wilfred owen as ocr exam revision strategies
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to OCR AS level English paper F661 and how to tackle the Wilfred Owen question (with revision strategies and assessment objective analysis)TRANSCRIPT
F661The Poetry Question
The Examination
1 Question to be written in 1 hour
10 mins. Reading & Planning45 mins. Writing 5 mins. Checking
The Assessment Objectives
AO1 – Communication & presentation
AO2 – Analysis & understanding
AO4 – Knowledge & understanding of context
Question structure 1
“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”
Consider ways in which Owen presents (topic focus) in (named poem). Make close reference to language, imagery and verse form.Does Owen present (topic focus) more or less effectively than in other poems in the collection?
Question structure
“ …a sad land, weak with sweats of dearth”
Consider ways in which Owen presents the landscape of war in ‘The Show’. Make close reference to language, imagery and verse form.Does Owen present trench experience more or less effectively than in other poems in the collection?
Question structure 2
“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”
Bearing in mind Owen’s presentation of (topic focus) in (named poem), consider ways in which the poem relates to the methods and concerns of other poems in the selection.
Question structure 2
“ …a sad land, weak with sweats of dearth”
Bearing in mind Owen’s presentation of the landscape of war in ‘The Show’, consider ways in which the poem relates to the methods and concerns of other poems in the selection.
Whichever question structure you get, notice that the Assessment Objectives are ‘triggered’ in the wording used.
You must make sure you plan and write in a way that ensures you respond to them.
(note that AO1 is implicit)
Question structure 1
“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”
Consider ways in which Owen presents (topic focus) in (named poem). Make close reference to language, imagery and verse form.Does Owen present (topic focus) more or less effectively than in other poems in the collection?
AO2
AO4
Question structure 2
“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”
Bearing in mind Owen’s presentation of (topic focus) in (named poem), consider ways in which the poem relates to the methods and concerns of other poems in the selection.
AO2
AO4
In both cases you are being asked to show that you can construct a focused argument that reflects your understanding of:
•HOW Owen’s poems operate•The COMMON FEATURES of his work•The INFLUENCES that shape his poetry
Now that you are familiar with the assessment criteria, you can begin to plan the best approach to revision and exam preparation –
Remember that the examination process is like a game with very specific rules – it doesn’t matter how much ‘athletic potential’ you have – if you don’t play the game, you won’t win!
1. Identify the likely topics that might come up
Exam preparation
2. Annotate the poems to identify those in the collection that best reflect these topics (colour code them for ease of revision)
Exam preparation
3. Make consolidation notes on the similarities and differences between Owen’s treatment of the topics across the poems in the collection and if you can make connections with other war poets you have studied (CONCERNS – AO4)
Exam preparation
4. Make consolidation notes on the ways in which Owen explores those topics through his choice of language, structure, form
Remember – it is not enough to simply identify his methods, you must comment on the EFFECT his choices have on the poems and on their intended audience (METHODS – AO2)
Exam preparation
• In the exam you will not have your poems with you – apart from the reprinted named text, all of your close referencing must be from memory. With this in mind:
• Use post it notes or cue cards to help you learn ‘gobbits’ for embedded quotations
• Display the poems in your room and scan 5 of them daily in rotation
• Devise a strategy – for each topics that could come up, which 3-5 poems will you confidently discuss?
Exam preparation
• Now, using the exam question format, construct a question and then plan your answer
• During the early stages of your revision process, it’s ok to do this with the poems in front of you but as soon as you can, aim to do this ‘blind’ and under timed conditions – you will only have 10 minutes to do this on the day!
Exam preparation
• Finally, set a stopwatch and write the essay – give yourself no more that 45 minutes of writing time or you’ll be unprepared for the specific challenge of the actual exam.
• Remember to check your work for technical accuracy and sense in the remaining 5 minutes
• After a break, either mark your work against the AO’s or you could swap yours with a class mate and peer assess.
Exam preparation
• Have I written a well constructed answer?
• Does my answer directly respond to ALL the
terms in the question?
• Have I selected and used illustrative material
from 3 or more poems?
• Have I used a range of appropriate
terminology confidently?
AO1 Checklist
• Have I presented a confident analysis of the
topic?
• Have I given several specific examples from
the named poem that show how Owen has
used language, form and structure AND
commented on the EFFECT of these
methods?
• Have I also done this with at least 2 other
poems?
AO2 Checklist
• Have I placed the named poem in context
with others in the collection?
• Have I commented on how other poems
tackle the topic in similar and different
ways?
• Have I taken the opportunity to reflect my
appreciation of the historical, social and
political context which has shaped these
poems and other examples of war poetry?
AO4 Checklist
• The horror of war
• The experience of trench life
• Visions & bearing witness
• The role & function of the war poet
• Empathy / pity for the plight of the Tommy
• The landscape of war / man & Nature
• Neurasthenia and shell shock
• Treatment & representation of the enemy
• Protest
Possible Topics
• The influence of literary allusion
• Wounding & disability
• Religion
• Class divisions
Possible Topics