GCSE ENGLISH – revision workshop

1. GCSE ENGLISH – revision workshop UNIT 1, UNIT 2 and IGCSE REVISION

2. Timings Organising your time is one of the most important things you can do in any exam. Before you even look at any questions, write your timings on the front of the question paper so you know how long you have. For example: 9.15- 9.25- Read and highlight and plan 9.25-9.35- Question 1 9.35-9.45- Question 2 9.45- 9.55- Question 3 9.55- 10.10- Question 4 10.10- 10.15- Read through and check everything.

3. WJEC Unit 1- Reading & IGCSE Paper 2 Section A- 1 hour • MEDIA/ NON FICTION COMPARISON • There will be 4 questions which comprise 2 questions on text A, 1 question on text B and 1 question comparing A and B. • Each question is worth 10 marks • Before reading the extracts make sure you have read the first two questions. This will help you quickly find what you are looking for. Underline the key phrases of the question and then underline the extracts as you read them. This will help you quickly respond to the question.

4. Key points for the reading exam • List where it asks you to list, own words if it asks for own words • Short snappy quotes • Don’t just feature spot- explain the effect on the audience • How are presentational devices used? • How does the writer develop an argument- think about structure and choice of language? • What is the writer trying to achieve and how do they achieve it?

5. IGCSE paper 1- Literary Heritage -Reading fiction • You will be presented with an extract from literary heritage and you will be asked 4 questions on the extract worth 10 marks each. • Each question will relate to a separate chunk or paragraph of the extract so you should be able to find the information needed quickly. • The questions will focus on style, structure characters’ feelings/relationships, atmosphere and setting. • The same skills apply as for the non fiction text

6. WJEC Writing-Unit 2- 1 hour • 2 questions- 20 marks each- 30 mins per question • Plan for 5 minutes, write for 20, check and draft for 5 mins per question. • Aim for 2 sides per question • You must address the PURPOSE, AUDIENCE and FORMAT of the writing. • The questions will usually test writing to explain, persuade, argue , inform or advise.

7. IGCSE - 3 Writing tasks • Paper 1 Section B- 1 hour, choice of 5 titles- you choose 1 question only. It will test your skills on writing to imagine/ describe. Aim for 3 sides of A4. • Paper 2 section B1- 45 mins. Choice of two questions, only choose 1. Writing to argue/ persuade • Paper 2 section B2- 30 mins. 1 compulsory question- writing to argue/ persuade.

8. Writing tasks- key points • Revise the stylistic conventions of each writing style (all in the revision guide) • Plan your answer- quick spider diagram • Be explicit throughout on your Format, Audience and Purpose • Use hooks, anecdotes and strong points.

9. SCREAM 3 ! A Useful phrase to remember could be SCREAM3 S Sentence length and variation, superlatives and similes C Contrast ( state one thing then the opposite) R Repetition, rhetorical questions E Emotive language A Alliteration, Adjectives M Metaphorical language 3 Magic 3 rule

10. Or you might use AFORESTIS • Alliteration (beastly bugs) • Fact/flattery (3000 people…) • Opinion (personally, I believe) • Rhetorical questions • Emotive language (poor victims) • Second guessing (you might worry that…but never fear) • Triplets (ugly, annoying & deadly) • Imperatives (do this, buy it, stop) • Superlatives (most, best, smallest) • A • F • O • R • E • S • T • I • S

11. Think of an examiner like a fish you want to catch… • HOOK them in • Choose your ANGLE • Use PERSUASIVE devices( to tempt them) • ANECDOTES ( to get them on side) • STRONG POINTS ( to finish them off)

12. HOOK THE READER • It’s really important that you select your opening line carefully in order to hook the reader into your writing and engage them to want to carry on reading. • Try creating a hook for the following questions.

13. 1 minute to create a hook for… You have to give a speech for your class on the following topic: Should footballers have a maximum wage? Are their wages justified?

14. 1 minute to create a hook for… • Write an article for a school magazine where you argue your view on the following question, ‘Are zoos a harmless form of entertainment or a public show of cruel captivity?’

15. Creating anecdotes • Try to add anecdotes ( mini stories) to your argument or view point to make your argument stronger. • For example, relate the topic to your own personal experience ( imagined or real) or the experience of someone you know ( imagined or real)

16. Create an anecdote you could use in the following question.. • Write a letter to your head teacher to give your viewpoint on whether students should be allowed to have facial piercings / ear stretchers or any hair colour they want at school.

17. Plan strong points • Try to think about the question in extreme. • What could you say to take the idea to the extreme to help you persuade? • You could use a rhetorical question to really engage the reader with a strong point.

18. Plan a strong point • You have been asked to give a speech for your class on the following topic: Should we give money to the homeless?

19. Check your audience • Make sure you fully understand your Purpose, Audience and Format of the writing.- spend 5 minutes checking and planning for this. • Think about words and phrases which explicitly refer to your audience so it is clear you are addressing them. • If for example, you are writing a speech for your class- make sure you refer to classmates or ‘ fellow year 11s’, or use phrases which appeal to them, ‘ In this school, we know that..’ • Make sure you include sign posts for the reader which acknowledges that you know your audience.

20. Audience task- 2 minutes • Imagine you have to write a speech or talk for your class • List as many words or phrases you could use that would show the reader you are aware of the audience. • For example: • ‘ As students yourselves, you know that…….’ • ‘15 year olds like us…..’

21. Ideas….. • ‘Yr 11 students think that…….’ • ‘ Like me, you must agree that…..’ • ‘ As an English class, we should believe that….’ • ‘ Teenagers like us often think…..’ • ‘ As 15 year old yourselves, you must agree that’ • ‘ Fellow classmates…..’ • ‘ Key Stage Four students, you know that…’ • ‘ We know from experience , that people our age….’

22. Over emphasise your FORMAT • Use whatever tricks you can to make sure the examiner clearly knows you are aware of the purpose , audience and format… • For example, ‘This week in Teen Weekly we will be questioning….’ or, ‘for those who read my last review…’, ‘For regular readers you know that here at the Norwich Herald we support…’ ‘ Turn to page 48 for more details’, ‘Use our web link below for help an advice on…’

23. Format • Remember the format of what you are writing is really important. • If asked to write a letter of a leaflet, set it out like a letter or leaflet. • Your address • Date • Their address • Dear Sir/ Madam Yours faithfully ( if you don’t know them)

24. Planning • It’s really important to spend 5 minutes planning your ideas by completing a spider diagram or list of everything you want to include. • Most people lose marks on the exam because they rush straight in and then run out of things to say. • The best marks are awarded when people plan what they are going to say and you can see a logical development of their argument. • You need to think about what points you will make and in what order.

25. How to plan….. • I usually do a quick spider diagram of all my ideas I instantly have in response to a question. • I then look and see if any of the points are similar ,so I link the points. • I then do another quick spider diagram with my linked points together. • Then I look at them all and number 1- 10 the order in which I want to say them. • I then ensure that I complete a paragraph on each and it makes sense.

26. Imagine the following task: • This advert has been placed on the Year 11 notice board. • You are in need of a Summer job • Write an application for the job

28. Good people skills I’m responsible Work experience in a shop Prefect at school Good work ethic

29. Order of letter • Introduction to why I want job • I like people/ good people skills/ I’m polite • I’m efficient, hardworking, good work ethic • I’m organised, punctual, reliable, work well to deadlines • I’m responsible- prefect at school • I’ve got experience of fruit picking, physically strong • I’ve got shop work experience, worked with mum • Finish on strong point why I should have the job.

30. Your turn: • This advert has been placed on the Year 11 notice board. • You are in need of a Summer job • Write an application for the job

31. Make sure you SCRAPE a C grade by remembering… • S Sentence structure • C Check through your work • R Range of vocabulary • A Audience- who are you writing for? • P Paragraphs and punctuation • E Engage your reader, make yours stand out from everyone else

32. Remember …. You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentencestructure, punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the examiner you want a new paragraph there. Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you more marks. Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones. Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get points for trying. Use standard English and avoid slang ( unless it fits your angle) Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee your reader is interested and continues to read.

33. How to get a C / B on the Writing paper • 5 types of punctuation other than a full stop and comma • You must use paragraphs correctly • Vary sentences, use complex and compound sentences • Control your use of tenses ( don’t swap between past and present) • Aim for 2 sides of A4 per question • Show a clear understanding of purpose, audience and format. • Show a clear awareness of the reader • Use at least 4 stylistic techniques. • Use a range of vocabulary to convey precise meaning.

34. To achieve an A/ A* on writing: • Sophisticated understanding of purpose, audience and format – adapting language and structure to suit. • Ideas are effectively prioritised to construct a sophisticated argument. • Paragraphs are varied in length and structure to control progression. • Confident and sophisticated use of a range of stylistic devices. • Ambitious vocabulary is used to convey precise meaning. • Variety of punctuation used for effect to vary pace, clarify meaning and create deliberate effects. • Sophisticated use of simple, compound and complex sentences to achieve effects • A wide vocabulary used for effect ( crafted) • FLAIR and creativity.

35. Useful websites • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english • http://www.wjec.co.uk- lots of past papers ( either Unit 1 or 2 or old English paper 2) • http://www.englishbiz.co.uk This site is helpful for revising grammar and the writing tasks. • http://www.gcse.com/english/ A useful site for general English skills • http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/english A helpful site in terms of writing styles • http://www.educationquizzes.com/gcse/english/ Lots of quizzes to help with punctuation and writing styles • www.universalteacher.org.uk • Another good resource for revising Literature texts especially. Also some advice for comprehension skills • https://www.gradesaver.com/- Detailed guides on all Literature texts • http://www.sparknotes.com- For help with all your literature texts