1. AQA GCSE Paper 1 Glass, Bricks and Dust
Thinking Aloud
AQA GCSE Paper 1
Glass, Bricks and Dust

2. Question 1
Read again the first part of the Source from lines 1 to 7. List four things from this part of the Source about the boy. [4 marks]

3. Question 1 – Identify four things
This question should take 5 minutes
Identify the topic focus
Read the section of text
Write out your answers, using the topic focus
Example:
Q: Identify four things about the boy
The boy is…

4. Question 2
Look in detail at this extract from lines 5 to 15 of the Source: How does the writer use language here to describe the boy playing in the evening? You could include the writer’s choice of:  words and phrases  language features and techniques  sentence forms. [8 marks] 1
Simple comment on effects 2
Comments on effects 3
Clear explanation of effects 4
Analysis of effects

5. Simple comment on effects
Question 2 – Analyse Language
Key methods to look for:
Emotive language
Descriptive language
Sensory imagery
Dialogue
Metaphor, simile or personification
Repetition
Zoom in on:
Adjective
Verb
Phrase
Adverb
This question should take 10 minutes
Identify and underline the topic focus of the question
Highlight at least three short quotes for your evidence.
Identify the methods or language techniques the writer is using.
Write up your response, commenting on how the methods used present the topic focus. 1
Simple comment on effects 2
Comments on effects 3
Clear explanation of effects 4
Analysis of effects
Explaining the effects of language:
This shows how…
This connotes…
This suggests to the reader…
In particular, the verb “…” shows how…
This creates the impression that…

6. Question 3
You now need to think about the whole of the Source. This text is from the middle of a short story. How has the writer structured the text to interest you as a reader? You could write about:  what the writer focuses your attention on at the beginning  how and why the writer changes this focus as the Source develops  any other structural features that interest you. [8 marks] 1
Simple comment on effects 2
Comments on effects 3
Clear explanation of effects 4
Analysis of effects

7. Simple comment on effects
Question 2 – Analyse Structure
Key verbs for explaining writer’s use of structure:
Guides
Builds
Creates tension
Climaxes
Establishes
Resolves
Links
Suggests/hints
Introduces
Key words to describe a readers response:
Curiosity
Excitement
Concern
Suspicion
Dread
Surprise
Satisfaction
Sympathy
Realisation
This question should take 10 minutes
It will ask how the text is structured to interest the reader.
The key word in this question is ‘interest’.
Ask yourself – in this extract, what is keeping the reader interested?
Number off the paragraphs.
Re-read the extract and identify the changes in focus in the margin.
Identify which changes in focus help to interest the reader.
Write up your response, explaining how the writer has guides the reader to keep them interested. 1
Simple comment on effects 2
Comments on effects 3
Clear explanation of effects 4
Analysis of effects

8. Question 4
Focus this part of your answer on the second part of the Source from line 16 to the end. A reviewer wrote: ‘This end part of the extract where the boy’s game comes to life takes a darker and more chilling tone.’ To what extent do you agree? In your response, you could:  consider your own impressions of the boy’s game  evaluate how the writer creates a dark and chilling tone  support your response with references to the text. [20 marks] 1
Simple evaluation of effect
No understanding of methods 2
Some evaluation of effects
Some understanding of methods 3
Clear evaluation of effects
Clear understanding of methods 4
Detailed and critical evaluation of effects
Perceptive understanding of methods

9. This question should take 25 minutes.
Question 4 – Evaluate
Common Methods:
Perspective (1st, 2nd or 3rd person?)
Tone
Dialogue to present characters
Figurative language (metaphor, simile or personification)
Sensory Language (imagery)
Descriptive Language
Repetition
Word choice (adjective, verb, adverb, noun)
Different sentence types and forms
Structure
This question should take 25 minutes.
It will ask how far you agree with a statement about the extract.
Check the statement carefully and underline key words
Re-read the text, highlighting any evidence that links to the claim.
Decide how the writer has presented the subject to you (the methods they have used).
Number off your best evidence 1-5.
Write up your response, using your best evidence first.
Remember to explain whether you agree with the statement. 1
Simple evaluation of effect
No understanding of methods 2
Some evaluation of effects
Some understanding of methods 3
Clear evaluation of effects
Clear understanding of methods 4
Detailed and critical evaluation of effects
Perceptive understanding of methods
Tips:
The claim is usually true to some extent – but how far do you agree?
Stay focused on the statement by using the key words in your answer.
Embed your quotes to help use a range of evidence.

10. Question 5
You have been invited to produce a piece of creative writing about how children play imaginatively. Either: Write a story set on a dark night as suggested by this picture: Or: Write a story about a game that goes badly wrong. 24 marks for content and organisation 16 marks for technical accuracy [40 marks]