Lesson objective: to prepare for Paper 1 Section A of the English Language exam by learning the skills required to retrieve information from a text and answer a question on it.

Assessed skills – you need to: Know the difference between fact and opinion; Be able to pick out pieces of information from the text and understand what texts say and in what order; Understand how texts use presentational devices; Understand how the writers use language; Be able to comment on how the purpose and audience of a text can influence the way the article has been written and presented; Select quotations or examples from the text to support your points; Compare the different texts.

Retrieving Information from the text The first question (s) on the paper will always ask you to pick out information from the text. Make sure that you use the mark scheme to guide you as to how much information you should pick out. What reasons are put forward for visiting Antarctica with Trailfinders? (6 marks = 6 reasons) What reasons does the writer give for not liking Pamela Anderson?(4 marks = 4 reasons) What do you learn about Jamie Oliver in this text? (5 marks = 5 reasons)

Retrieving Information from the text For this question you need to read the text closely and identify the information you are being asked to retrieve. Once you have done this, write it down, making sure that you write enough to gain full marks. Don’t comment on the language or presentation of the text (this will come in a later question), stay focused on retrieving the information the question wants you to. TASK: read through the text Close Encounters and answer the questions.

Retrieving Information from the text It might ask you to retrieve information and then explain why you have chosen it. If you get a question like this, make sure that you do both parts. Have a go… 1 Choose and write down one statement from the flier which might make you want to apply for a Saturday job at Ripe Pickings. Choose and write down one statement that might put you off. Explain why you have chosen each statement. (4 marks) QUESTION: have you written enough to gain full marks? Now let’s hear your answers please.

Following an argument: Following an argument: understanding what texts say and in what order; You might well get a question like one of these: What are the main points that the writer makes in her argument that all teenagers should not learn to drive until they are 21? How does the writer build her argument that women should be entitled to maternity leave for 2 years on full pay?

So how do you go about answering a question like that? An argument is a series of points all supporting the same point of view. The key therefore is to (1) identify the MAIN point of the text and (2) to identify the mini points that support the main point. The skill you need therefore is to read the text closely to identify the points. It is common when writing an argument, to include one key point per paragraph; and it will often be introduced in the topic sentence of the paragraph.

QUESTION: what is the MAIN point of the text ‘Mobiles ‘cut teenage smoking’’? QUESTION: what are the mini points that the writer makes to support the MAIN point? PLENARY: what are the key skills you need to use when reading a text to pick out pieces of information.