answer System1.1. Quote exactly what word or (short) Quote exactly what word or (short)

phrase you are going to consider.phrase you are going to consider.2.2. Explain the connotations of this word, Explain the connotations of this word,

and so the effect of the writer’s word and so the effect of the writer’s word choice.choice.

3.3. In most cases choose a second example In most cases choose a second example and follow the first two steps above; it and follow the first two steps above; it really depends on the question. really depends on the question.

4.4. End by checking you’ve answered the End by checking you’ve answered the question.question.

Summary of Word ChoiceSummary of Word Choice

You get You get no marksno marks for picking out the for picking out the interesting or relevant words.interesting or relevant words.

You get You get no marksno marks for picking out the for picking out the words and then explaining only what words and then explaining only what they mean.they mean.

All the marksAll the marks arise from the arise from the discussion of the discussion of the connotationsconnotations of of the relevant words. the relevant words.

ImageryImageryImagery does not mean descriptive Imagery does not mean descriptive writing. Often good descriptive writing writing. Often good descriptive writing does contain examples of imagery. does contain examples of imagery. Technically, imagery relates to three Technically, imagery relates to three figures of speech: simile, metaphor and figures of speech: simile, metaphor and personification.personification.You must understand that imagery You must understand that imagery works with the literal and the figurative, works with the literal and the figurative, it uses comparisons to clarify ideas.it uses comparisons to clarify ideas.

Imagery QuestionsImagery Questions

These questions ask you to analyse These questions ask you to analyse the effects of imagery. the effects of imagery.

Steps to follow: Steps to follow:

1.1. Identify the technique being usedIdentify the technique being used

2.2. Show you understand the literalShow you understand the literal

3.3. Describe the effect of the image Describe the effect of the image (explain how the literal and (explain how the literal and metaphorical come together). metaphorical come together).

Breaking Down Literal and Breaking Down Literal and Metaphorical Metaphorical

Imagery answers must show you’ve grasped the Imagery answers must show you’ve grasped the literal origin of the image. Use the phrase literal origin of the image. Use the phrase “literally”.“literally”.E.g. Show how writer’s use of imagery clarifies E.g. Show how writer’s use of imagery clarifies people’s concerns about immigration (2)people’s concerns about immigration (2)

““swamped by a tidal wave of immigration”swamped by a tidal wave of immigration”1.1. Metaphor “tidal wave” Metaphor “tidal wave” 2.2. literally a huge destructive force of waterliterally a huge destructive force of water3.3. Image suggests immigration is a massive Image suggests immigration is a massive

problem which is out of control and endangers problem which is out of control and endangers people.people.

For more marks, say a 4 mark question, you’d need For more marks, say a 4 mark question, you’d need to go into more detailed explanation in part 3.to go into more detailed explanation in part 3.

StructureStructure

An effective article will have an identifiable An effective article will have an identifiable structurestructure

Most common:Most common:A proposition (argument)A proposition (argument)A discussionA discussionA conclusionA conclusion

Look out for the first words in paragraphs Look out for the first words in paragraphs acting as signposts. acting as signposts.

Also consider topic sentences as signals to Also consider topic sentences as signals to progress in the argument. progress in the argument.

Links between paragraphs are also helpful. Links between paragraphs are also helpful.

Sentence StructureSentence Structure

These questions ask candidates to These questions ask candidates to explain how the writer’s structure of explain how the writer’s structure of a sentence(s) reinforces meaning. a sentence(s) reinforces meaning.

When considering sentence structure When considering sentence structure remember remember

S4P WLVS4P WLV

The most common ones to come up The most common ones to come up are the following: are the following:

1.1. Punctuation and lists (patterns)Punctuation and lists (patterns)2.2. Length of sentenceLength of sentence3.3. Patterns: use of climax or anticlimaxPatterns: use of climax or anticlimax4.4. Patterns (again): RepetitionPatterns (again): Repetition5.5. Word orderWord orderRemember, don’t simply identify the feature Remember, don’t simply identify the feature

of structure. of structure. Rule: Always comment on the feature’s Rule: Always comment on the feature’s

function and effect. function and effect.

Tone, Mood and AtmosphereTone, Mood and Atmosphere

Tone is important in your appreciation Tone is important in your appreciation of the passages you read. of the passages you read.

It is important to take an overview of It is important to take an overview of the passage. As you read it for the the passage. As you read it for the first time you should try to identify first time you should try to identify the tone. As you read ask how does the tone. As you read ask how does the writer feel about this topic? This the writer feel about this topic? This answer will give you the obvious tone answer will give you the obvious tone of the passage. of the passage.

Common Mistakes Tone, Mood Common Mistakes Tone, Mood AtmosphereAtmosphere

Avoid writing four or five different Avoid writing four or five different words to identify the tone in the vain words to identify the tone in the vain hope that you will pick the right one hope that you will pick the right one at some point. Choose one or two at some point. Choose one or two and back it up with examples from and back it up with examples from the passage. the passage.

EvaluationEvaluation

These questions ask you to explain These questions ask you to explain how well a writer achieves a how well a writer achieves a particular effect.particular effect.

Although these questions are asking Although these questions are asking you to evaluate, to do so, you must you to evaluate, to do so, you must analyse too. analyse too.

Watch out for questions coded E and Watch out for questions coded E and another letter.another letter.

Questions on Both PassagesQuestions on Both PassagesYou must read these final questions You must read these final questions particularly carefully. particularly carefully. Work out whether the question is asking Work out whether the question is asking you to consider style, ideas or a you to consider style, ideas or a combination. You must approach each type combination. You must approach each type of final question in a slightly different way. of final question in a slightly different way. It is definatly worth spending some extra It is definatly worth spending some extra time on this answer, as it can be worth a time on this answer, as it can be worth a high number of marks. high number of marks. Unlike previous questions, you should write Unlike previous questions, you should write a mini-essay in response to this question.a mini-essay in response to this question.

Questions on Both PassagesQuestions on Both PassagesStyleStyle

This covers how the writer makes their points This covers how the writer makes their points i.e. all the work you’ve done on analysis i.e. all the work you’ve done on analysis

Possible things to consider: imagery, word Possible things to consider: imagery, word choice, tone, structure etcchoice, tone, structure etc

IdeasIdeas

ThisThis covers the content and argument of the covers the content and argument of the passage i.e. all the things you’ve considered passage i.e. all the things you’ve considered from your understanding of the passage. from your understanding of the passage.

Both Passages Top TipsBoth Passages Top TipsAlways do this question, even if your not Always do this question, even if your not going to finish the paper.going to finish the paper.

you must refer to the passage frequently. you must refer to the passage frequently.

Use the PEE chain. Use the PEE chain.

Be realistic about how much you should Be realistic about how much you should write. write.

Aim to write intro addressing the question Aim to write intro addressing the question and four or five explained examples in and four or five explained examples in support of your answer. If time, add a very support of your answer. If time, add a very brief conclusion.brief conclusion.

Final WordsFinal Words

Watch timeWatch time

Be succinct; note form until last Be succinct; note form until last questionquestion

Use question strategiesUse question strategies

Always end by checking you’ve Always end by checking you’ve actually answered the questionactually answered the question

Attempt every questionAttempt every question

Good luck!Good luck!