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Literature Revision. BEFORE WE BEGIN…. Although there can be a variety of interpretations on a piece of writing, it is possible that answers can be WRONG. Key words in questions. Vividly / strikingly/ Powerfully (evoke personal response) Portray/ Convey/ Create (writer’s methods)
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BEFORE WE BEGIN… • Although there can be a variety of interpretations on a piece of writing, it is possible that answers can be WRONG.
Key words in questions • Vividly / strikingly/ Powerfully (evoke personal response) • Portray/ Convey/ Create (writer’s methods) • Humorous/ Amusing (writer’s wit – pun/sarcasm) • Tense/ Dramatic • Significant / Important • Your feelings for / about – empathy/ sympathy • Upsetting/ disturbing / horrifying (provocation) • Impressive/ admirable
Questions may focus on: • Character / role /motivation • Incident/ Event • Atmosphere / Mood • Theme / Issue • Writer’s effects/ attitude
Writer’s methods • Structure • Plot • Characterisation • Setting • Dramatic tension • Imagery • Rhythm • Language (diction)
Passage-based questions • Read the question and extract the key points carefully. • Focus on the extract. • Decide what is central and what is peripheral – plan • Refer closely and quote significant parts when necessary (avoid huge chunks of quoting) • Consider language / writer’s effects (desired) • Address all parts of the question (but it is not necessary to give equal attention to each part).
Passage-based questions • (i) • Focuses on passage. • Looks for exploration of the writing. • Looks for details in the passage. • (ii) • Leads outwards from passage. • May ask about theme, character, writer’s methods.
DO • Read the question carefully • Plan • Keep to the point (explain your arguments clearly) • Quote/ Refer (concise quotes and reference)
DON’T • Reproduce learnt notes/ depend on other people’s ideas • Digress into personal experiences • Engage in polemic/ controversial issues • Speculate based on groundless assumptions.
ADVICE • Don’t repeat in (ii) what you said in (i) • Don’t worry about 50/50 but do not neglect either part. • Try to refer to something at the end of the passage (there is usually some significance) • Focus on the words and images (what are their intended effects) • Do not merely paraphrase/ narrate/ quote large chunks to make your essay seem longer.
Helpful Essay Writing Phrases • The author’s diction makes the _______ in the passage extremely dramatic. For example, he uses the words … • The excitement/ tension escalates, making ____________more dramatic. • The author also uses conflict (could be inner conflict or conflict with others) to dramatise the __________. • The author uses imagery to _______________. For example, (explain the imagery and the effect it produces). • Characterisation is used to intensify the ______________. (Describe the special/ unique qualities of the character that makes him stand out and crucial)
Helpful Essay Writing Phrases • The author also uses irony to intensify the _____________ . (Proceed to explain clearly the irony) • The dramatic effect/ tension is heightened by _______________ • The author creates suspense by ___________ . • The suspense is maintained/ intensified/ reaches its climax…
Helpful Essay Writing Phrases • The ending is made powerful and dramatic by ________________ • _________________ evokes strong emotions of curiosity/ mystery / sympathy / empathy etc.
Helpful Essay Writing Phrases (For comparison) • … is in stark contrast to …. • … it is juxtaposed with …