Close Reading: The Question on Both Passages HIGHER

What are they? All Higher Close Reading papers have two articles There are questions on both papers There is always a final question on both papers – usually worth 5 marks You need to have a good understanding of each writer’s overall line of argument as well as the specific points/ideas

Example Comparative Question Referring to important ideas in the passages, identify the key areas on which they agree or disagree. You may answer this question in continuous prose or in a series of developed bullet points. 5 U/E

SQA ADVICE Check what you are being asked to identify: SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES or BOTH Plan your answer: Identify KEY IDEAS and discard less important ones You can write answer in ordinary paragraphs or ‘extended bullet points’ You can quote but don’t have to. Often better to refer to key details in a more general way. If you do quote, keep the quotations short and follow with explanation of point to show your understanding

Marking Marking will reflect quality of response in 2 areas: 1.Identification of the essential areas of agreement/ disagreement in attitude/ideas 2.Reference to/treatment of the ideas which inform the writers’ attitude

Gaining Full Marks Satisfactorily identify at least 3 essential areas of agreement or disagreement 3, 4, 5 marks will depend on sophistication of treatment of the ideas which inform each writer’s attitude. Develop each area with a depth of understanding of the nuances in the writers’ argument.

Advice on Answer Structure Divide into 3 paragraphs Have a clear topic sentence which sums up the broad area of agreement/disagreement Then specify exactly what passage 1 says and then what passage 2 says. Sum up how they are in agreement/disagreement with one another. Use transitional markers to make this clear No need to quote from the passages, but, you must give specifics.

Practice Question Referring to important ideas in the passages, identify the key areas on which they agree. You may answer this question in continuous prose or in a series of developed bullet points. 5 U/E

Bulger Articles Identify the essential AREAS of agreement in attitudes: 1. Significance of the Original Crime 2. Failings of the Justice System 3. Public Interest and Responsibility 4. Possibility of Rehabilitation 5. Significance of Reoffending

Specifics of Attitude Passage 1:He’s No Longer the Guilty Boy Passage 2:The Shape of Modern Justice Agreement/Disagreement 1: Agreement/Disagreement 2:Agreement/Disagreement 2 Agreement/Disagreement 3:Agreement/Disagreement 3

Both passages agree that the boys had difficult home lives. Passage 1 states that Venables was a deeply unhappy boy and was terrified of being rejected by his mother. He also was not given comfort from his dad during the interview even though he was crying inconsolably. Likewise, Passage 2 makes it clear they had grown up in an abusive environment and had not been brought up in a nurturing environment. Both passages are sympathetic towards the boys who struggled to cope with what they had done. Passage 1 states that in the police interview Venables cried for 33 minutes non-stop and was desperate for Jamie’s mother to know he was sorry for what he had done. Similarly, Passage 2 states that the boys will forever be haunted and terrorised by what they have done and they will have to live with this every day for the rest of their lives. They will also always be hated regardless of if they have been rehabilitated. Both passages also agree that the public’s reaction was over the top. Passage 1 states that it is unjust/immoral to still feel such anger for a person who committed a crime so many years ago and who has served their sentence/time for this. Many also would have killed the boys if they knew where they were, included newspaper editors. Passage 2 also states that people called for the 10 year olds to be hanged and intimidating angry crowds attacked the boys’ transport with bottles and stones due to the intense hatred they felt for them.

5 marksidentification of essential areas of disagreement, with an intelligent use of supporting evidence. 4 marksidentification of essential areas of disagreement, with sound use of supporting evidence. 3 marksidentification of essential areas of disagreement, with some supporting evidence. 2 marksidentification of only two essential areas of disagreement or identification of more than two without supporting evidence. 1 markidentification of just one essential area of disagreement. 0 markfailure to identify any essential area of disagreement and/or complete misunderstanding of the task.