English Revision Guide

8/11/2019 English Revision Guide

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Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul


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even to your smallest acts. This is the secret

of success. Swami Sivananda

Saint Cecilias Wandsworth English

Department

GCSE Revision Guide 2011


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English Language - Paper 1


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Section AMulti part questions on reading of unseen

non-fiction and media texts

TOP TIPSwhat to look for

Read the articles carefully ASK who is the audience,

what is the purpose?

What does the HEADLINE tell us?

Are there pictures? Positive or negative?

Layout what is its function? Impact, easy to access the

information, more picture than text, more text than picture?Why?

Look for FACT and OPINION (and opinion presented as

fact)

Are there any quotes? Who from? A mixture of sources?

What is the tone?

Is the language formal or informal? Why?

Can you tell the writers opinion? DO NOT JUST

IDENTIFY THESESAY HOW AND WHY THEY HAVE

BEEN USED!

Comparing Texts

Write what is the same

Write what is different

Articles about the same story can be very different in

terms of the message they put across. Section BA

choice of one from three or more questions testing writing


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which seeks to argue, persuade or advise.


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Top Tips - what to include:


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Establish Audience and Purpose this will determine the

tone and vocabulary you use.

Brainstorm ideas/points on which to base your

argument/persuasion/advice.think for and against.

Use opposing views to strengthen your argument.

Develop your ideas on each point

Think of some evidence to support your ideas make up

some facts and statistics to help your case.

Strong opening paragraph to capture readers interestand make clear your point of view.

Use connectives to structure your argument

Conclude summing up your argument.

Extra techniques:

Rhetorical questions

Personal experience (make it up)

Others viewpoints (make it up)


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English LanguagePaper 2


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Section APoetry from Different Cultures and Traditions.

Answer ONE question comparing TWO poems.

TOP TIPS:

COMPARE, COMPARE, COMPARE!

1. THEME Give a definition of the THEME referred to in the

question and explain HOW it is used in both poems.

2. STRUCTURE How does the structure of each poem relate to

the theme of the question? What are the similarities and

differences between the structures of each poem?

Key Words:

Line length rhyme rhythm stanza shape layout symmetry

punctuation time scale repetition

3. LANGUAGE How does the language of each poem relate to

the theme of the question? Compare the ways the two poets use

language to convey the theme.

Key Words: Images, similes, metaphors Assonance Plosive

language voice onomatopoeia tone Questions personification Nonstandard English

4. FEELINGS Compare the feelings conveyed through the

poems. What attitudes strike you? How are they similar /

different?

5. PERSONAL RESPONSE How do the poems make YOU feel?

Why? Do you prefer one over the other? Why?


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Paper 2 Section B


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Writing to Inform, Explain, Describe

Writing To Inform - MAIN PURPOSEto convey

information as clearly and effectively as possible.

Use:

Straightforward language

Base the ideas on facts

Get straight to the point

Structure points logically

Information can be presented in many forms, including:

Advertisements

Articles

Guide books

Leaflets

Reports

Reference books

Web pages

Writing to Explain - MAIN PURPOSEto make something clear

to your reader and convey this as effectively as possible. Address

the questions:

What?

How?

Why?

Information can be presented in many forms, including:

Articles

Instruction booklet


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Recipe

Reference books


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Writing to Describe - MAIN PURPOSE - create a picture with

words so you reader can imagine vividly the scene, person,


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situation etc.by carefully selecting your words. Inspiration can

be drawn from a number of sources, including:

People you have met

Situations you have encountered

Experiences you have had

Sensations you have experiences through your senses

(touch, sight, taste, smell, hearing)

Information can be presented through a variety of

techniques, e.g.

Imagery, such a similes and metaphors Alliteration, onomatopoeia and assonance to give sound

effects

A variety of sentence structures and rhythm patterns to

build up a particular mood or feeling.

Writing Questions to attempt for each for each type

1. To inform

Design a leaflet to provide the reader with information about a tourist

attraction of your choice. (In designing the leaflet you should think

about:

The title and headings

The information it should contain

The kind of language you should use (audience)

The layout

Anyother ideas you think are important)

2. To explain

Design an instruction booklet on how to use a mobile phone. (In

designing the booklet you should think of:

What functions the phone offers


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Why the phone displays certain signs

How to view the various options and select them

How your information is presented clearly and logically, concisely,

layout that makes it easy to understand.)


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3. To Describe

Write a detailed description on one of the following:


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A beach party or garden barbecue

A school trip

A sea or air journey

A memorable moment

An unusual character.

Remember to include:

Similes and metaphors to provide imagery

Repetition to emphasise your images

Language that appeals to the senses

A variety of sentences lengths to structure effectively

Colour


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Sample Questions on Poetry from Different Cultures


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Write essay plans and a sample paragraph for at least four of

these questions.

1. Compare Vultures with one other poem, showing how the

poets explore the idea of injustice.

2. Compare the ways in which the poets present ideas about rich

and poor people in Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful

People in a Mercedes and one other poem of your choice. Write

about:

What rich and poorpeople are like

What the poets think about rich and poor people

How the poets use language to bring out the differences

between the rich and poor

Which poem you prefer and why

3. Compare Limbo with one other poem and show how the

poets use the sounds of spoken English to present their ideas.

4. Compare the ways in which the poets present different

environments in Night of the Scorpion and one other poem of

your choice. Write about:

What the environments are like

Why the poets use these environments

How the language reveals these environments

5. Compare the ways in which poems can express strong ideas

and feelings about a subject in What Were They Like? and one

other poem. Write about:

What their ideas are


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What their feelings are

The methods they use to reveal their feelings


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6. Compare the ways in which the poets present relationships in


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Vultures and one other poem.

7. Compare how sense of place is used to convey the main

themes of the poem in Nothings Changed and one other poem.

8. Compare how the use of structure is used to enhance the

main themes of Blessing and one other poem.


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Which other poems are linked through the following themes?

Contrasting Cultures


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Nothings Changed

Human Attitudes and Relationships

What Were They Like?

Sense of Place

Island Man

Repetition

Limbo

Political / Social Comment

Two Scavengers...

Sense of Identity

Limbo

Unusual Form and Presentation

What Were They Like?

Rich and Poor

Blessing

First Person Perspective

Night of the Scorpion

Documents

English Revision Guide