Assessment Objectives and Course Overview

Course Overview

Specification at a glanceSubject contentScheme of assessmentHow to Revise

Assessment Objectives

AO1: Apply concepts and methods from intergrated linguistic and literary study as appropriate, using associated terminology and coherent written expression.This simply means that you need to: express yourself clearly use key words and terminology correctly use examples to support your explanation Not sure if you've achieved AO1? Have you: Included an analysis of linguistics (words and language) and literary (poetic/writing) techniques? Used key words correctly? Proofread your work to make sure it makes sense? AO1 applies in Section A: Remembered Places and Section B: Imagined Worlds.

AO2: Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in texts.AO2 simply tries to answer two questions: What is the writer trying to say through this text? How does the writer present the themes within the novel? AO2 applies to Section B: Imagined Worlds

AO3: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which the texts are produced and received. This simply means that you need to: talk about whether the text is generic discuss the context in which the author wrote the text (production) comment on the difference between attitudes now and attitudes when the piece was written (reception) Not sure whether you've achieved AO3? Have you: written about language choices the writer/speaker has made and the effects of them? discussed the different audiences and purposes of the texts? explained the aspects of mode and graphology (e.g. image, layout, text, novel, video, transcript)? AO3 applies to Section A: Remembered Places and Section B: Imagined Worlds

AO4: Explore connections across texts, informed by linguistic and literary concepts and methods.This simply means that you must: pick out similarities and differences between two texts, making sure to have a contrast between each similarity analyse in detail the similarities and differences between the ideas about how individuals and societies are framed and represented AO4 applies to Section A: Remembered Places.

AO5: Demonstrate expertise and creativity in the use of English to communicate in different ways.

Section A: Remembered Places

You answer the one compulsory question in this section. A typical specimen exam question will look like; Read Text A and Text B on page 4.Text A is an extract from...Text B is an extract from...Compare and contrast how the writers of these texts express their ideas about people living in or visiting Paris. You should refer to both texts in your answer. (40 marks)How to tackle these questions: Read the extracts. Annotate them. Make a plan of all their similarities and differences. For example: Comparison of 'Introduction,' NOT-FOR-PARENTS: Everything you ever wanted to know (Page 96) and the 2nd paragraph of Personal Narrative: Zara (Page 32) NOT-FOR-PARENTS has graphological aspects; use of colour, font and illustration, Zara may only engage her audience by varying her tone of voice and pausing both have informal. modern lexical language, 'cool' on pg 96 and 'I kind of' on pg 32 short sentences in NOT-FOR-PARENTS, Zara's narrative not separated into sentences, no definitive full stops both have sections, which make it easier to read both use anaphoric references both have the purpose to inform Zara's narrative is personal opinion, subjective, NOT-FOR-PARENTS is more factual and objective lively adjectives in NOT-FOR-PARENTS, repetition of similar ones ('small') and lack of adjectives in Zara's narrative Zara's narrative is spoken, NOT-FOR-PARENTS is written Zara's narrative is first person, NOT-FOR-PARENTS is third person Zara's narrative is not rehearsed or crafted, spontaneous, NOT-FOR-PARENTS is planned and edited over a long period NOT-FOR-PARENTS has a younger audience, purpose of entertaining and informing, Zara's narrative has the purpose of sharing her experience, with perhaps an internal audience of herself and her family

Section B: Imagined Worlds

You have a choice of two questions, both featuring an extract from The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. The questions will address either how a character, theme, setting or name is presented in the extract. It also helps to refer to the rest of the novel to aid your analysis. Remember the section is called 'Imagined Worlds', so you need to also talk about the fantasy elements of the novel as part of the genre.

When answering questions: Describe the extract's content. Describe the extract's position in the novel. How does it's placement affect the rest of the novel? Discuss the mood of the extract. Work through your annotations of any words or phrases that were of linguistic or literary interest and link to the effect on the reader. Sum up the overall mood/impression of the extract. Examine the fantasy elements in constructing a fictional world.

AO1: Apply concepts and methods from integrated linguistic and literary study as appropriate, using associated terminology and coherent written expression.What this means for Section B: use correct terminology to describe techniques include grammatical and language techniques, as well as literary ones

AO2: Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in texts.What this means for Section B: explain how Atwood creates Gilead through fantasy elements explain how she shapes this meaning throughout the text

AO3: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which the texts are produced and received.What this means for Section B: talk about the context of the novel in the genre of fantasy talk about the social and historical context of the novel explain how Atwood links The Handmaid's Tale to the world around her/the present world

Section C: Poetic Voices

You will have a choice of two questions for this section. Within a question, one poem will be named, the other you choose. Open book exam Write about the theme you are given in general, and address how poetic voice is created/used across both poems. Use the word 'voice' instead of persona, narrator or character.

Use the structure: My Itchy Toes Smell Foul, Lick ThemExample: