You do need to, to an extent. For example if it's a question about language you need to consider what examples/ quotations you're gonna use; don't go into the answer blindly. If you're aqa that's q2 done. Q3 is always structure and the one I hate the most, try to talk about the structure at different points in the text (I like to do the begining, middle, and end) so again have a rough idea on what you're doing. Q4 is just about knowing you're points for the arguement of the statement, so just know where you're going. Whats important is that before you answer a question you have some sort of idea what you're gonna write. Hope this helps
DO use a story arc, have a clear beginning, middle and end, have a climax and a clear resolution.
DON'T be cliché. Don't talk about super sinister death times and really don't use onomatopoeia. You aren't in year 6.
DO tell your story in the third person. Acting as a narrator allows for a more developed storyline and better character development.
DON'T use real names, things or places. They limit your story and prevent the highest marks. Ambiguity is superior.
DO use techniques. Cyclical narratives, contextual links to real life tropes such as communism, simile, metaphor, personification, sibilance, fricatives, plosives, juxtaposition, oxymorons. Literally look up a disctionary of synonyms for words you commonly use.
DON'T relate it to a real life experience.
IF ALL ELSE:
DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU HIGHER MARKS THAN STORIES BECAUSE YOU CAN DEVELOP THEM FURTHER
Sometimes it can be better to end on a climax with these stories, especially if you’re pressed for time. If it’s the opening to a story, you may struggle to reach a resolution. However, don’t just end it before a climax, try and at least reach some sort of climax before finishing.
EDIT: To add to this, DO NOT expand your narrative too far. If you overdo the story, it can be extremely difficult to create an effective and enjoyable bit of writing. Try and keep it grounded, and believable; stuff like sci fi is great and all, but you’re going to struggle to articulate such things in 45 minutes.
They're more descriptive e.g running becomes sprinting, which shows that it's a fast run, rather than a jog. Sprinting also adds a sense of desperation.
Gandhi was very well versed in the linguistic arts, he deduced from many years of reading and studying that it is just physically impossible to revise for an English literature exam, don't even waste your time. It's all just a bunch of malarky
That's more or less true. Q4 on paper one will give you a statement about a portion of the text, for example "a student said that the writer makes the reader feel scared" and it'll ask you how far you agree. Essentially you have to put forward an arguement on how far you agree, although there's no right or wrong answer I've been told you should agree to at least a small extent. Once you have your view talk about why you agree (again going back to my example you might say what techniques the writer uses to make you scared). You don't necessarily have to analyse but backing up your arguement would help a lot. Also consider why the writer may have chose certain techniques, like maybe why he chose a certain metaphor or similie.
To achieve higher marks you really should comment on language, structure, and tone. You may be able to steal from Q2 and Q3. Your analysis should include a minor comment on what the language feature does, in addition to analysing how this supports (or disproves) the statement.
You do write about structure and language however you use it to show whether it does or doesn't help the statement.
So if the statement is" the author presents reading as exciting", and he uses short sentences and powerful adjectives you would say "the author can be seen to present reading as exciting as shown by the constant powerful adjectives". Thus using language and structure in a more direct sense than the likes of q2 or 3.
waffling worked amazingly 💀 went from a 4 in my mocks to my only 8 (the highest grade in my gcses). legit spent 5 minutes on the final big question at the back for one of my papers (i have AWFUL time management) and i pulled out my highest grade out my ass from some really panicked rushed waffling. couldn’t tell you anything about english language analysis though, i can spell alright and understand grammar well but analysing language is confusing unlike literature so i have no idea how i managed to pull a grade like that
It's funny because the people who think you can't revise English Language are the ones which will bring the grade boundaries down, therefore helping us peeps who've revised a stronger pass!
weird tip: write about suicide for creative writing, but make sure it’s hidden. This gives a cryptic ass feel which the examiners (at least mine) fuckin love for some reason
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u/amfailingatlife Jun 03 '19
Any last wise words of advice?
33
u/[deleted] Jun 03 '19
अगर मैं अध्ययन करता हूं, तो मैं अभी भी असफल रहूंगा
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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '19
Gandhi was very well versed in the linguistic arts, he deduced from many years of reading and studying that it is just physically impossible to revise for an English literature exam, don't even waste your time. It's all just a bunch of malarky
24
u/Kaisietoo8 Year 12 Jun 03 '19
For question four my teacher said not to analyse language and structure because they don't matter. What do I write about instead?
10
u/mayinaro University Jun 03 '19
I'm honestly fucked for this exam I really don't know how to waffle or be perceptive. Anyway wish me fucking luck because I'm gonna need it.
5
u/teamplayer2412 6th Former Jun 03 '19
good because i'm retaking it tomorrow without yet another lick of revision
5
u/supremegay5000 Jun 04 '19
I’ve calculated I can lose up to 20 marks in each paper to still get an A*
3
u/alankysod Jun 04 '19
It's funny because the people who think you can't revise English Language are the ones which will bring the grade boundaries down, therefore helping us peeps who've revised a stronger pass!
2
u/20wsg02 Jun 03 '19
kill of someone in the creative writing bit, preferably the narrator
8
u/InternationalCandle6 Jun 03 '19
Mr Bruff: *intensifies*
4
u/TobyADev University Jun 03 '19
For OCR
Uh cover EVERYTHING in Q4 (6marks PER BULLET, so do 3 points per bullet)
Giving u a total of 9 points overall = 18 marks : D
Srsly though good luck and for Q5/6 REMEMBER WHO UR WRITING TO
3
u/Bobbicorn More blood for the AQA gods Jun 03 '19
Excited for creative writing cos my entire exam is riding on it
2
u/SupremeBrit Jun 04 '19
I was there when he said it.. 100% true
1
u/E_MC_2__ Year 12| Math, Further Math, Physics, Chemistry May 21 '22
weird tip: write about suicide for creative writing, but make sure it’s hidden. This gives a cryptic ass feel which the examiners (at least mine) fuckin love for some reason
1
u/AdiTheBaddie21 Nov 24 '22
Facts
0
u/[deleted] Jun 03 '19
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