GCSE ENGLISH

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GCSE ENGLISH revision workshop

• UNIT 1, UNIT 2 and IGCSE REVISION

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Timings

• Organising your time is one of the most
  important things you can do in any exam. Before
  you even look at any questions, write your
  timings on the front of the question paper so you
  know how long you have. For example
• 9.15- 9.25- Read and highlight and plan
• 9.25-9.35- Question 1
• 9.35-9.45- Question 2
• 9.45- 9.55- Question 3
• 9.55- 10.10- Question 4
• 10.10- 10.15- Read through and check everything.

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WJEC Unit 1- Reading IGCSE Paper 2 Section A- 1
hour

• MEDIA/ NON FICTION COMPARISON
• There will be 4 questions which comprise 2
  questions on text A, 1 question on text B and 1
  question comparing A and B.
• Each question is worth 10 marks
• Before reading the extracts make sure you have
  read the first two questions. This will help you
  quickly find what you are looking for. Underline
  the key phrases of the question and then
  underline the extracts as you read them. This
  will help you quickly respond to the question.

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Key points for the reading exam

• List where it asks you to list, own words if it
  asks for own words
• Short snappy quotes
• Dont just feature spot- explain the effect on
  the audience
• How are presentational devices used?
• How does the writer develop an argument- think
  about structure and choice of language?
• What is the writer trying to achieve and how do
  they achieve it?

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IGCSE paper 1- Literary Heritage -Reading fiction

• You will be presented with an extract from
  literary heritage and you will be asked 4
  questions on the extract worth 10 marks each.
• Each question will relate to a separate chunk or
  paragraph of the extract so you should be able to
  find the information needed quickly.
• The questions will focus on style, structure
  characters feelings/relationships, atmosphere
  and setting.
• The same skills apply as for the non fiction text

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WJEC Writing-Unit 2- 1 hour

• 2 questions- 20 marks each- 30 mins per question
• Plan for 5 minutes, write for 20, check and draft
  for 5 mins per question.
• Aim for 2 sides per question
• You must address the PURPOSE, AUDIENCE and
  FORMAT of the writing.
• The questions will usually test writing to
  explain, persuade, argue , inform or advise.

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IGCSE - 3 Writing tasks

• Paper 1 Section B- 1 hour, choice of 5 titles-
  you choose 1 question only. It will test your
  skills on writing to imagine/ describe. Aim for 3
  sides of A4.
• Paper 2 section B1- 45 mins. Choice of two
  questions, only choose 1. Writing to argue/
  persuade
• Paper 2 section B2- 30 mins. 1 compulsory
  question- writing to argue/ persuade.

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Writing tasks- key points

• Revise the stylistic conventions of each writing
  style (all in the revision guide)
• Plan your answer- quick spider diagram
• Be explicit throughout on your Format, Audience
  and Purpose
• Use hooks, anecdotes and strong points.

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SCREAM 3 !

• A Useful phrase to remember could be SCREAM3
• S Sentence length and variation, superlatives and
  similes
• C Contrast ( state one thing then the opposite)
• R Repetition, rhetorical questions
• E Emotive language
• A Alliteration, Adjectives
• M Metaphorical language
• 3 Magic 3 rule

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Or you might use AFORESTIS

• Alliteration (beastly bugs)
• Fact/flattery (3000 people)
• Opinion (personally, I believe)
• Rhetorical questions
• Emotive language (poor victims)
• Second guessing (you might worry thatbut never
  fear)
• Triplets (ugly, annoying deadly)
• Imperatives (do this, buy it, stop)
• Superlatives (most, best, smallest)

• A
• F
• O
• R
• E
• S
• T
• I
• S

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Think of an examiner like a fish you want to
catch

• HOOK them in
• Choose your ANGLE
• Use PERSUASIVE devices( to tempt them)
• ANECDOTES ( to get them on side)
• STRONG POINTS ( to finish them off)

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HOOK THE READER

• Its really important that you select your
  opening line carefully in order to hook the
  reader into your writing and engage them to want
  to carry on reading.
• Try creating a hook for the following questions.

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1 minute to create a hook for

• You have to give a speech for your class on the
  following topic
• Should footballers have a maximum wage? Are their
  wages justified?

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1 minute to create a hook for

• Write an article for a school magazine where you
  argue your view on the following question, Are
  zoos a harmless form of entertainment or a public
  show of cruel captivity?

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Creating anecdotes

• Try to add anecdotes ( mini stories) to your
  argument or view point to make your argument
  stronger.
• For example, relate the topic to your own
  personal experience ( imagined or real) or the
  experience of someone you know ( imagined or real)

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Create an anecdote you could use in the following
question..

• Write a letter to your head teacher to give your
  viewpoint on whether students should be allowed
  to have facial piercings / ear stretchers or any
  hair colour they want at school.

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Plan strong points

• Try to think about the question in extreme.
• What could you say to take the idea to the
  extreme to help you persuade?
• You could use a rhetorical question to really
  engage the reader with a strong point.

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Plan a strong point

• You have been asked to give a speech for your
  class on the following topic
• Should we give money to the homeless?

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Check your audience

• Make sure you fully understand your Purpose,
  Audience and Format of the writing.- spend 5
  minutes checking and planning for this.
• Think about words and phrases which explicitly
  refer to your audience so it is clear you are
  addressing them.
• If for example, you are writing a speech for
  your class- make sure you refer to classmates or
  fellow year 11s, or use phrases which appeal
  to them, In this school, we know that..
• Make sure you include sign posts for the reader
  which acknowledges that you know your audience.

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Audience task- 2 minutes

• Imagine you have to write a speech or talk for
  your class
• List as many words or phrases you could use that
  would show the reader you are aware of the
  audience.
• For example
• As students yourselves, you know that.
• 15 year olds like us..

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Ideas..

• Yr 11 students think that.
• Like me, you must agree that..
• As an English class, we should believe that.
• Teenagers like us often think..
• As 15 year old yourselves, you must agree that
• Fellow classmates..
• Key Stage Four students, you know that
• We know from experience , that people our
  age.

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Over emphasise your FORMAT

• Use whatever tricks you can to make sure the
  examiner clearly knows you are aware of the
  purpose , audience and format
• For example, This week in Teen Weekly we will be
  questioning. or, for those who read my last
  review, For regular readers you know that here
  at the Norwich Herald we support Turn to
  page 48 for more details, Use our web link
  below for help an advice on

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Format

• Remember the format of what you are writing is
  really important.
• If asked to write a letter of a leaflet, set it
  out like a letter or leaflet.

• Your address
• Date
• Their address
• Dear Sir/ Madam
• Yours faithfully ( if you dont know them)

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Planning

• Its really important to spend 5 minutes planning
  your ideas by completing a spider diagram or list
  of everything you want to include.
• Most people lose marks on the exam because they
  rush straight in and then run out of things to
  say.
• The best marks are awarded when people plan what
  they are going to say and you can see a logical
  development of their argument.
• You need to think about what points you will make
  and in what order.

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How to plan..

• I usually do a quick spider diagram of all my
  ideas I instantly have in response to a
  question.
• I then look and see if any of the points are
  similar ,so I link the points.
• I then do another quick spider diagram with my
  linked points together.
• Then I look at them all and number 1- 10 the
  order in which I want to say them.
• I then ensure that I complete a paragraph on each
  and it makes sense.

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Imagine the following task

• This advert has been placed on the Year 11 notice
  board.
• You are in need of a Summer job
• Write an application for the job

URGENT HELP REQUIRED Sprowston Farm Shop is looking to recruit extra part time staff for the summer holidays. We are looking for people who Have good customer skills Can work as part of a team Enjoy working outdoors Can carry out a variety of tasks including fruit picking and packing. If you are interested, please send your application to Sprowston Farm Shop, Woodland Way NR7 8 DH
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(No Transcript)
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Good people skills
Im responsible
Work experience in a shop
Prefect at school
Good work ethic
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Order of letter

1. Introduction to why I want job
2. I like people/ good people skills/ Im polite
3. Im efficient, hardworking, good work ethic
4. Im organised, punctual, reliable, work well to
   deadlines
5. Im responsible- prefect at school
6. Ive got experience of fruit picking, physically
   strong
7. Ive got shop work experience, worked with mum
8. Finish on strong point why I should have the job.
   

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Your turn

• This advert has been placed on the Year 11 notice
  board.
• You are in need of a Summer job
• Write an application for the job

URGENT HELP REQUIRED Sprowston Farm Shop is looking to recruit extra part time staff for the summer holidays. We are looking for people who Have good customer skills Can work as part of a team Enjoy working outdoors Can carry out a variety of tasks including fruit picking and packing. If you are interested, please send your application to Sprowston Farm Shop, Woodland Way NR7 8 DH
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Make sure you SCRAPE a C grade by remembering

• S Sentence structure
• C Check through your work
• R Range of vocabulary
• A Audience- who are you writing for?
• P Paragraphs and punctuation
• E Engage your reader, make yours stand out from
  everyone else

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Remember .

• You will be assessed on your use of spelling,
  sentence structure, punctuation and paragraph
  use. If you forget about all these things you can
  go back and add paragraphs by marking your text
  with // to show the examiner you want a new
  paragraph there.
• Try to use a variety of punctuation ( , ?!)
  this automatically gives you more marks.
• Make sure you use a variety of sentence
  structures for effect. Use long descriptive
  sentences followed by short snappy ones.
• Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do
  not normally use. It doesnt matter if youre not
  completely sure how to spell them. You get points
  for trying.
• Use standard English and avoid slang ( unless it
  fits your angle)
• Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick
  you can to guarantee your reader is interested
  and continues to read.

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How to get a C / B on the Writing paper

• 5 types of punctuation other than a full stop and
  comma
• You must use paragraphs correctly
• Vary sentences, use complex and compound
  sentences
• Control your use of tenses ( dont swap between
  past and present)
• Aim for 2 sides of A4 per question
• Show a clear understanding of purpose, audience
  and format.
• Show a clear awareness of the reader
• Use at least 4 stylistic techniques.
• Use a range of vocabulary to convey precise
  meaning.

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To achieve an A/ A on writing

• Sophisticated understanding of purpose, audience
  and format adapting language and structure to
  suit.
• Ideas are effectively prioritised to construct a
  sophisticated argument.
• Paragraphs are varied in length and structure to
  control progression.
• Confident and sophisticated use of a range of
  stylistic devices.
• Ambitious vocabulary is used to convey precise
  meaning.
• Variety of punctuation used for effect to vary
  pace, clarify meaning and create deliberate
  effects.
• Sophisticated use of simple, compound and complex
  sentences to achieve effects
• A wide vocabulary used for effect ( crafted)
• FLAIR and creativity.

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Useful websites

• http//www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english
• http//www.wjec.co.uk- lots of past papers (
  either Unit 1 or 2 or old English paper 2)
• http//www.englishbiz.co.uk This site is helpful
  for revising grammar and the writing tasks.
• http//www.gcse.com/english/ A useful site for
  general English skills
• http//www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/english A helpful
  site in terms of writing styles
• http//www.educationquizzes.com/gcse/english/
  Lots of quizzes to help with punctuation and
  writing styles
• www.universalteacher.org.uk
• Another good resource for revising Literature
  texts especially. Also some advice for
  comprehension skills
• https//www.gradesaver.com/- Detailed guides on
  all Literature texts
• http//www.sparknotes.com- For help with all your
  literature texts