Question 4 (Higher) Recap

Right then guys – this is the question you all need to work on. This is a 16 mark question – spend 5 minutes re-reading the texts and 25 minutes writing your response. You will be asked to compare Source 3 with one of your choice – either 1 or 2. The question is always the same:

Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. (16 marks)

The key words in the question are COMPARE, LANGUAGE and EFFECT!

You were all amazing in Thursday’s lesson with your Venn Diagrams and table. In the exam you’ll need to do all of that in the 5 minutes reading time. Simple. You will reread Source 3 – try to identify 4 language techniques plus which perspective it is written in. Use your highlighter here! Then choose the source you will compare – reread and again identify 4 language techniques with your highlighter plus which the perspective it is written in (1st/2nd/3rd). You can draw  a mini Venn diagram in the answer booklet just remember to put a line underneath before you start your response.

Your response should be structured in the following paragraphs:

1. Perspective: 

Is the article 1st person (I/we), 2nd person (you) or 3rd person (He/She/They/Professor Brown/The giant snails)?

• Source 1 or 2 is written in ….
• This is shown in the quote ….
• This is used because …
• In contrast/similarly
• Source 3 is written in ….
• This is shown in the quote ….
• This is used because …

2. General language comment:

Is the article factual/descriptive/opinionated?

• Source 1/2 uses factual language. 
• This can be seen in the use of facts and statistics.
• A quote to demonstrate this is …
• These techniques are used to …
• However Source 3 is descriptive.
• The writer uses techniques such as adjectives and imagery.
• An example of imagery can be seen in the use of the simile …
• An example of an adjective is …
• These are effective because…

3. Zoom in on the language and find a similarity between the sources – this could be anything you feel comfortable writing about: 

• Both Source 1/2 and Source 3 use jargon and field specific lexis (fancy way to say words linked to a certain area/field/topic).
• An example from Source 1 is … and an example from Source 3 is ….
• The linguistic technique of jargon is used because …. It is effective as it …

4. Zoom in on the language and find a difference between the sources – this could be anything you feel comfortable writing about:

• Source 1/2 uses …. This is due to the purpose of the article to inform.
• This is demonstrated in the quote …
• This is effective because …
• On the other hand Source 3 uses …. as this text is aimed to describe.
• This is demonstrated in the quote …
• This is effective because …

5. Finish with a summary

• Source 1/2 and 3 are similar because they use ….
• The texts use different language techniques as they have different audiences and purposes.  One uses ….. whereas the other uses …..

BOOM – more than 3 marks! 

Have a go at comparing the following two texts – you may wish to simply plan your response or you may wish to spend 25 minutes answering the question.

Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. (16 marks)

Example Source 1

False Widow Spiders Article

Example Source 3

Extract from Nigel Slater’s Biography

As per usual happy to read comments/emails. I will also post some ‘Opinion piece’ article for you to have a look at over the weekend.

Just to finish – a short video to watch to recap on this question:  Higher Question 4 Recap

Miss O

Question 3 (Foundation) Recap

This is your question that focuses on language. You have 12 marks available. 3 minutes to read the article and 16 minutes to answer the question.

This question will relate to Source 3. In the past Source 3 has been:

• An extract from an advice leaflet supporting parents with teenagers
• An informative leaflet – How to make a hedgehog home
• A leaflet on the charity Water Aid
• An extract of travel writing
• An extract for a brochure advertising a music holiday

Therefore you could be given any non-fiction text for your Question 3.

The question is:

How does the writer use language features in the leaflet? Remember to:

• give some examples of language features (QUOTES!)
• explain the effects. (Why have the been used?)

You will take the same approach every time you answer a Question 3 – 4 PQE paragraphs!

Is the source first person (I/we), second person (you) or third person (he/she/they)?

• Remember first person gives the reader a direct link with the writer – you can always comment on the use of first person quotes in an article written in third person perspective. This gives a personal account generally of someone who has been affected by the contents of the article. Second person (you) talks directly the reader – often used in persuasive texts. Third person distances the writer from the events (less personal) – this is often used in newspaper articles.

Language used in the sources – general

• Does the source use facts/statistics/expert views/jargon?
• Does the source use more descriptive and emotive language? Adjectives, adverbs, figurative language  – similes, metaphors etc.
• Source 3 uses much more descriptive and figurative language in order to portray the views and thoughts of the writer. Or Source 3 uses factual language in order to back up the writer’s views…

Zoom in on one key word/phrase from the source.

• Identify one or two key words and identify connotations. How effective are they? What do they make you feel as a reader?

Zoom in on one key technique from the source.

• Identify a technique – rhetorical question, repetition, expert opinion, imperatives (commands), alliteration etc.
• Why has the writer included this technique? Is it effective?

Have  a look at the following two sources and attempt to answer or plan your response to the question:

How does the writer use language features in the leaflet?

1. Charity leaflet (click on picture to enlarge)

 

2. Travel writing – Just Back Alpine Pilgrimage

 

 

Have a go – feel free to comment your plan/response for feedback.

Miss O

Question 4 – use the same structure every time!

Having marked a few Question 4s, (this week’s homework) some of you have nailed it but some of you are getting a bit confused. Main issues:

• No quotes
• Vague comments – not specific enough to key quotes and the effects
• Talking in length about the headline and picture. You can mention the headline but don’t spend a full page on it.
• Not enough focus on language

Use the structure on the blog/green sheet to help, if not come up with your own structure.

Take a look at the following page provided to help you with key language/linguistic techniques. We will look at this in the revision sessions next week too.

Question 4 Revision

Also those of you who didn’t hand in your books or homework – how are you supposed to improve if you don’t give me the chance to mark your work?

Miss O

Higher Question 4 – Language aka Words!

The question will always be the same – spend 24 minutes for 16 marks. Remember as we Source 3 will always include thoughts/feelings (Question 3 always asks about Source 3) there will always be certain things to comment on. As Source 1 will always include key facts/information (Question 1 always asks about Source 1) there are certain things you can always comment on. I would recommend comparing Source 1 and Source 3.

Now you need to refer to Source 3 either Source 1 or Source 2. You are going to compare two texts, one of which you have chosen.

4. Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts.

• Make a point, include a quote, explain the effect of the reader – PQE!
• It is better to write a lot about a little – zoom in to key words!
• Use the following structure for every question.

1. Identify the sources you will be comparing explaining the GAP for each.

I will be comparing Source 1 with Source 3. Source 1 is an web article aimed at Guardian readers and is designed to inform. In contrast Source 3 is a non-fiction extract aimed at people interested in …………. and primarily is written to describe and also entertain.

2. Is the source first person (I/we), second person (you) or third person (he/she/they)?

Remember first person gives the reader a direct link with the writer – you can always comment on the use of first person quotes in an article written in third person perspective. This gives a personal account generally of someone who has been affected by the contents of the article. Third person distances the writer from the events (less personal) – this is often used in newspaper articles.

3. Language used in the sources – general

Does one source use more facts/statistics/expert views/jargon?

Does one source use more descriptive and emotive language? Adjectives, adverbs, figurative language  – similes, metaphors etc.

Source 1 includes more facts and statistics such as in the quote …… this gives the reader key information about the ….. and gives the reader a clear image of …..

In contrast Source 3 uses much more descriptive and figurative language in order to portray the views and thoughts of the writer.

4. Zoom in on one key word/phrase from each source.

Identify one or two key words and identify connotations. How effective are they? What do they make you feel as a reader?

5. Identify a contrast between the two sources – why have these been used and why are they effective? Remember to link it back to the GAP.

Use your knowledge to identify key language techniques – repetition, rhetorical questions, rule of three, quotes, exaggeration, alliteration etc.

6. Conclusion – what you would expect to see from a text that is written the inform, describe, persuade, argue etc. Do these sources fit with your expectations?

Use the following words to help structure your response:

Contrast words/phrases

• However
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• Still
• Although / even though
• Though
• But
• Yet
• Despite / in spite of
• In contrast (to) / in comparison
• While
• Whereas
• On the other hand
• On the contrary

Comparison

• Similarly
• Likewise
• Also
• Like
• Just as
• Just like
• Similar to
• Same as
• Compare
• compare(d) to / with
• Not only…but also

Miss O

Foundation Question 3 – Language aka Words!

This question will always ask you to comment on Source 3. Spend 18 minutes on the question – 12 marks available.  The question will always be:

How does the writer use language features in the leaflet?

Remember to:

• give some examples of language features
• explain the effects.

• Make a point, include a quote, explain the effect of the reader – PQE!
• It is better to write a lot about a little – zoom in to key words.
• Use the following guide for every response to Question 3!

1. Identify the GAP.

Source 3 is an web article aimed at Guardian readers and is designed to inform

2. Is the source first person (I/we), second person (you) or third person (he/she/they)?

Remember first person gives the reader a direct link with the writer – you can always comment on the use of first person quotes in an article written in third person perspective. This gives a personal account generally of someone who has been affected by the contents of the article. Third person distances the writer from the events (less personal) – this is often used in newspaper articles.

3. Language used in the sources – general

Does the source use facts/statistics/expert views/jargon?

Does the source use more descriptive and emotive language? Adjectives, adverbs, figurative language  – similes, metaphors etc.

In Source 3 uses much more descriptive and figurative language in order to portray the views and thoughts of the writer.

4. Zoom in on one key word/phrase from the source.

Identify one or two key words and identify connotations. How effective are they? What do they make you feel as a reader?

5. Conclusion – what you would expect to see from a text that is written the inform, describe, persuade, argue etc. Do this sources fit with your expectations?

Miss O