Tuesday, 26 March 2013
A2 Comms - a suggested structure for Section A of the exam
To get Bands 3 & 4 for this question (grades A-D), you need to be able to demonstrate the following skills:
A
B
C
D
Here's a suggested structure we suggest you try out when writing your own answers (previous students have done really well using it):
1. Introduce the essay by briefly explaining the different viewpoints offered by A and B; say which of the perspectives will be most useful in helping you to analyse and evaluate them
2. Explain and analyse A, putting it into the context of the perspective that you think 'best fits' it. Use the discourse of the perspective explicitly within your analysis of A. Quote from A to help anchor your points.
3. Suggest the strengths and weaknesses of A as an argument.
4. Explain & analyse B, putting it into the context of the perspective you think has been used to shape it. Use the discourse of the perspective in your answer. Compare it to A - there may be similarities as well as differences. Quote from B to help anchor your points.
5. Conclude by reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of B, compared to A. You might want to use an alternative perspective to help you to do this.
We suggest that you spend at least 15 minutes reading the arguments, thinking & annotating, before you start writing.
A
- compare and contrast the arguments
- apply the perspectives confidently
- analyse and evaluate
- create your own argument
B
- compare and contrast the arguments
- apply the perspectives pretty confidently
- analyse
C
- explain the arguments
- some analysis
- quote from the arguments to help you make points
- apply some of the perspectives relevantly
D
- describe & explain the arguments
- show an understanding of how the topic is relevant
- try to apply the perspectives
Here's a suggested structure we suggest you try out when writing your own answers (previous students have done really well using it):
1. Introduce the essay by briefly explaining the different viewpoints offered by A and B; say which of the perspectives will be most useful in helping you to analyse and evaluate them
2. Explain and analyse A, putting it into the context of the perspective that you think 'best fits' it. Use the discourse of the perspective explicitly within your analysis of A. Quote from A to help anchor your points.
3. Suggest the strengths and weaknesses of A as an argument.
4. Explain & analyse B, putting it into the context of the perspective you think has been used to shape it. Use the discourse of the perspective in your answer. Compare it to A - there may be similarities as well as differences. Quote from B to help anchor your points.
5. Conclude by reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of B, compared to A. You might want to use an alternative perspective to help you to do this.
We suggest that you spend at least 15 minutes reading the arguments, thinking & annotating, before you start writing.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Thursday, 7 March 2013
A2 Comms sound effects for the podcast
Free sound effects for your podcasts can be found by clicking here.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
A2 Lit CW : 1-1s
A reminder that the first draft of the coursework needs to be submitted by 11am tomorow. You can either put it in my purple tray just inside 1D11 (English team rm) or email it to me at cdignum@rutc.ac.uk.
I have arranged the 1-1s as follows. {I have looked at your timetables on Richmis to allocate some of you slots outside of our normal lesson time - please let me know ASAP if you can't make it} Please bring your own copy of your essay to annotate during the feedback (remember that I can't give you a marked copy)
Monday (come to D8 - ground floor, near reception)
9.45 - Amy
11.30 - Hawri
12.45 - Jessye
1.15 - Chikira
Tuesday (1E6)
1.50 - Josie
2.10 - Karin
2.20 - Olivia
2.50 - Aisling
Thursday (1E5)
9.00 - Blu
9.20 - Aleksandra
9.40 -
9.50 - Miranda
10.10 -
Friday (now in D2 - near reception)
10.35 - Katisha
10.55 - Suzan
11.15 - Mahi
11.40 - Dan
Please make sure that you are on time & come with your own copy of your essay. Some students like to record the feedback on their phones for later use & I'm quite happy for you to do that if you'd like to. No lessons with me next week (David as usual)- normal lessons commence the week after next (week commencing 11th March).
I have arranged the 1-1s as follows. {I have looked at your timetables on Richmis to allocate some of you slots outside of our normal lesson time - please let me know ASAP if you can't make it} Please bring your own copy of your essay to annotate during the feedback (remember that I can't give you a marked copy)
Monday (come to D8 - ground floor, near reception)
9.45 - Amy
11.30 - Hawri
12.45 - Jessye
1.15 - Chikira
Tuesday (1E6)
1.50 - Josie
2.10 - Karin
2.20 - Olivia
2.50 - Aisling
Thursday (1E5)
9.00 - Blu
9.20 - Aleksandra
9.40 -
9.50 - Miranda
10.10 -
Friday (now in D2 - near reception)
10.35 - Katisha
10.55 - Suzan
11.15 - Mahi
11.40 - Dan
Please make sure that you are on time & come with your own copy of your essay. Some students like to record the feedback on their phones for later use & I'm quite happy for you to do that if you'd like to. No lessons with me next week (David as usual)- normal lessons commence the week after next (week commencing 11th March).
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
A2 Literature - 1st draft checklist
Before you hand your 1st draft in at the end of this week, please self check it to make sure it's as good as you can make it:
- Does your opening paragraph introduce each text (full titles, authors, dates) and make explicit reference to the question? Do you set up your thesis?
- Does the first line of each paragraph set up each paragraph? (ie, is it a topic sentence?) Does the first sentence of each paragraph refer back in some way to the previous one (even if only briefly, through 'We can also see this idea developed by ...'; 'In contrast...' etc)
- Is each text handled fairly equally?
- Are you including (and preferably embedding) quotations from each text?
- Have you included specific, detailed textual analysis?
- Is the essay genuinely comparative?
- Have you used appropriate secondary criticism? Is it genuinely contributing to your essay?
- Does your essay make clear your appreciation of the contextual influences on each text? (You might want to go back & watch the short video on this blog which reminds you of the key contextual points for each text)
- Have you added footnotes?
- Is there a bibliography?
- Is there a word count?
- Have you spell-checked it? Checked the basics?
- Have you looked again at the examples of previous students' coursework I gave you?
I will be having 1-1s with you next week to give you feedback on your essays. We will sort the appointment times out in Thursday's lesson. Your first draft needs to be handed in to me by Friday 11am, please.
If possible, please could you double space your essay & make sure it's in size 12 or 14 font. Thanks!
- Does your opening paragraph introduce each text (full titles, authors, dates) and make explicit reference to the question? Do you set up your thesis?
- Does the first line of each paragraph set up each paragraph? (ie, is it a topic sentence?) Does the first sentence of each paragraph refer back in some way to the previous one (even if only briefly, through 'We can also see this idea developed by ...'; 'In contrast...' etc)
- Is each text handled fairly equally?
- Are you including (and preferably embedding) quotations from each text?
- Have you included specific, detailed textual analysis?
- Is the essay genuinely comparative?
- Have you used appropriate secondary criticism? Is it genuinely contributing to your essay?
- Does your essay make clear your appreciation of the contextual influences on each text? (You might want to go back & watch the short video on this blog which reminds you of the key contextual points for each text)
- Have you added footnotes?
- Is there a bibliography?
- Is there a word count?
- Have you spell-checked it? Checked the basics?
- Have you looked again at the examples of previous students' coursework I gave you?
I will be having 1-1s with you next week to give you feedback on your essays. We will sort the appointment times out in Thursday's lesson. Your first draft needs to be handed in to me by Friday 11am, please.
If possible, please could you double space your essay & make sure it's in size 12 or 14 font. Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)