Thetford Grammar School

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE REVISION GUIDE 2015 You can use this booklet to help you go through each of the 6 sections of paper. Each page covers one of the questions. To begin: Ask yourself which questions caused you most problems? or Did you get less than half marks on a question? Go to the relevant page in this document which covers that question. Make sure that you read it thoroughly with your parents and consider what you need to do to add marks. The questions follow a pattern and as you will see later. If you want to see the reading materials for the past 3 papers you can find them on the AQA website. We will have electronic copies on the school site asap. The AQA address is below: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-4705/past-papers-and-mark-schemes

From there you can select the paper of your choice. Have a go at responding to the question or talking it through with your parents. We will cover this in class too but remember, revision is important because you become independent, which is the last skill you need to develop before exams.

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GCSE English Language Paper 1

General points to remember The English Language paper is a themed paper so there is a connection between the texts and all the tasks. In section A you will read a series of texts and show that you can identify the ideas and the styles of each text. You will then be asked to write in two of those styles in section B Therefore you can copy elements of those styles in your own writing if you want to. If you are stuck for ideas then use the material that you have just read too. Reading Section A There will be three texts to read and you will be asked question on each one before being asked to compare two texts at the end. Q. always remember this anagram TAP (Text type, Audience, Purpose) Basically this means: What is it? Who is it aimed at? What does it do? What is it? = Text type The three texts are usually of the following style: an informative magazine article, a newspaper article and a piece of literary non-fiction; often a piece of travel writing. Who is it aimed at? = Audience Remember the audience clock? If not ask yourself what the gender and age of the reader should be for each text? What does it do? = Purpose In general the texts will usually fit one of the following purposes; to: inform / explain / describe. However good students like you should be prepared to say that each text performs two of those purposes. With this information you can begin to respond to the questions.

Reading Section B You will be required to produce two forms of writing; one short and one longer piece. All the tasks from the past papers are in this booklet and the idea is that you see a pattern emerging to help you prepare for the exam.

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Inference and Retrieval. (Average score in the past 6/8) Look at the questions below from the past 6 papers . What patterns can you identify? 

Read Source 1, the online travel article called Rafting on the Grand Canyon by Elisabeth Hyde. What do you learn from Hyde’s article about where she has been and what she has been doing? (8 marks) 

Read Source 1, the online newspaper article called Britain’s big problem with water by Geoffrey Lean. What do you learn from Lean’s article about the issues of rainfall and flooding in Britain? (8 marks) 

Read Source 1, Lifesaving with Class, by Rory Stamp, from the RNLI magazine, the lifeboat. What do you learn from the article about the Beach to City programme run by the RNLI? (8 marks)  Read Source 1, the article called Street Life by Sophie Haydock. What do you understand about Haydock’s experience and the issues of homelessness? (8 marks)

 Read Source 1, Will turning vegetarian save the planet? by Alex Renton. What do you understand about the issues of vegetarianism and eating meat from the article? (8 marks)  Read Source 1, Children ‘are being denied sheer joy of the outdoors’ by Oliver Moody. What do you understand from the article about the issues of children and the outdoors? (8 marks)

This is the retrieval question that asks you to identify the main ideas in text 1. It is usually based upon the magazine article, which will have many facts and a clear structure. It will have an introduction before a series of paragraphs that will outline the information one paragraph at a time. (the PEE structure) It will then conclude. 1.

You are being asked to find the main points of the article (retrieve them) and write them down. This will give you half marks. Use the topic sentence in each paragraph to guide you. 2. Good answers re-phrase the question in the beginning of the answer before going on to develop the response. How do you develop the response? You do this by using the word ‘also’, or ‘it could also mean…’ etc this is the inference part of the question. Find the source material and have a go. Or choose any article and practice this question. 3

Presentation (average score in the past 5/8) Look at the questions below from the past 6 papers. What patterns can you identify? 

Now read Source 2, the article and the picture which goes with it called Fearsome Tyrannosaurusrex Sue may have died of a sore throat by Ian Sample.

Explain how the headline, sub-headline and picture are effective and how they link with the text. (8 marks)

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Now read Source 2, the article and the picture which goes with it called Four amputations, 13 hours – one extraordinary swim by John Lichfield.

Explain how the headline, sub-headline and picture are effective and how they link to the text. (8 marks)

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Now read Source 2, the article and the picture which goes with it called, Trapped Chilean miners: rescue drill reaches their refuge at last by David Batty.

Explain how the headline and picture are effective and how they link to the text. (8 marks) 

Now read Source 2, the newspaper story and the picture which goes with it called Homes and crops wrecked, but relief sweeps Queensland in Yasi’s wake by Adam Gabbatt.

Explain how the headline and picture are effective and how they link to the text. (8 marks)

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Now read Source 2, ‘A Ticking time bomb’: Teenage girls’ junk food diet leaves them starved of vitamins by Fiona Macrae. Explain how the headline and picture are effective and how they link to the text. (8 marks)

 Now read Source 2, Forget the X Factor... Mongolia’s got talons. Explain how the headline and picture, with caption, are effective and how they link to the text. (8 marks)

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This question will ask you about the presentational features. The text is usually a newspaper of the broadsheet style so do you know the features of a broadsheet? Think about: Longer headlines or subheadings. Inference or subtle puns. The examiner will be looking for how you ‘explain the effect’ of the techniques used by the headline writer and picture editor. How do you do this? Good students identify the technique or feature and they say why the technique was useful for summarising that particular news story. A phrase such as the one below ‘ the editor uses the technique of alliteration to engage the reader (1 mark), in particular the words x,x and x summarise the main events of the story which is about (y). (1mark). They also suggest the possibility of … (2 marks)’ Already you have 4 marks which is close to average for this question, because you have tried to use more inference and implication. The sentence underlined in bold italics does not do enough to get good marks. The way to get closer to an A grade is to say how the headline gives you as much information as you need before you read on. Note headline writers use the techniques of poetry, techniques from the Inspector’s final speech, and they are also very clever with their syntax and implication. Mentioning any of these techniques will be beneficial. Syntax is word order and implication is suggesting what might be happening. Find the source material and have a go. Or choose any article and practice this question.

Explain and infer (Average score in the past 5/8) Look at the questions below from the past 6 papers. What patterns can you identify?

 Now read Source 3, Everest The Hard Way, which is an extract from a non-fiction book. Explain which parts of Boardman’s story of the return to Camp 6 you find tense and exciting. (8 marks)  Now read Source 3, Ferry across the lake, which is an extract from a non-fiction book. Explain some of the thoughts and feelings Ondaatje has about his experience of Lake Victoria. (8 marks)  Now read Source 3, Saved, which is an extract from a non-fiction book. Explain some of the thoughts and feelings Parrado and Canessa have whilst searching for rescue. (8 marks) 

Now read Source 3, War-time Homes which is an extract from a non-fiction book by Michael Caine. 5

Explain some of the thoughts and feelings Caine has about the places where he lived during the war. (8 marks) Now read Source 3, Motorbikes and Pyramids by Ewan McGregor. Explain some of the thoughts and feelings the writer has during his journey to the pyramids. (8 marks) Now read Source 3, In Search of Olives which is an extract from a non-fiction book. Explain some of the thoughts and feelings the writer has during her journey. (8 marks)

This is the literary non-fiction text and so it will combine some features of explanation but also many literary and descriptive features so you need to combine all you language and literature skills. It will have lots of similes, emotive language and description. This is the ‘explain and infer question and it requires a different approach to Q1. Here you should find a quote or a language feature. Then say 2-3 things about it to explain the subtlety of the words. Again literary writers use the techniques of poetry, techniques from the Inspector’s final speech, and they are also very clever with their syntax and implication too Mentioning any of these techniques will be beneficial. How do you explain and develop the response? You do this by using the word ‘also’, or ‘it could also mean…’ etc or even better use words such as ‘possibly’ or ‘this suggests’ . Words such as these put yourself into a position to show that you are capable of saying clever things about a text …even if you say the obvious!. For example you could say ‘When x says it was ‘wonderous, marvellous stupendous’ this is the rule of three which is designed to build up the emotions. Here the writer is building up his feelings for … Find the source material and have a go. Or choose any article and practice this question.

Comparison and language (Average score in the past: 11/16) Look at the questions below from the past 4 papers. What patterns can you identify? 

Now you need to refer to Source 3, Everest The Hard Way and either Source 1 or 2. You are going to compare the two texts, one of which you have chosen.

Compare the different ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse what the effects are. (16 marks) 

Now refer to Source 3, Ferry across the lake and either Source 1 or 2. You are going to compare the two texts, one of which you have chosen.

Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse the effects. (16 marks) 

Now you need to refer to Source 3, Saved, and either Source 1 or 2. You are going to compare two texts, one of which you have chosen. 6

Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse what the effects are. (16 marks) 

Now you need to refer to Source 3, War-time Homes, and either Source 1 or 2. You are going to compare two texts, one of which you have chosen.

Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse the effects. (16 marks) Now you need to refer to Source 3, In Search of Olives and either Source 1 or Source 2. You are going to compare the use of language in two texts, one of which you have chosen. Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse the effects. (16 marks) Now you need to refer to Source 3, Motorbikes and Pyramids, and either Source 1 or Source 2. You are going to compare the use of language in two texts, one of which you have chosen. Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse the effects. (16 marks)

This is the comparison question and you are now repeating all the things that you have done so far but you need to identify the similarities and differences between two texts of your choice. Do not forget that you have said many things about these texts already and you can repeat these ideas if you want …however… Do not think that spotting a difference and saying only that will be enough. Many students achieve around 10/16 because they do not add one crucial thing to all the inferences they have made so far. What is that crucial difference? Saying that the main aim of the article is to either inform/explain/describe and this particular feature is another example of that tone. A sentence which ends your paragraph with a phrase such as: ‘ and so this is an example of informative writing which is different to the descriptive passages in X…’ will help focus on this issue. Find the source material and have a go. Or choose any article and practice this question.

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Section B: Writing Answer both questions in this section. You are advised to spend about one hour on this section. For the first task you are advised to spend about 25 minutes and one side of A4 on question 6. (16 marks) Traditionally the examiners choose styles such as letters and articles, so do you know what they look like? Blogs can be diary style if you get that choice. Be prepared to be asked to combine two purposes such as inform & describe etc Be clear about your audience and remember that the person who reads it will be an adult who has a degree so write for them. Try to write approximately one page in your answer booklet. Have a go at some of these: 

Write a brief article for a website of your choice telling your readers about an interesting or unusual journey or travel experience you have had. Explain why it was memorable. (16 marks)

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A place can appear to be very different if you visit it at different times of year. Choose a place that you know well and describe it at two different times of year for a travel website. (16 marks)

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A new TV series ‘Dream Jobs’ is giving people the chance to work in their dream job for a day. Write a letter to the producers explaining what your dream job would be and why you would love to try it.

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Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. Describe a decision that you, or someone you know, had to make and explain the consequences. Your piece will appear in the Real Lives section of your local newspaper. (16 marks)

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Write an entry for your online blog which describes a time when you felt uncertain or unsure about a situation you were in and explain how you overcame it. You should aim to write no more than two and a half sides in response to this question. (16 marks) Blog: a regular online piece of personal writing.

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Write a letter which you hope will be published in your local newspaper. Inform readers what leisure facilities are available for young people and families in your area and explain how you think they could be improved. (16 marks)

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The travel section of your local newspaper is inviting readers to write about their favourite place. Write a letter to the editor describing a favourite place you know and explaining why others would like it. (16 marks)

Remember you will have read an article by now so be prepared to copy its style. As I said earlier, it will have an introduction before a series of paragraphs that will outline the information one paragraph at a time. (the PEE structure). It will then conclude.

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And guess what? Good writers use the techniques of poetry, techniques from the Inspector’s final speech, and they are also very clever with their syntax and implication too. Using any of these techniques will be beneficial. You are advised to spend about 35 minutes and two sides of A4 on question 7. (24 marks) Try some of these questions from the past few papers. Choose an activity or hobby that you are interested in. Write an article for your school or college magazine persuading other students to try it. Your school or college is inviting entries for a writing competition. The topic is “Dangerous sports activities and pastimes are selfish, often put others at risk and should be discouraged.” Write your entry arguing for or against this view. (24 marks) It has been said that: ‘People who save lives or help improve the lives of others are the true role models of today.’ Write an article for a newspaper in which you argue your view about what makes a good role model. (24 marks) Many people believe that it is our duty to cut back on our use of the world’s resources, and that we must invest in greener forms of energy for the future – whatever the cost. Write an article for an environmental website which argues for or against this idea. (24 marks) Life is too easy for young people today. They lack challenges and don’t have to fight for anything.’ Write an article for a magazine of your choice which persuades your readers that this statement is either right or wrong. (24 marks) A recent report states: ‘Homelessness in the UK is a crisis that is destroying the lives of people, especially young people.’ Write an article for your school or college newspaper persuading young people to support charities which help the homeless. (24 marks)

Try to write approximately two pages in your answer booklet. Note how recently this task begins with a quote. This allows you to stay focussed by going back and mentioning it at the end of each paragraph In this style you will draw on a combination of emotive language, description and the organised style of an article, because you have to come up with a series of ideas to make your argument. By the way argument in English means that you have to produce a series of ideas and say why they are important. You then have to make people agree with you. Argument is not saying NO or disagreeing that is contradiction. So put your beliefs down and say why they are important to you. And guess what? Good writers use the techniques of poetry, techniques from the Inspector’s final speech, and they are also very clever with their syntax and implication too. Using any of these techniques will be beneficial. 9