Section B

• This section contains question 3 which will ask you to produce a piece of writing based on the triplet writing to inform, explain, describe
  

ADVICE

• Learn the process for writing a summary
• Aim to consider how the language (words, structure and techniques) creates the meanings and effects in question 2
• Split your time equally for Section A
• For question 3 aim to broaden the focus and do not be too anecdotal
• For question 3 aim to use what you have learned in terms of the importance of structure, vocabulary and sentences

GENERAL ADVICE

• Plan answers carefully before you start writing
• Keep an eye on the time and the recommended timings for the questions
• Spell any techniques correctly and only identify them if you can use a quotation and consider the meaning and effect
• Use short quotations and remember to use quotation marks only in question 2
• Paragraph your work fully
• Determine exactly what the question is asking you to do and ensure you keep to the focus and requirements. (NB audience, form and purpose in writing questions)
• Remember that in both the reading and writing questions you must use examples to reinforce and illustrate your points

Preparation and advice for English Language GCSE Paper 2

Paper 2 – Different Cultures, Analysis and Argument

INFORMATION

• 1hour and 45 minutes
• Spend 35minutes on Section A and 1Hour and 10 minutes on Section B
• You are assessed on the quality of your reading in Section A and the quality of your writing in Section B
• Write in continuous prose

Section A

• There will be a choice of two questions on the short stories from “Opening Worlds”. Choose one question only

Section B

• This section contains two writing questions and you will be required to do both. One will ask you to produce a piece of writing based on the triplet writing to analyse, review, comment; the second on the triplet writing to argue, persuade, advise

ADVICE

• Avoid repeating all you have learned in class about the short stories
• Determine exactly what the question on the short stories is asking
• Aim to consider how the language (words, structure and techniques) creates the meanings and effects
• For the writing questions aim to broaden the focus and do not be too anecdotal
• For the writing questions aim to use what you have learned in terms of the importance of structure, vocabulary and sentences
• For the writing questions aim to use analytical markers, such as “It is important to note” and connectives, such as “Furthermore”, “however”

GENERAL ADVICE

• Plan answers carefully before you start writing
• Keep an eye on the time and the recommended timings for the questions
• Spell any techniques correctly and only identify them if you can use a quotation and consider the meaning and effect
• Use short quotations and remember to use quotation marks
• Paragraph your work fully
• Determine exactly what the question is asking you to do and ensure you keep to the focus and requirements. (NB audience, form and purpose in writing questions)
• Remember that in both the reading and writing questions you must use examples to reinforce and illustrate your points

Preparation and advice for the English Literature GCSE Paper

INFORMATION

• 2hours and 15minutes
• Answer three questions
• Answer one question from the Drama Paper on “Journey’s End”
• Answer two questions from the Poetry and Prose Paper; one from Section A on War Poetry; and one from Section B on “Opening Worlds” short stories
• Spend about 45 minutes on each answer
• There are two or three questions on each text – answer one only on each of the three texts you have prepared for the examination
• You will assessed on the quality of your written communication as well as your literary response
• Write in continuous prose

ADVICE

• Avoid repeating all you have learned in class about the texts
• You must do more than paraphrase the meanings of the texts
• Determine the question’s focus and requirements and ensure you fulfill the exact requirements
• Remember that you may be asked to compare two poems from “Opening Lines”.  If you are directed to write about a specific poem, and given a choice as to the second poem, you must consider which poem you will use carefully
• Remember that “Opening Worlds” contains short stories, “Journey’s End” is a play and the poems from “Opening Lines” are poems

GENERAL ADVICE

• Plan answers carefully before you start writing
• Keep an eye on the time and the recommended timings for the questions
• Spell any techniques correctly and only identify them if you can use a quotation and consider the meaning and effect
• Use short quotations and remember to use quotation marks
• Paragraph your work fully
• Determine exactly what the question is asking you to do and ensure you keep to the focus and requirements
• Remember that you must use examples and quotations to reinforce and illustrate your points
• You will have ´clean ´copies of the texts in the examination. As you will not have any notes in these texts, you must ensure that you prepare thoroughly for the examination
  

Link to English: Overview of Skills
Link to Year 7 Comments
Link to Year 8 Comments
Link to Year 9 Comments
Link to Reading Suggestions
Link to GCSE Preparation
Link to Year 11 Comments
Link to Theatre Visits
Link to Year 12 Comments
Link to AS & A2 English Literature