GCSE English Support Event

12th December 2012

Agenda

9.15am Registration 9.30 -10.00am Welcome and

Introduction 10.00 -10.20am Tea/Coffee 10.20 - 12.30pm Unit 1 12.30 - 1.30pm Lunch 1.30 - 2.30pm Unit 2 2.30 - 2.45pm Evaluation

Today’s Focus

Examination Preparationproviding resourcesgeneral advice and guidancedeconstructing questionsexemplar responses

How the exams are marked

The exams will be marked using positive assessment.

The Examiners/Markers are solely concerned with crediting what has been achieved in an answer.

They will ignore what the candidate has overlooked, misinterpreted or added irrelevantly.

The Mark Schemes are written to tie in with this positive approach.

Assessment Objectives

Examiners/Markers are required to make a series of assessments.

These are based on the specific

Assessment Objectives that are set out in the Mark Scheme for each question.

General Information

We are not looking for perfection

We are aware of the pressure of exams, the time limitations, etc.

Answers that receive maximum marks may contain some errors (expression/ spelling/ punctuation)

Myth

You don’t need to study for GCSE English.X

Timing

2 exam papers

2 X 45 minute questions

Unit 1 Section A

Personal Writing45 minutes

(p2-14)

The Assessment Objectives (p2)

1. Writing clearly, effectively and imaginatively to engage the reader

2. Using a style that matches vocabulary to purpose and audience

3. Organising ideas/information logically into sentences and paragraphs

4. Making use of language and structural features for effect

5. Using a range of sentence structures as well as punctuating and spelling accurately.

The type of question

Candidates will be asked to produce a single piece of writing on a given subject. They will be required to write in one of a variety of forms:

a magazine article for your school magazinea letter to a friend or a local newspapera speech or presentation to other pupils, or,a personal essay for the examiner.

Writing – 24 marks

AO3 (i) and (ii) – structure/development

16 marks

AO3 (iii) – use of sentences and accuracy spelling, punctuation and grammar

8 marks

A typical task (p4)

You have been asked to make a speech to your classmates on your favourite possession.

 Purpose: to describe

Form: a speech

Audience: classmates

Topics

Your favourite …. (teacher/ possession/ holiday, etc)

Your worst ever holiday

A memorable journey

Your closest friendX

Section A – Personal Writing

45 minutes

10 mins – planning your response to the task

25-30 mins – writing your response

5 mins – checking your work

Writing Techniques (p5+6)

Rhetorical Questions Rapport Emotive Language Indirect involvement Hyperbole Assertive Language

Repetition Alliteration Statistics Humour Personal Anecdote Tone Effective opening Strong conclusion

Example Openings (+ Conclusions)p38-39

 An unusual detail: “A typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,300 calories”

A strong statement: “Fast food consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today pervades nearly every segment of society, including school canteens”

A quotation: “Shakespeare said, ‘All the world’s a stage ….’”

An anecdote: “My hands felt sticky after pulling open the doors to “Big Bobby’s Boisterous Burger Hut”. The odor smelled of fried everything. I ordered a Big Bobby Combo #2. There was enough food to serve a small third world country on my tray.”

Example Openings (+ Conclusions)

A statistic or fact: “There are over 2.7 billion searches on Google each month.”

A question: “Have you ever considered how many books we would have read if it were not for television and the Internet?”

An exaggeration or outrageous statement: “The whole world watched as the comet flew overhead.”

Hooks or Grabbers!!

Unusual detail

Strong statement

Quotation

Anecdote

Statistic or Fact

Question Exaggeration or Outrageous

Statement

Under Some Quilts Are

Surprisingly Quick

Elephants

Good Opening statements

Topic: “The worst day of my life”:

I am going to write about the worst day in my life.

I’m sure you all have heard of the expression “getting out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning”.

The piercing 6:30 alarm jarred me out of a restful sleep. It didn’t get any better after that.

X

Task - p8 + 9

3 examples of writing – different approaches to personal writing task

So you’re going on holiday to KL! It’s a brilliant place, a real mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian culture. There’s so much going on that you won’t want to go to bed at night. Now you’re probably thinking, ‘I hope she’s not going to bore me writing some tedious travel guide.’ Well I’m not. You’ll find your own way, but here are a few suggestions about things that you can say or do. Your first adventure will be negotiating the airport. I don’t like it, even if it is very modern and impressive. I went there when it was first built and got lost it was so big. Every time I tried to find our departure lounge I ended up wandering into a different shop. Apparently the airport was designed so that people could be channelled into retail outlets to buy more goodies. Anyway, if you manage to get through the airport, you’ll need to get a taxi into the city centre, which (I say should) will take about an hour. Have you been to the Far East before? If you haven’t, the traffic might come as a shock. Sometimes it gets gridlocked for hours on end and nothing moves except the meter on the taxi. If you’re lucky, though, you’ll end up in the middle of town in time to see some of the city before dark. There are so many things to do, like going to Petronas Towers, visiting the National Museum, taking a trip on the elevated railway – or simply indulging yourself in a delicious local meal from a hawker stall.

A lively start that addresses the reader directly - ‘you’.

One of my favourite places is the bus shelter outside school. Most people would not think a bus shelter is very interesting, and would expect a favourite place to be somewhere exotic. I suppose the main reason I like it so much – at least in the winter, is because it is one of the few places anyone can keep dry and reasonably warm on a main road when you need to get off the school premises at lunchtime. If you think a bus shelter is an odd place to choose, there are others who seem to share my odd choice. The other day for instance, the shelter was packed full of people chatting and nobody got any of the buses that pulled up. You’ll see now that it is not the décor or the architecture that makes the shelter a favourite place; it’s the company and the social diary. Yesterday I met up with three of my closest friends who I hadn’t seen for three days. We solved the world’s problems, swapped gossip and sorted out the weekend before getting back to Maths in Lesson 4. If you had to face Maths Lesson 4, you’d begin to see why the bus shelter is a favourite place.

Unusual choice of location grabs the reader’s attention

Late November. The centre of the city lies still as a tomb, grey in the cold earth. Silent buildings are gravestones to the living cemetery beneath. A chill wind blows the hair across my face. Dust and dirt swirl from the gutter and in a tin can rattles down the pavement, its half-consumed contents dribbling stickily behind. A cheeseburger carton limps unwillingly along before lodging beneath a bench. The smell of stale onions lingers from an abandoned hot dog stand, and beside me, in the wide shop door, a sign of life. A cardboard box shifts in the gloom and a dark shape shuffles. A cupped grey hand extends, yet I move away ashamed. In the distance, the cars on the by-pass busily hum.

Adjectives build up a misty, desolate feeling

simileShort sentence for effect

personification

alliteration

metaphor

Adverbs create ‘sleazy’ impression

Strong, well-chosen verbs in the present tense

onomatopoeia

Connectives (p10)

Make writing more fluent by linking information, ideas and events and showing the relationship between them.

Act as signposts for the reader.

Without connectives, writing reads like a list.

Learn them and use them in your writing!!

Top Answer (p12)

Read the response

I hated that place. I hated everything about it. Before I went to hospital I was terrified, and when I was there I was traumatised. I feared every step that walked past my door, fearing it was my surgeon.

My surgeon was a plump and stumpy man, who in my opinion had a heart of stone. He wore black framed glasses that made his eyes look like pin pricks, and his lips were constantly pursed. The day he told me I needed life-threatening surgery was routine for him, but tore my world apart. This lack of concern and sympathy for me made me detest this man with every possible bone in my body.

Blink Test – What Grade?

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Blink Test – What Grade?

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Blink Test – What Grade?

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Paragraphing

Remember P.E.E: ParagraphingEqualsExcellence  

Paragraphing

REMEMBER TIPTOP

When you skip to a new time

When you skip to a new place

When you start in on a new topic

When a new person begins to speak

Plan

Subject: ____________________

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Flow Chart

Subject:

Spider Diagram/Mind Map

Topic

Planning

Remember P.E.E: PlanningEqualsExcellence  

Ending

If a student runs out of time:

Do not end writing tasks with a series of bullet points.

If they have only a couple of minutes left they should write a concluding paragraph.

Exemplar Responses

Paper 1 Section B

Reading Multi-Modal Texts

45minutes(P15-31)

Target skills

1. read and understand texts, and 2. read and understand images

select material appropriate to purpose; make connections between ideas, texts, words analyse how the language used varies

according to audience; explain how writers use language in particular

ways and employ presentational features to capture the reader’s attention;

draw together material from different sources.

Assessment Objectives (p16)

AO3 i: selecting material appropriate to purpose/ collating & making c-refs

AO3 ii: dev. and sustain interpretations

AO3 iii: explaining and evaluating how a writer uses linguistic, grammatical and structural devices to achieve effects

Question : 45 mins

This DVD cover helps to advertise and sell this film. How does the language used in both DVD covers help promote/ sell the DVDs?

(15 marks)

This DVD cover helps to advertise and sell this film. How do presentational devices help to promote/ sell this DVD?  

In your answer consider: the layout the use of images the use of colour.

(9 marks)

How to use the time

45 minutes

15 mins – reading + annotating texts20 mins – Q1 – Language10 mins – Q2 – Presentational Devices

Multi-modal texts used in the exam:

DVD covers Advertisements Leaflets Websites Book covers Magazine covers Posters Promotional flyers

Compare + Contrast

Ice:

Makes one think of a cool, refreshing drink

Beads of condensation create a cool and refreshing image

Colour Red:

Dominant colour

Striking colour/ stands out

Associated with strength, energy

Dramatically different colour to its main rival Pepsi

Worldwide instantly, recognizable global brand

Coke bottle

Instantly recognizable shape

Symbolic (iconic symbol) of the popular drink

Word “Enjoy!” – with an exclamation mark emphasizes the pleasure associated with this drink.

Simple and distinct red and white colour scheme

Font – Spencerian script – dominant form of formal handwriting in the 19th Century in USA when Coca Cola was first created

Compare + Contrast

Dominant colour is blue:

dominant colour

water, ice, coldness, refreshing

Blue: dramatically different colour to its main rival Coca Cola

World-wide recognized logo

Icicles create a sense of dramatic movement suggesting Pepsi is a sharp and powerfully tasting drink

Also suggest a cool refreshing drink

Red, white and blue colour scheme is simple and distinctive

Bright colours used in logo stand out

May also suggest country of origin - USA

Font used is bold and masculine -suggests strength / power – very different from font used by main rival Coca Cola

Compare + Contrast

Logo:

Reminds one of a stalk/leaf at the top of an orange

Green which suggests nature/naturalness

Bubbles suggest a cool, fizzy and refreshing drink

Colour Orange:

Dominant colour

Colour of the actual drink

Striking colour/ bright/ stands out

Associated with energy, health, natural, happiness

Instantly recognizable global brand

Simple and distinct orange and blue colour scheme

Droplets of the orange and the bubbles swirling around helps you visualize and ultimately desire the drink.

Name ‘Fanta’ is an African word meaning “beautiful day” – a symbol of happiness and good spirit

Font: soft and rounded like an orange

Dominant colours are blue and green:

Blue: suggests water, ice, coldness, refreshing

Green: suggests nature

Yellow: reflects the lemon flavour of the drink and the yellow dot above the letter “i” looks like a lemon

World-wide recognized logo

Swirls: create a sense of dramatic movement suggesting this is a sharp and powerfully tasting drink

White , blue, green colour scheme is simple and distinctive

Bright colours used in logo stand out

Font used is bold and masculine -suggests strength / power

Bubbles: suggest the drink is cool and refreshing

‘Sprite’ is an elf-like creature implying this is a fun and playful drink

What do you learn about this film by studying the presentational features used in this poster?

Large photograph of the main character dominates the centre the poster. He is focused on a document which will clearly have a key role in the plot of the film.

An array of familiar characters from “The Lord of the Rings” films will appeal to fans and suggests continuity

Unfamiliar character will arouse curiosity. Is he on the side of good or evil?

Exciting tagline reflects the subtitle of the film – suggest that audience will be brought on a journey of some kind through watching the film/story

Iconic ring is also placed in a central position to emphasise its importance in the film/story

An action shot from the movie suggests conflict and possibly war

Strange characters, costumes, settings and animals imply that the genre is fantasy

Scenes from the film indicate where some of the action will take place – the setting

Colours?

Bold use of modern font to capture a ‘catchy’ film title. Apocalyptic/action films like this sometimes use dates as markers for danger. 2012- provocative and frightening? Why? Creates intrigue. We are only in 2011. Does the future really hold such dangers? Global warming?

Use of light beginning to permeate through storm clouds- symbolic of hope?

This is juxtaposed with the swirling, rising water which topples the formidable statue of Christ. Suggestive/evocative of the Great Flood in The Old Testament?

Threatening slogan. Register/ tone is very intimidating.

Image of plane heading towards toppling buildings of similar symmetery is reminiscent of 9/11.- as is the cloud of debris emerging around them.

Image of a ‘crisis centre.’ Worried officials preside over incoming information with screens and busy employees behind them. This creates a mood of panic. Perspective in image gives a wider sense of crisis. Whereas the image

above suggests that officials are struggling to keep a sense of control of the situation, here we see how the crisis is affecting individuals. Medium close-up of man and child (perhaps father and son) with faces in shock- suggests that the dangers they face may be too difficult to overcome. Makes viewers want to find out what happens to them.

Promotional features highlighted effectively through bullet points. Language used helps to promote the film and persuade viewers to buy/ watch it.

e.g. Sense of exclusivity/uniqueness, ‘Never before…’

Repetition ‘so many…’

Rule of three: ‘religions, scientists and governments’

Catchy adjectives and nouns: ‘epic adventure,’ ‘global cataclysm,’ ‘heroic struggle’

Harrowing front cover uses iconic symbol of Christ the King found on a mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Why choose this? It suggests that the swirling, rising tides have risen to such sinister levels that the safety of this statue has been compromised. It has cracked and is now falling down upon the people below. Does it suggest that even God/faith is powerless in the face of such Apocalyptic danger? Interesting absence of a protagonist on the DVD cover makes us realise that this danger is being faced by all of mankind. Very evocative use of symbol and colour. The bridge crowded with people below hints at a possible scene in the film’s narrative and makes the people and their plight look insignificant in the face of this unfolding disaster.

Analysing Colours (p20)

Example responses to avoid:

“The colour red is used and could mean that the film is a romantic film as red is a colour associated with love. However, sometimes red is used to symbolise danger therefore something terrible might happen in this film.”

“Gold is used in the title to suggest time is precious.”

“Black and white relate to death, purity and well-being.”

Meaning of colours

Would you rather be green with envy, green behind the ears, or green around the gills?

Analysing Colours

Sometimes colours are symbolic.

Sometimes colours may be used because they are bright and eye-catching and therefore stand out.

Presentational Devices

p18

A FOREST MAP

A FOREST MAP

A ALLITERATION

F FACTS

O OPINIONS

R REPETITION

E EMOTIVE LANGUAGE

S STATISTICS

T THREE (RULE OF)

M METAPHOR

A ASSONANCE

P PERSONIFICATION

Persuasive Language (p17)

Used to persuade someone to do something:buy a productbelieve in a particular argumentdonate money to a charity, etc

The Donna by Emma Howard

Britte feels lost when her recent behaviour places her into donna training. The school is known for turning spirited girls into obedient, cultured young women. Numerous appalling romours surround the donna profession – rumours that Britte hopes are unfounded.

When Britte arrives at school, her leaders are polite but vague and evasive and Britte is sure they are hiding something. Once Britte learns their secret her world is turned upside down.

“The Donna is an imaginative story of a young girl facing new experiences and dangerous circumstances. You’ll fall in love with

characters and get wrapped up in the excitement.”

Melissa N. Arizona

The Donna by Emma Howard

Britte feels lost when her recent behaviour places her into donna training. The school is known for turning spirited girls into obedient, cultured young women. Numerous appalling rumours surround the donna profession – rumours that Britte hopes are unfounded.

When Britte arrives at school, her leaders are polite but vague and evasive and Britte is sure they are hiding something. Once Britte learns their secret her world is turned upside down.

“The Donna is an imaginative story of a young girl facing new experiences and dangerous circumstances. You’ll fall in love

with characters and get wrapped up in the excitement.”

Melissa N. Arizona

P.E.E.

 Answer the questions using P.E.E:

Point 1. State something relevant Explain 2. Explain why it is relevant

Evidence/Example 3. Give an example to back it up

REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER THROUGHOUT THE ANSWERREPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER THROUGHOUT THE ANSWER

Introductory Paragraph??

“Both of these DVD covers use presentational devices such as pictures, layout and colour for effect.”

Get straight into answering the question:

“The DVD cover of Hurt Locker uses …”

Compare + Contrast p23

Compare and contrast Text A + Text B throughout your response highlighting similarities + differences

A

A

A

B

B

B

Compare + Contrast p24

Text A - analyse in detail

Text B – analyse in detail but refer back to Text A regularly to compare and contrast: highlighting similarities + differences

AB

AB

AB

A

Exemplar

Candidates should use a cross-reference style of response

the front cover of …DVD contains a tagline to promote the film: “...” whereas the cover of … DVD relies on a review “...”

‘Product A is marketed more aggressively, e.g “...”. In contrast, the marketing of Product B is more conservative and restrained.

Comparative Connections (p10/24)

however in spite of this whereas on the other hand in other respects on the contrary rather

nevertheless differs from also in that respect alternatively instead elsewhere

Vary Your language (p25)

means creates conveys implies

reflects gives rise to demonstrates highlights

indicates emphasises reinforces strengthens

Top answer

p28 to p30