National 5 Revision Tutorial

1. National 5 Revision Tutorial Critical Essays

2. Critical Reading: Section 2 • How Long? • How Many Marks are Available? • How Many Questions? • Dos and Don’ts?

3. Process • Selecting a Task - Look through relevant ‘Genre’ Sections POETRY DRAMA PROSE FILM & TELEVISION DRAMA LANGUAGE STUDY

4. Deconstructing the Task • How many parts are there to each task?

5. Answers to questions in this section should refer to the text and to such relevant features as: characterisation, setting, language, key incident(s), climax/turning point, plot, structure, narrative technique, theme, ideas, description… Helps Planning Response • What is the function of each part of the task? Helps Choose Task 3. Choose a novel or short story or non-fiction text which deals with an important issue (e.g. social, political, moral, religious…). Helps Planning Response Identify the issue and, by referring to appropriate techniques, show how the author deepens your understanding of it. • What decisions do you have to make and when?

6. Planning and Writing your Response • Good idea to do a quick/basic plan first • Put a line through the plan when finished • Could make a quick note of quotations you will use • Be clear about your line of argument – what are you proving/arguing in your essay?

7. Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) • UNDERSTANDING (What the text is about) - of the text ‘as a whole’ - of the ‘central concerns of the text’ - of the task

8. Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) • ANALYSIS (Techniques/Effects/How created) - ‘thorough awareness’ of the writer’s techniques - ‘confident use of’ critical terminology - ‘very detailed/thoughtful’ explanation of how stylistic devices create certain effects/meaning - ‘a range of’ well chosen references/quotations

9. Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) • EVALUATION (How effective text & techniques are) - ‘very well developed’ commentary of what has been enjoyed/gained - genuine engagement with themes/purpose - success of techniques and effects - ‘a range of well-chosen’ references to relevant features

10. Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) • EXRESSION (clarity & sophistication of response) - clear line of thought through use of language - spelling/grammar/punctuation/sentence construction ‘consistently accurate’ - structured effectively – enhances meaning/purpose - paragraphing ‘accurate & effective’

11. REMEMBER! A Critical Essay IS A Discursive Essay Arguing/Proving something about Text Must have a clear line of argument throughout Clear & logical Structure Must have Evidence to support points Explain significance of evidence = analysis Conclusion – conclude line of argument Introduction – set up line of argument Topic Sentences/Linkage/Transitional Markers

12. INTRODUCTIONS Type of Text (‘genre’ – poem, novel etc.) TITLE (in inverted commas, with capitals) Writer’s Name (first time in full, thereafter just surname – remember caps) Reference to Task (set up line of argument which should be based around words of task) Reference to Key Themes/Message/Purpose (again show understanding – might be built into task) Some context (demonstrate your knowledge of text) Evaluative Language (show your engagement)

13. ‘The Veldt’, by Ray Bradbury, is a thought-provokingshort story which deals with an important social issue, which is society’s over-reliance on technology and the damaging effects this can have. Despite being written in the 1950s, a time when the television was enjoying a Golden age and becoming more common in people’s homes, Bradbury still successfully delivers a powerful and ominous message which is still pertinent in today’s society. Through a variety of clever techniques, Bradbury effectively warns us that an over-reliance on technology can severely damage our relationships and leave us unable to do things for ourselves.

14. MAIN PARAGRAPHS Topic Sentences Main Points of Analysis Sub-conclusion Evidence – at least one quotation Evaluative Language

15. TOPIC SENTENCES Create sense of Linkage/Progression = Transitional Markers Introduce Focus of Paragraph Link To Task Use Writer’s name to stay analytical Evaluative Language

16. Furthermore,Bradbury’s effective use of imagery helps to convey his warning by creating a sinister and ominous atmosphere around the technology in the house and nursery.

17. QUOTATIONS Introduce Focus of Paragraph Must be properly integrated Must be followed by an analytical comment – explanation of what it suggests/shows and how Evaluative Language Vary/avoid ‘This Shows’

18. Bradbury suggests the realistic nature of the nursery by using the senses to create a vivid and overpowering impression. We are told that George ‘could feel [the hot sun] on his neck like a hot paw’. Here, the physicality of the comparison emphasises how real the African Veldland seems, whilst the idea of the paw conjures up the image of the lions and makes even the sun seem threatening, as though it could pounce at any moment.

19. Bradbury suggests the realistic nature of the nursery by using the senses to create a vivid and overpowering impression. Whilst in the nursery, George takes in his surroundings: ‘That sun. He could feel it on his neck like a hot paw’. Here, the physicality of the comparison emphasises how real the African Veldland seems, whilst the idea of the paw conjures up the image of the lions and makes even the sun seem threatening, as though it could pounce at any moment.

20. SUB-CONCLUSIONS Sum up/bring together the points of the paragraph Refocus on the Task Use Writer’s name to stay analytical Evaluative Language Relate points to theme/purpose – may be necessary to task

21. By combining vividsimiles and metaphors when describing the technology within the house, Bradbury creativelydelivers his warning and implies the potential threat that an over-reliance on technology could have within society.

22. CONCLUSIONS Sums up main line of argument Refocuses On Task Sums up main points relating to task/argument Restate title, writer’s full name, type of text Evaluative Language

23. Overall, Ray Bradburysuccessfullyexplores an important social issue in his powerfulshort story ‘The Veldt’. Through a combination of clever characterisation, vivid imagery and an ironic ending, Bradbury delivers a stark warning about the danger of relying too heavily on technology. The story skilfully leaves us wondering whether the seemingly exaggerated ‘Happylife Home’ is in fact closer to modern living than Bradbury could ever have imagined.

24. Varying ‘This Shows’ • Depicts • Embodies • Evokes • Suggests • Reinforces • Emphasises • Portrays • Conveys • Implies • Reveals • Indicates • Highlights • Illuminates • Here Bradbury indicates… • By comparing… Bradbury suggests that… • The image of… embodies the idea that…

25. Evaluative Language • Successfully • Effectively • Skilfully • Creatively • Cleverly • Imaginatively • Powerfully • Emotively • Evocatively • Realistically • Harrowingly • Disturbingly and in honour of Miss Ross… • Poignantly • This successful portrayal of… • The powerful way in which… • The setting is effective in…