© doing brilliantly in english language getting the c grade

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Doing brilliantly

KS4 > GCSE > Revision skills and exam preparation > Doing brilliantly

How it works Twenty-five PowerPoint slides designed to help students to achieve the C grade at GCSE English. Try this! Rather than simply showing the whole thing in one go, it can be usefully divided into sections. Looking at PALL

first, and then focussing on how to PEE would give students a clear focus for their analysis of non-fiction and media texts. Slide 9 gives a mini example of a text for analysis – print it out and ask them to do a PALL analysis of their own on it, then compare it with the samples on slide 10.

Then this! Once they’ve done the business on a mini text, why not give them a selection of texts from past papers and ask

them to analyse them in the same way? Better still, put them up on sugar paper round the room as a sort of giant toilet postcards activity (see [Revision skills & exam preparation] Toilet postcard revision activity).

Or this! PALL also works for the writing sections, along with [Writing to argue, advise and persuade] Revising persuasive

techniques and students had obviously taken that on board this year, judging from the exam papers I marked. I would, however, alter slide 16 slightly to reflect all of the possible purposes – argue, persuade and advise as well as those to be found in paper 2. I’d also add some paper 1 type questions to slide 18, and then give different students different questions to plan. If you have an IWB or an OHP, it’s a good idea to model planning an answer – most students still don’t plan in exams, and it really does make a difference.

Alison Smith

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Doing brilliantly in English Language

Getting the C grade


Before doing well – Problems to tackle

Misreading the question and giving the wrong kind of answer.

Not looking at the number of marks available. Picking out the wrong information. Using subject language inaccurately or

incorrectly. Repeating the question rather than answering

it. Poor paragraphing, spelling and punctuation. Not preparing or revising properly.


Two keys to success

PALL

Purpose Audience Language Layout

PEE

Point Evidence Expand

Write these on the exam paper to help you plan and get the highest grades.


Keys to success

PALL Purpose –

What is the text trying to do? Audience –

Who is it aimed at? Language –

What kind of words have been used? Layout -

How is the text set out?


Learn the check list of PALL


Learn the check list of PALL

Picking out the features will start you on the right lines.

But you will get a C grade if you explain why they are used and if you think that they work or that they are effective.


Language

Complex, technical or simple. Formal or informal (such as using slang and

abbreviations). Literal or poetic / figurative. Factual/objective, or opinion based or emotive. Read the text thinking about the choice of words. AIM to pick out language details when you are

reading through the text – highlight words and phrases that stand out.

This is where the most marks are because it is a challenge. Explain whether the writing is:


Use quotes

You should always use PEE

MAKE A

POINT GIVE AN

EXAMPLE

EXPAND ON WHAT YOU HAVE

WRITTEN AND THE POINT YOU

HAVE MADE

PEE


www.oxfam.org.uk Photo Nick Fogden/Oxfam


How to use PEE and PALL

There are two women in a picture and there is some green text. Also you can see the name Oxfam so this shows also the name of the charity.

The advert is persuasive and positive as it uses images of two women helping themselves to get out of poverty. The rhetorical question at the top is addressed to the reader to draw them into the advert and the colour green has been chosen because it is a positive colour that connects with the idea of a fresh start. Overall it is effective.


The “Big Picture”

Always read your text carefully – highlight as you read.

Try to grasp the text’s “big picture”.

Understand exactly:

what it is about who it was written for why it was written how it was written

Think PALL


Write Clearly

To achieve a C grade you must:


Write clearly =

Punctuate correctly = use commas, use semi-colons, apostrophes and full stops.

You must use paragraphs to organise your ideas.

You must entertain and interest the reader so keep checking you are focusing on the question and thinking about the reader.

To achieve a C grade you must:


Key words

Always highlight the question – pick out the key words – what is the question asking you to do?

Get used to highlighting the text – look for key words that stand out.

What is the question asking you to do?

Check have you answered the question.


Key words

How effective is the advert for Oxfam? Comment on the language and presentational features used.

How clear is the leaflet and what audience do you think it is aimed at?

1 2

4

5

3

6


Exam questions

Write PALL on your paper to help you plan

Why are you writing – to entertain? Inform or explain?

Watch out for the audience – who will be the reader? Children? Students? Headteachers?

Make sure that your language is right for the audience.


Exam questions Use the way of planning that you find easiest.

It might be a list of bullet points or some kind of diagram. Put all your ideas down quickly, then cross out what you don’t like and organise the rest into the best order.

Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? are questions that can help to get ideas.

Respect the reader. Include all the information they need. Make it make sense.


Exam writing questions 1. Explain how an incident from your life affected

you in an important way.

2. Teenage life can be fun but can be difficult, too; write an article for a school magazine in which you explain what it is like to be a teenager.

3. Many people have hobbies. Write about one of your hobbies discussing what it involves and means to you.

4. Write an article for a teenage magazine in which you explain one of the following: Friendship is ...; Bullying is ...; Success is ...; Growing up is ... .


PALL

Write an article for a teenage magazine in

which you explain some of pressures on young

people today.

You could include details of: exam pressure, peer pressure, self image and

family life.

P

A

L

L


Write an article for a teenage magazine in which you explain some of the pressures on young people today.

Being a teen is top! … … ISN'T IT?

You can’t open a newspaper or turn on the TV without hearing about ‘terrible teens’. Apparently they don’t respect their family, their environment, their teachers, their uniform, or anyone or anything. The only thing they respect are celebrities, and of course teens are only focused on their selfish selves.

Exams and families do create stress but the greatest pressure is surviving all the negative press about teens.

According to the shock stories in the press, we all wear hoodies and baseball caps, never move without a gang surrounding us and we are never happier than when intimidating older people or hanging around on street corners.

Is this the reality of teens today?


How to succeed in longer writing tasks 1. Plan before you write. Jot down key ideas

– do a quick mind map/ brainstorm/ list or some notes – this will help you organise your ideas.

2. Add in detail – keep trying to show off – use the best words.

3. Check paragraphs and spellings – know which words you are sometimes careless with. Look closely at these when you read through your writing.

4. Don’t get too nervous in the exam – make sure that your writing is easy to read. Remember that you won’t lose marks for crossing out mistakes.


Finally – a Health warning

Each year, thousands of students fail to achieve the marks they could. Don't be one of them.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR

WRITING BEFORE HANDING IN!


In the exam – grabbing all of the marks you canWith 7 minutes to go:

Round off your ideas – write your last paragraph.

Proof read your work – quickly check paragraphs – mark new paragraphs in with // – you will get the marks for them.

Check commas and full stops.

Skim through and check you’ve used capital letters for names and titles.


Revision

Read newspapers, magazines and books – look for the main point or main idea – this will get you practising for the exam.

Get into the habit of writing in paragraphs.

Try to skim over your work to check for small mistakes – target weaknesses.

Get some highlighters (buy them or ask Father Christmas for some) – use them to highlight key points and questions.


Get into training now Tick off when you have revised. Use the PALL list and learn it. Keep working on your weaknesses.

Target what you need to do = success!

© doing brilliantly in english language getting the c grade

Documents

c grade

text highlight words

key words

green text

text thinking

rhetorical question

language complex

subject language