personal study next steps

8/14/2019 Personal Study Next Steps

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Personal Study: Next Steps

Understanding • Cut all sections which simply tell the story.

• Discuss the themes or issues explored by the text - does the writer have

something to say about human nature or life in general?• Too brief- needs more detail.

Analysis • Use more critical terms.

• Comment in more detail on the writer's technique, style, language and/or

word choice.

• Don't use quotations simply to retell the story: use them because they provide

examples of the techniques you're analysing.

Evaluation • Explain the effects of the writer's techniques - how do they make you

respond?

• Develop your personal response: what did you enjoy or learn from the text?

How did you feel about the characters and issues explored?• Give more evidence/use more quotations to back up your personal opinion.

Expression • Correct all errors in punctuation/sentence structure/spelling/grammar.

• Rearrange your structure into a logical order. Keep all similar points together.

• Use linking words and phrases between paragraphs to show how one point

follows on to the next.

• The introduction and/or conclusion needs attention.

• Choose your points carefully so that the essay actually does what you said it

would do in your introduction. Don't make points which are irrelevant to your

line of thought.

Personal Reflective Writing (Higher)

Category 4 (11-14) Category 3 (15-18) Category 2 (19-23) Category 1 (24-30)

Essays which fall into this

category may do so for a

variety of reasons. It could

be that

• it fails to achieve

sufficient technical

accuracy

• or that the structure is

not sufficiently

organized to carry the

candidate’s ideasclearly

• or that the choice of

words and sentence

structure us too

mundane (unless this is

a conscious effect

deployed in creative

writing)

• or that the content is

simply too thin

• This piece will

communicate a

recognizable sense of

the writer’s personality

• There will be signs of

an ability to explore

and deal thoughtfully

with experience in a

unified way

• The structure will be

well organized to assistimpact

• The language and tone

used will show an

ability to create effects

appropriate to the

experience

• This piece will

communicate a clear

sense of the writer’s

personality

• There will be an ability

to explore and deal

thoughtfully with

experience in a unified

way


well organized to assistimpact

• The language and tone

used will effectively

reflect an awareness

appropriate to the

experience

• The piece will

communicate a clear


personality

• There will be an ability

to explore and deal

with experience in an

insightful way


organized skillfully to

assist impact• Language and tone will

be used effectively to

communicate the

writer’s individuality



Identified weaknesses and next steps advice

• Check the front cover grid for overall profile of performance on this piece of work

• Identify your strengths and maintain them

• Use the information given in this supplementary grid to help you focus on specific points or areas

which need improvement

For attention Tick Suggested action

Structure

a) Opening paragraph makes no direct

mention of the demands of the question

• Practice writing out opening paragraphs

from sample questions

• The title + the writer + each aspect of the

question must be included

b) Argument is weakened by the lack of

an obvious paragraph plan

Always spend 3 or 4 minutes before you start the

essay on mapping an outline plan in line with

your strong opening paragraph

c) There is little or poor linkage between paragraphs creating a disjointed /

uncontrolled effect

• Work on compiling a list of connectives

and practice using them

• Be aware of the function of topic sentences

Content

a) A thin grasp pf the text has been

displayed

• Don’t skimp on your reading- - when

necessary, re-read the text

• Don’t suffer puzzlement in silence: ask if

you don’t get the gist of something

b) Insufficient references or quotation • Prepare and memorise a short quotation

bank (5 items)

• Prepare lists of 3 or 5 bullet points on the

main character(s) / setting / theme(s) /

techniques

c) Too much reliance on narrative

account

• Discipline yourself to avoid ever retelling

in your own words

• Use what you know; select

• See advice above on structure

Persuasive Writing (Higher)


Essays which fall into this

category may do so for a

variety of reasons. It

could be that

• It fails to achieve

sufficient technical

accuracy

• Or that the structure

• The piece will

communicate a clear


stance vis a vis the

topic

• There will be an

attempt to persuade

the reader to share

• The piece will

communicate a clear


stance vis a vis the

topic

• There will be a

sustained attempt to

persuade the reader

• The piece will

communicate a clear

and sophisticated

exposition of the

writer’s stance vis a

vis the topic

• There will be a

sustained argument



is not sufficiently

organized to carry

the candidate’s ideas

clearly

• Or that the choice of

words and sentence

structure is too

mundane

• Or that the content is

simply too thin

that stance by

appropriate selection

of content, use of

structure, and

persuasive or

rhetorical style

to share that stance

by appropriate

selection of content,

effective use of

structure, and

persuasive or

rhetorical style

used to persuade the

reader to share that

stance by use of

effective structure

and a skilful use of

persuasive or

rhetorical style

Personal Study (Higher)


Responses which fall into

this category may do so

for a variety of reasons

• that it fails to

achieve consistent

technical accuracy

• or that any

knowledge andunderstanding of the

material(s) is not

deployed as a

response relevant to

the stated

information

• or than analysis and

evaluation attempted

are unconvincing

• or that the answer is

simply too thin

• Knowledge of the

material(s) and a

secure

understanding of the

central concerns will

be used to follow the

stated intention

• Detailed reference tothe material(s) to

suppor tthe

candidate’s

argument will be

made

• There will be some

engagement with the

text which will state

or imply an

evaluation of its

effectiveness

• There will be

accurate explanation

of the contributionof literary/linguistic

techniques to the

impact

• Language will

communicate the

argument clearly,

and there will be

appropriate critical

terminology

deployed. Spelling,

syntax and

punctuation will be

sufficiently accurate.

• Knowledge and

understanding of the

central concerns will

be clearly

demonstrated and

deployed sensibly to

form a sound

developed responsewhich is relevant to

the stated intention

• Detailed reference to

the material(s) will

be used

appropriately as

evidence for the

candidate’s

argument

• There will be a

positive (personal)

engagement with the

material(s) - which

may be implicit – leading to a

considered

evaluative stance

with respect to the

material(s)

• There will be

analysis of

techniques and how

they effect the

impact

• Language will be

used confidently and

the deployment of

critical terminology

will add to the

strength of the

candidate’s

argument

• Thorough

knowledge and

insight into the

central concerns of


be demonstrated at

this level and there

will be a relevant,well structured

response to the

demands of the

stated intention

• Extensive and

skilful reference to


be used

appropriately as

evidence for the

argument

• There will be an

appreciative

response allied to acommitted stance

with respect to the

material(s) which

may be implicit

• There will be a

convincing

evaluative analysis

of the techniques

• The language used

will be controlled

and fluent, making

accurate and

appropriate use of

critical terminology

in pursuit of a skilful

analysis

personal study next steps

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