Standard Grade Revision

1. Standard Grade Revision Writing Exam

2. Looking at the Criteria • Any piece of writing is marked on the following areas: • Expression and Style. • Content/Ideas and Relevance. • Structure, Paragraphing and technical accuracy. • Intelligibility!

3. Important Advice • Always write the task number in the margin. • Only choose and attempt one task. • Relevance – make sure that your piece of writing is closely linked to the question you have chosen. • Aim to plan – bullet point or mind-map. • Spend at least 5 minutes at the end proof reading – check your punctuation and spelling.

4. So what does this mean? • Plan your writing: brainstorm  bullet point. • Proof reading is VITAL! • Not sure about spelling? Use a synonym. • Avoid repeating the same word/phrase too often. • Is it good? Great? Fantastic? Or maybe phenomenal? • Remember you can use // to mark a new paragraph. • Top tip – Tipex!

5. Important Reminders • The next few slides are aimed at revising key features of writing. • You should copy each note into your jotter. • Even if you think you won’t attempt an imaginative piece with dialogue – you should still copy the note!

6. Dialogue • Direct speech and reported thought must be placed within ‘speech marks.’ • Each time the speaker changes, you should take a new line. • Capital letters must always be used at the start of speech. • Before the closing speech mark, you must use some form of punctuation. • If the sentence continues after the speech, you must use a comma; ‘He seems nervous,’ whispered Jane. ‘Perhaps we should help?’

7. Sentence Variation • A simple sentence has at least a subject and a verb e.g. ‘He died.’ • You should try to use sentences of different lengths through your writing. • Long sentences can be created using conjunctions such as ‘and’ or ‘but’. • Different types of sentence can suggest different attitudes/emotions e.g. command versus exclamation. • You can alter the order of information in your sentence for effect. Compare ‘Hugh entered the room slowly’ and ‘Slowly, Hugh entered the room.’

8. Show not Tell • In creative and personal writing, aim to describe places, people and events rather than simply stating. • Rather than saying, ‘Hannah seemed angry,’ you could say, ‘ Hannah shoved her way into the room. Her face was verging on purple, a piercing look in her eye.’ • The verbs and adjectives you use can suggest a lot more and can create mood/atmosphere; ‘The room was filled with abandoned toys; rusted tin soldiers, dolls with fading dresses and teddies revealing their stuffing. Underfoot, the floor creaked and groaned…’

9. Senses When describing a setting, make sure that you take into account each sense. You should try to include enough sense detail to give an impression of the place.

10. Focus on Genre

11. Looking at Past Papers • We are going to begin by concentrating on personal writing. Popular topics include: • Friendship. • Family (especially older relatives and sometimes pets). • Authority/leadership. • Extreme emotions – sadness, fear, joy etc. • Travel/holidays/school trips. • Sport (achievement and failure). • Role models.

12. Idea Generators • Think about your experiences. For each of the following, mind-map your ideas. You should note down what happened, who it involved, where it happened and how you felt at each point. • Your most exciting experience. • The saddest experience. • Happiest experience. • Most challenging experience. • Most frightening experience.

13. Indicators of Excellence? • Consistent reference to thoughts and feelings. • Varied vocabulary. • Use of technique – imagery, sentence structure, alliteration… • Tone (attitude) developed – sarcastic, chatty/informal, serious, sad/depressing, joyful/ecstatic and so on. • Reflection.

14. Reflection? Look back at your behaviour. Do you feel different now? Detail your actions, attitudes, feelings. Create a clear sense of yourself!

15. Showing Reflection • In your writing, you can show you are reflecting by using the following phrases; Looking back… Now I realise… When I think about this… I have learned… From this I can see… This taught me a lot because… I should have… Since this happened… It was a _____ thing to do because…

16. Past Paper Questions (2007) • School Memories. Write about a person, place, or incident from your schooldays which you find unforgettable. Remember to include your thoughts and feelings. • Write about a time when you were alone but happy. You should concentrate on your thoughts and feelings. • Sometimes a special place can inspire us. Write about such a place. Remember to include your thoughts and feelings. • Write about a time in your life when you had to face personal pressure. You should describe your thoughts and feelings. • It’s Just Not Fair! Write about an occasion when you took a stand against injustice. You should concentrate on your thoughts and feelings as well as what you did. • Write about an occasion when you had an unpleasant duty to perform. You should concentrate on your thoughts and feelings. • There are special times of the year when people celebrate in their own way. Describe such a special time, bringing out its importance to you, your family, and your community.

17. Describe the Scene… • Typically 1 option per paper. • Shorter but more Stylish. • Describe the scene brought to mind by the following: A stark land of leafless trees and merciless wind. • Describe the scene brought to mind by ONE of the following: EITHER Snow fell, the flimsiest drops of geometric perfection, lightly, gently onto the village rooftops. OR With merciless rage, the sun scorched the earth to brittle hardness. • Describe the scene brought to mind by ONE of the following: Light as air, they hovered then swooped, twisting impossibly around feather clouds. OR Waves lapped at pebbles on the distant shore and a kindly sun drew a gentle haze over the land.

18. Coldly, sadly descends the autumn evening. In the air, a crispness lingered. Dead leaves hissed as the wind unsettled them, tossing them from the trail. The vibrancy of Summer was no more; Autumn had come and drained the life from the land. Trees, naked and shaking. Creatures cowering; retreating into the ground. A slumber had seeped into everything, and time seemed simply to slow and sag. She drifted along the path, a wisp, waif-like woman. Her stalk like shadow stretched in front of her and she followed in a trance. Beneath her bobbled hat, red curls peaked and pushed there way into view. A delicate fringe covered her eyes which remained cast down, and on the lashes there lingered a trace of recently cast tears…

19. Short Stories • Less repetition in this area. • Revise key areas and important techniques. • Practice!