1. Sentence Structure Close Reading Questions Ms Nitsche

2. Linking Questions

3. Another popular SQA question in the Higher exams is called a link question. You will recognise it as the question will contain the word ‘link’ or ‘linking’. You are being asked to show how a section of the passage acts as a bridge between what has been said previously, and what the writer is going on to go on to say. Linking Questions

4. Formula Quote the part of the link paragraph/sentence that refers back. Summarise what it refers back to. Quote the part of the link paragraph/sentence that refers forward. Summarise what it refers forward to.

5. 1.Quote the part of the link paragraph/sentence that refers back. 2.Summarise what it refers back to. 3.Quote the part of the link paragraph/sentence that refers forward. 4.Summarise what it refers forward to. Read the following paragraph and explain how the underlined sentence acts as a link. The first half of the answer has been done for you: “Ecstasy to dream” refers back to the opening sentence about happily sleeping…

6. Sentence Structure Questions

7. By far the most difficult Analysis Qs are those that ask us to comment on the writer’s sentence structure. Candidates often go into auto-pilot and answer unconvincingly about lists, short sentences or rhetorical questions. When asked about sentence structure you are being asked to consider: Comment on the writer’s sentence structure… The use of punctuation in the extract. The types of sentences used in the extract. The lengths of the sentences in the extract. The order or frequency of words in the extract.

8. Formula 1.Identify sentence structure feature you will be dealing with. It could be: –Punctuation –Length of sentences –Repetition –Type of sentence 2.Quote. 3.Comment on the effect of the structure on the reader’s understanding of the passage – what is the writer emphasising here; what are they trying to say?

9. The use of punctuation in the extract

11. Short sentences Repetition ListsRhetorical questions Inversion Long sentences The lengths of the sentences in the extract

12. 1. After days of torturous climbing, sleeping in a damp tent, eating very little and braving the horrendous weather the team had finally reached the summit. And what a summit! It. Was. Sensational. Comment on how sentence structure is used to show the contrast between the journey and the destination. 2. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. Comment on how Winston Churchill used sentence structure to create an inspiring speech. 3. Ready are you? What know you of ready? For 800 years I have trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who I trained. A Jedi must have deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life he has looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmmm? What he was doing? Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless. What is unusual about the structure of Yoda's sentences?