English Language Unit One: Fastest Group First (to 20 points!)

1. When is the exam?2. How long does it last?3. How many questions are there in total?4. What is section A testing?5. What is section B testing?6. How will question 1 be phrased? How long should you spend on

it? How many marks available? (3 points)7. How will question 2 be phrased? How long should you spend on

it? How many marks available? (3 points)8. How will question 3 be phrased? How long should you spend on

it? How many marks available? (3 points)9. How will question 4 be phrased? How long should you spend on

it? How many marks available? (3 points)10. How many questions are in section B? How long should you

spend on section B? How many marks available in section B? (3 points)

English Language Unit One Exam: 4th June

I hope you’ve enjoyed your holidays… but we have just 5 weeks

left to get you prepared for your exams.

We have 5 lessons left on our preparation for the exam: today we’re looking at Question 3.

Question Three

Question Three asks you to consider the thoughts and feelings in a text, normally worded:

“Explain some of the thoughts and feelings in the text.”

Grab the heart sheet that matches your new colour

Question 3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtIEOe7CRT0

• Watch this advert. How is the main character feeling? How do these feelings change? How do you know? Write your answers in the inner heart on your template.

• But how can you identify feelings in written texts? Add ideas to the second layer of the heart.

• Around the outside – how can you show in your writing that you understand feelings? For example: “I can infer that they are feeling…”

Question Three

‘Explain some of the thoughts and feelings of ... when...’

You are being asked to do THREE things:

1. Select parts of the text which convey thoughts and feelings (quotes)

2. Identify the thoughts or feelings

3. Infer/Interpret them i.e. work out what is really being said.

In pairs: Read the Buzz Aldrin articleComplete the three steps: 1. Select the parts where feelings are stated or implied

(quotes)2. Identify the feelings3. Infer/Interpret what is being said

Record your answers in a chart like the one below. You should aim for AT LEAST three different points!

Quote Feeling Interpretation

In pairs, complete the three steps: Select the parts where feelings are stated or implied (quotes)

Identify the feelingsInfer/Interpret what is being said

Moon Landing - by Buzz Aldrin Then I saw it- the shadow of one of the three footpads that had touched the surface. Although our engine was still running and the Eagle was hovering, a probe had touched the surface. ‘Contact light,’ I said. Neil and I looked at each other with a stolen glance of relief and immense satisfaction. The Lunar Module settled gently, and we stopped moving. After flying for more than four days, it was a strange sensation to be suddenly stationary.‘Shutdown,’ I heard Neil say.‘Okay, engine stopped,’ I answered.It was 4.17pm on July 20th, 1969, and we had less than twenty seconds worth of fuel remaining, but we were on the moon.Feelings of elation threatened to overwhelm me, but I dared not give in to them. We still had a lot to do before we could breathe easier.

Dumbo in the Jungle by Sally Emerson Pygmy elephants are unique to Borneo, a subspecies of the Asian elephant, smaller and gentler with bigger ears. They have rounder faces, longer tails. They’re Dumbo basically. Baby pygmies can be just a few feet high, but this one is a full-grown male- the creature I had hoped against hope to see on my travels here. After brandishing his trunk for a bit, he backs into the undergrowth. Ah, well, I think how lucky I am to even catch a glimpse of this rare and magical little animal. The birds and the beasts I’ve seen during my three days on the Kinabatangan River have dazzled me. The river flows through Sabah, in the north of the island, and cradles a head-turning array of wildlife. Only three miles of rainforest survive on each bank because of the encroaching palm-oil plantations, so the animals gather here. Look at the blue and orange of that pocket- sized kingfisher. Look at the size of that crocodile, with its craggy back. Look at those sleek otters, darting and squeaking to each other. Every two minutes, I find myself gasping.

Independently, complete the three steps: Select the parts where feelings are stated or implied (quotes)

Identify the feelingsInfer/Interpret what is being said

Now how would you answer it…

Using your sentence starters, write one paragraph of your answer that you think is the

best possible paragraph you could write

Now how do we write this as an answer that can get us the most marks possible out of 8?

Independently: Read the ‘Dumbo in the Jungle’ article

Read the ‘Dumbo in the Jungle.’

Complete a selection, identification, inference table.

Now in pairs, each read the example paragraph on the back of your heart

• Now read the sample answers

• Number 1 read and highlight where Student A has interpreted Sally Emerson's feelings.

• Number 2 read and highlight where Student B has interpreted Sally Emerson's feelings.

Example response: Student A

Sally Emerson is clearly a person who is fascinated by wildlife, and she encounters many amazing creatures in her travels around Borneo. She is obviously overwhelmed by their beauty, especially the pygmy elephant, as she considers herself to be ‘privileged and lucky’ to see such a ‘magical little animal’. Everything about her experience is memorable and it begins to feel like the discovery of a new world, a world where nothing but nature rules. She encourages the reader to ‘look’, showing her excitement. She does however mention the ‘encroaching’ palm-oil plantations, showing that although this place seems like Paradise, she is aware that it is under threat. The reference to the river cradling the area shows how much she wants this place to survive.

Example response: Student B

Sally Emerson is travelling around Borneo to look at the wildlife, and she comes across a pygmy elephant. She likens it to ‘Dumbo’ which suggests she is remembering her childhood, and showing how cute the Pygmy elephant is. She really wanted to see one of these elephants, and is excited because they are unique to the area, and she ‘hoped against hope’ to see one. This shows she never expected to do so, and feels very lucky.

Heads together

• Compare the answers.• Which one is better?• Explain in as much detail as you can why you

think this.• Team up with another pair. Make a list of things

the best one does that the other doesn’t.• Discuss how you would improve it even further.

To do well

Start with an overview sentence to show you have a grasp of the whole extract

Select the parts that show thoughts and feelingsRead between the lines to explain his thoughts and

feelings, based on what is happening at the timeWork through the extract in the order in which things

happen to discuss the range of thoughts and feelings.Take your quotes from various places in the extract –

not all just from the start.

Exam practise: Question Three

• You have 5 minutes reading time to read ‘Saved.’ Use this time to identify the feelings and plan what you’re going to write.

• Then you have 12 minutes to write your answer – aim for three full PEE paragraphs AT LEAST.