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EDEXCEL CERTIFICATE (igcse) ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1
Thoughts on approaching the paper Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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MAY 2012 sample material The exam is 2hours 15 minutes long
You are advised to spend 45 minutes on each of the three sections – you must watch your time! You should be aware that marks can be lost for poor spelling and punctuation (grammar). You need to be able to address the anthology questions with minimal time spent reading the passage as though for the first time THIS PAPER IS WORTH 70% OF YOUR OVERALL MARK – WORK IT OUT! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Section A: Unseen non fiction
Q 1&2 are short and require little explanation Q1 should always be about retrieval of information. Here the common error was quoting an example which did not relate to sound – you must answer the question Q 2 should include the phrase “in your own words”. Do not quote! Q2 should be worth 4 or 5 marks – you will need 4 or 5 clear points if you are to be successful Do not waste time on detailed analysis of the language. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Techniques: Q 1&2 You will need to SKIM the text for information.
Read the question first –especially Q1. Then skim, looking for the effect/idea required in response to the question. NB: Consider paragraph structure: Usually information is at the start; explanation and description in the middle and development of the ideas at the end. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Section A: Q 3 There will be bullet points – use them to structure your response. Make it easy for the examiner. The mark scheme gives examiners typical responses based on the bullet points! The mark scheme requires “valid points which have an engagement with the text and an appreciation of the writer’s techniques…” It is vital, therefore that this is a PEE/PEARL piece of writing and the word level analysis is emerging. Try to comment on the whole passage. This question might need 30 minutes – Q 1&2 will need to be quick! Then you will be able to make a brief plan! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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SECTION B: 45 minutes into the exam
2 questions on or related to the Anthology, Section A. The better you know the Anthology, the easier you will find this section. Think! 45 minutes = 15 (20) on Q 4 and 30 (25) on Q 5. INCLUDING reading time. You will need to plan Q 5 Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Section B comment “How does the writer try to share her experiences of being at the race?” Tricky phrasing. In essence this is a “how does the writer make the passage exciting/engaging?” question and is based in techniques! Look for the usual TRAPPERS This is travel writing/autobiography. It tells an exciting tale. Concentrate on this. Keep quotations BRIEF! Some things you know will not be relevant to this question, such as the factual comments about the kibla donkey – I could google them from here! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Q 4: ideas SSS Setting: Place, time of day, weather and other conditions are all relevant if the writer is making the writing vivid. Senses: To give a sense of place the writer will use writing which engages the senses – especially sound (onomatopoeia/alliteration) and smell alongside sight. Sentences: Always look for the unusual – a very short sentence has been placed for effect – what is the effect? How are they punctuated? Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Q5 Always related to the themes of the Anthology passage used in Q 4.
Part of your revision might be to try to identify themes… Mark Scheme clearly expects a relationship to AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE Ensure you note the format descriptors in the question IN Q 5 and 6: USE TRAPPERS! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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TRAPPERS Triplets Rhetorical Questions Adjectives and adverbs
Personal anecdotes/reflection Polls and statistics Emotive language Repetition Sentence structure for effect You can rarely use them all, but try to use some/most in any non fiction writing. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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“write a description of an event or occasion which was important to you”
Apart from “description” this is not too prescriptive No transactional requirement of letter or speech and so on. This should be the case. Introduction: sets event and setting. Start to think about using TRAPPERS at this stage. Begins to describe: SHOW don’t tell – remember there is no need to tell a story – focus on descriptive writing Develop – move into close focus on a single event/person and write a detailed and sensory description Remember to conclude – why was it memorable? Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Section C Q 6 has 45 minutes and is 1/3 of the paper – make sure you have left enough time PLAN! TRAPPERS FORMAT – this is a transactional piece and has a clear SLAP (Subject, language, audience, purpose) which is dictated by the title “Write a letter to your local newspaper explaining how the area where you live could be improved for young people” Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Dear sir or madam – this is formal
How is this different to a national newspaper? Letters need addresses, salutations and sign offs. “Write a letter to your local newspaper explaining how the area where you live could be improved for young people” Explanation needs facts and organisation – detailed and precise! No need to panic – use the bullets! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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Q6 Allow plenty of time to plan – even as much as 10 minutes
When planning start to think of the images/effects you will create and jot them down Plan paragraph by paragraph and use the bullets to help you. Double check the format! When you can write without too much stopping to think/plan… BEGIN! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013
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