1. Non-fiction and Media
Higher Tier

2. Key Terms
Perceptive: intuitive, insightful – can read between the lines and see meaning where it is not obvious – grasps hidden meaning
Detailed: breaks down and looks closely at the small aspects of a text and explains how they influence it as a whole text

3. Question 1 Item 1. What do you learn about…? (8 marks) Skills Band 4
Skills
Band 4
Perceptive
and detailed
7-8 marks
Offers full and detailed evidence that the article is understood
Engages with the text; interprets information in a perceptive way; focuses on what the reader learns
Gives relevant and appropriate quotations to support understanding
Makes perceptive connections between events, people and ideas in the text.
Band 3 clear and relevant
5-6 marks
Gives clear evidence that the text is understood
Engages with the text
Gives relevant and detailed quotation
Interprets the text and makes connections between events

4. Question 2
Item 2. How do the headline and the whole picture add to the effectiveness of the text? (8marks)
Skills
Band 4
Perceptive and detailed
7-8 marks
Evidence that the headline is fully understood
Detailed interpretation and comment on the appropriateness of the headline
Detailed explanation and interpretation offered of what the picture shows in all its components (sections); explains the value of the graphic/ image
Links elements of the picture to the text with perceptive comments
Band 3
Clear and relevant
5-6 marks
Clear evidence the headline is understood
Offers interpretation of the headline
Explanation and interpretation offered of what the picture shows
Links the picture content to the content of the text with relevant comments
Look for the relationship between the language and image – the effect of the layout and aspects of the image such as labelling

5. Question 3
Item 3. What are some of the thoughts and feelings? (8 marks)
Skills
Band 4
Perceptive and detailed
7-8 marks
Makes perceptive inferences from the text (reads between the lines to find thoughts and feelings that are not obvious)
Shows perceptive engagement with, and interpretation of, character, place and context.
Uses appropriate quotations to support detailed understanding.
Focuses on thoughts and feelings expressed in the text and gives perceptive comments about them.
Band 3
Clear and relevant
5-6 marks
Makes inferences about thoughts and feelings from the text.
Shows clear engagement with, and interpretation of, character, place and context.
Focuses on thoughts and feelings expressed in the text and gives comments about them.
Look for irony; comparisons; word choice

6. Question 4 Comparison question. Item 3 and one other.
Language focus look for: emotive/ evocative language; sentence types; word order; paradoxes; oxymorons; imperatives; model verbs; use of punctuation ; colloquial language; formal language; use of quotation or speech; descriptive language – similes etc; why writer has chosen some words over others; repetition
Remember, you are only focusing on language!
Comparison question. Item 3 and one other.
Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and explain what the effects are. (16 marks)
Skills
Band 4
Perceptive and detailed
7-8 marks
Offers a full and detailed understanding and interpretation of the content of the texts.
Shows a detailed and perceptive appreciation, interpretation and analysis of how the writers have used language differently to achieve their effects and to create impact.
Offers full, relevant quotation in support of ideas with appropriate and perceptive comments.
Focuses on comparison and cross- referencing between the texts throughout the response (talk about one text then show how it is similar or different to the other text – alternate between the text)
CONNECTIVES!
Band 3
Clear and relevant
5-6 marks
Clear evidence that the texts are understood in relation to language.
Shows clear appreciation and analysis of the effect of words and phrases in the different context.
Offers relevant and appropriate quotations and references to support ideas.
Clear focus on comparisons and cross references between the two texts.

7. In section B of your language exam you will be expected to write two pieces of writing. You are also advised to spend 25 minutes on question 5 and 35 minutes on question 6.

8. Key terms Convincing = believable, true
Compelling = creates interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way

9. Question 5
You should expect a question asking you to explain something. It could ask you to write in the form of a letter – make sure you use the right layout.
Mark
What you need to do
Mark Band 4
‘convincing’
‘Compelling’
8- 10 marks
Communication
Writes clearly, makes writing believable, interesting and powerful
Keeps the reader’s interest with detailed and developed ideas
Maintains purpose of text throughout writing, creates a response in the reader (is emotive in some way)
Uses the appropriate tone and style of writing according to the task
Uses emphasis, assertion ( positive statements), reason (logical thought), emotive language, anecdotes (example stories to assert ideas), memories
Uses linguistic devices such as: rhetorical questions, hyperbole (exaggeration), irony in an effective and appropriate way
Uses connectives and connective phrases appropriately in a controlled manner
Organisation of ideas
Uses continuous prose (no ‘etc’s or ‘&’! or grammatical errors)
Uses paragraphs to enhance meaning e.g different paragraph lengths (could use a one sentence paragraph), dialogue (don’t forget speech marks), bullet points ( only if appropriate)
Orders information in an appropriate way
There are a further 6 marks (writing is out of 16) for the following:
•Uses complex sentences and punctuation successfully
•Uses a variety of sentence structures to good effect
•Uses accurate spellings on all words including ambitious
vocabulary
•Uses Standard English appropriately

10. In section B of your language exam you will be asked to write to argue for or against an idea. It is likely that the writing ideas will link to the reading topics in the reading section however, be prepared for otherwise

11. Question 6 Marks Skills to show Mark Band 4 ‘Convincing’ ‘Compelling’
13-16
marks
Communication
Writes thoughts clearly and argues in a believable and interesting manner
Engages the reader with detailed, succinct (expressed in a few good words) argument and uses a range and variety of persuasive ideas and vivid detail (realistic). Makes an appeal to a person’s morals and is emotive (tug on those heart- strings perhaps)
Manipulate your reader using an appropriate tone but remain subtle! Maintain the purpose to argue, use assertion, reason and sophistication!
Use linguistic devices to persuade and argue your point such as: rhetorical questions, hyperbole, irony, satire (human folly is held up to scorn, deride, ridicule)
Use effective connectives and connective phrases such as: ‘Surely it is reasonable to expect…’, ‘Taking the global view….’, ‘One alternative position might be….’
Organisation
Writes in continuous prose – writing is fluent
Uses paragraphs to enhance meaning – including one sentence paragraphs
Uses a variety of structural features such as: different paragraph lengths, indented sections, dialogue, bullet points (only if appropriate)
Presents complex ideas in a manner that is easy to follow and understand
There are a further 8 marks (writing is out of 24) for the following:
Uses complex sentences and punctuation successfully
Uses a variety of sentence structures to good effect
Uses accurate spellings on all words including ambitious vocabulary
Uses Standard English appropriately