1. Advanced Higher
Textual analysis

2. Worth 20 marks (20% of total mark for the course) Choose one question on an extract from an unseen literary text and write an extended critical analysis of it (mini-essay) 90 minutes allowed

3. What do you have to do?
A detailed (FULL) and substantive (EXTENSIVE) critical analysis (HOW) of the text. (Focused on features and techniques) (the structures and methods of achieving the aim of the poet) (not so much on themes/ideas in different pieces like the Literary Study)

4. How you will be assessed:
Your knowledge and understanding of the text/extract
The quality of your analysis
The quality of your evaluation

5. Knowledge and understanding
Your answer must demonstrate:
comprehensive understanding of the central concerns of the text provided
a full and relevant exploration with sustained consideration of the implications of the question
extensive use of textual evidence to support an argument which is clearly focused on the demands of the question

6. The quality of your analysis
Your answer must demonstrate:
relevant analysis of a task-appropriate range of literary techniques and/or features of language which skilfully strengthens the approach adopted by the candidate

7. The quality of your evaluation
Your answer must demonstrate:
a committed, clear evaluative stance with respect to the text provided and the question, and skilfully based on precise evidence from the text

8. Other information
The quality of your answer is more important that how much you write
There is no requirement for a critical essay-type response in this question paper. You should address the task and structure your response appropriately; this could be linked paragraphs or structured bullet points, for example

9. Bullet
Points
11/20

10. Developed
Bullet
Points
20/20

11. Skills
Technical Accuracy – demonstrate ‘minimum competence for technical accuracy’ (‘few errors in… structure, language, style literary terminology’)
FORM AND CONTENT
Analysis and evaluation lies in the ‘little things’ so you need to ZOOM IN (focus) on detail then ZOOM OUT for the ‘big picture’
ANNOTATION, ANNOTATION, ANNOTATION
Scribble in the margins any and everything that comes to mind that is remotely interesting or striking ie imagery or structural features. This will form the basis of your plan.

12. There are some pieces of general advice which apply to all the genres in this section.
1 Read the context at the top of the passage – there will be information on title, writer, genre (important for fiction and non-fiction) and date of publication.
2 Turn to the end of the passage, and read the question carefully. These two very simple steps will give you some idea of what to look for even in your first reading.
3 Mark up the passage/ poem in the way that you are used to.
4 Have a tick list in your head of the techniques you might be required to cover. This will vary from genre to genre, but will include such important aspects as characterisation, persona, structure, language and so on.
5 Make sure you have considered the TONE of the passage/ poem – have you missed something important, such as humour, or self-reflection or despair?
6 In generating your response, remember to provide supporting evidence for your statements/ opinions/ guesses/ evaluation.
7 Don’t spend so much time on the beginning that you fail to give the end of the passage/ poem proper consideration. Often the real point of the passage is contained in its conclusion.

13. Examples of features you may wish to focus on in your response:
Poetry
♦ form ♦ structure
♦ stanza pattern
♦ poetic voice/persona
♦ word choice ♦ imagery
♦ rhyme ♦ rhythm and meter
♦ stress ♦ sound ♦ mood
♦ tone
Etc…
Prose fiction
♦ narrative voice
♦ evocation of setting ♦ mood
♦ characterisation ♦ word choice
♦ figurative language ♦ imagery
♦ sentence structure
♦ repetition
♦ symbol ♦ contrast
♦ tone ♦ structure
Etc…

14. Drama Prose non-fiction ♦ mood and tone ♦ language
♦ contrast ♦ characterisation
♦ stereotype ♦ parody
♦ monologue ♦ dialogue
♦ pathos
♦ timing/pauses/rhythm
♦ stage directions
♦ structure ♦ narrator/chorus
♦ stylised elements
♦ significance of props
♦ music and song ♦ cliché
♦ humour ♦ irony Etc…
Prose non-fiction
♦ word choice ♦ figurative language ♦ comparison
♦ sensory detail
♦ imagery and analogy ♦ variety of sentence structures
♦ repetition ♦ symbol
♦ contrast ♦ tone
♦ structure/patterning/balance
Etc…