AQA ELLA 3 comparative analysis. Help!!!

I'm currently doing an A2 English Language and Literature course for which my examining board is AQA (ELLA 3). I am completely stuck on comparative analysis and despite numerous contacts with my tutor (the course is distance learning that I take alongside FT work) I have received no extra help or information regarding my queries.

My problem is that, although I can do the question, I can never make it past a B, and I have to get a, very, comfortable A in my summer exam. The comparative analysis part of the exam is worth 45 marks out of the overall 60 so it is imperative I get this right. I've asked my tutor if he could give me examples of A grade work, to which he replied no, and just told me to look at mark schemes. However, I have done these before and, for some reason, I just can't seem to understand what they are asking for!

Is anyone else in the same position, or can anyone offer me help regarding the comparative analysis? I am feeling horribly frustrated with my tutor because he is supposed to be there to help but isn't answering any of my questions

Hi there,

I'm taking ELLA3 in June, and I agree it is very hard. I need a low A on it to get an A overall at A Level, despite getting A's on both my ELLA 1 and 2 last year.

I think getting the introduction right is very important. Are you taught the CAMPLGSS scheme? If not, then I will definitely tell you about that as it is the advised way to structure your essay.

I think why most people don't get an A overall is because they do not make comparisons between the texts. All the way through, you must be comparing and comparing and COMPARING.

Hi there,

I'm taking ELLA3 in June, and I agree it is very hard. I need a low A on it to get an A overall at A Level, despite getting A's on both my ELLA 1 and 2 last year.

I think getting the introduction right is very important. Are you taught the CAMPLGSS scheme? If not, then I will definitely tell you about that as it is the advised way to structure your essay.

I think why most people don't get an A overall is because they do not make comparisons between the texts. All the way through, you must be comparing and comparing and COMPARING.

Hi, what's the CAMPLGSS scheme please?
I'm really struggling with ELLA3
How do you get the introduction right?
I thought comparing was only 15 marks, and 45 are for analysing.

Ok, so the CAMPLGSS scheme is the advised way to structure your essay. You can answer it in a thematic approach, and if the question lends itself to that then it is easier, however following the CAMPLGSS section is guaranteed to make sure you hit all sections of the mark scheme.

The Introduction- CAMP (Context, Audience, Mode, Purpose).

This should be no more than half a page, and is just you introducing all the texts.

The main body of your essay- LGSS (Lexis, Grammar, Structure, Speech Features)

This is where you will be making all of your comparisons. Where a lot of students lose their marks, is for just analysing the three texts separately, and making somewhat broad/sweeping statements in regards to comparing the texts.

If you need any more info you can private message me, it is a hard paper :/

that's similar to the structure i have been taught. But i never finish on time

What i'm doing now is just pre-writing general sentences and memorizing them so you don't waste time on thinking.

Hiya, I'm doing the ELLA3 exam on Friday aswell

It took me ages to get into the swing of how to get good marks on these essays but it is easier than you think.

In the introduction you need to establish a hanger which you can relate back to throughout the essay. For example, "all three texts talk about the opression of humans." When you use the PEEL structure the "L" will you be relating back to your hanger.

Also, use this structure for the entire essay. It really doesn't have to be that long.
-introduction
-Text A compared to text B (A+B)
-Text B compared to text C (B+C)
-Text C compared to text A (A+C)
-Conclusion.

It's not about how well you can explain the effect of a point on it's own, it's how well you compare them BETWEEN THE TEXTS it will be fine, think about all the techniques there are to talk about.
xx

Hiya, I'm doing the ELLA3 exam on Friday aswell

It took me ages to get into the swing of how to get good marks on these essays but it is easier than you think.

In the introduction you need to establish a hanger which you can relate back to throughout the essay. For example, "all three texts talk about the opression of humans." When you use the PEEL structure the "L" will you be relating back to your hanger.

Also, use this structure for the entire essay. It really doesn't have to be that long.
-introduction
-Text A compared to text B (A+B)
-Text B compared to text C (B+C)
-Text C compared to text A (A+C)
-Conclusion.

It's not about how well you can explain the effect of a point on it's own, it's how well you compare them BETWEEN THE TEXTS it will be fine, think about all the techniques there are to talk about.
xx

P- point
E-evidence
E-explain
L- link

I don't know if it's just specific teachers but my teacher always talks to us about the importance of tone. So for my introductions I would write,

Text A is a poem by Keats on Autum, the poem has a sombre tone which is shown through the use of the semantic field of death. Whereas text B....

Or, each paragrah only talks about 2 specific teachniques. So You could say "The standardised structure of the poem reflects the writers own personal attitudes of hatred towards (blah.)" This way you get to talk about structure and then you can use specifc lexical choices to elaborate on the points you've made, "this is espically evident as the writer uses vocabulary such as..." But you must always ALWAYS remember to compare it to another text straight away. Our class got told there is no use writing whole paragraphs about just one text as it doesn't get you any comparison marks, it's just better not to waste your time.

I used to hate planning the answers for these questions, but i've found that since i started using the first half an hour to just analyse the texts to find similarities or differences it's much easier to make your essay flow.

xx