17th Jan 2011 - AQA AS English Literature A

I am not so sure about writing a good essay because first time I done this I got a C but do you know how many texts we should compare in both section A and B for good grades?

Reply 3

Katenic

Original post by kinkin

I am not so sure about writing a good essay because first time I done this I got a C but do you know how many texts we should compare in both section A and B for good grades?

For section A you're recommended to use 3-6 texts from your wider reading - at least one of each genre (prose, drama, poetry).
For section B some of the questions usually specify (e.g. using two other poems). If they don't I think I'll use 3 other poems.

Reply 4

One more question in Section A with wider reading do you use direct quotations to validate the points, or can you paraphrase quotes and write generally.

Reply 5

A.L. C-Brown

Original post by kinkin

One more question in Section A with wider reading do you use direct quotations to validate the points, or can you paraphrase quotes and write generally.

Direct quotations are best, but my teachers have always told us to paraphrase if we can't remember them word for word - no one is going to check if you got it word perfect :smile:

Reply 6

Original post by A.L. C-Brown

Direct quotations are best, but my teachers have always told us to paraphrase if we can't remember them word for word - no one is going to check if you got it word perfect :smile:

Thanks for the fast response. ^.^ Does anyone know how long we should make each answer, like the minimum amount of points needed. Or does anyone have an exemplar answers so i know what the format of answering the questions looks like.

Reply 7

I'm retaking this and I want to do English at university so it needs to go ok! The thing is, analysis (A02) is 12 marks and context is 27 marks?! (AO4). I didn't get told this last year, but it is on AQA's mark schemes and spec :/ AO1 and AO3 (wider reading...) are only THREE MARKS EACH. therefore it really goes on knowing about the era and being able to analyse more than knowing direct quotes and bringing in everything Tennyson wrote, which must have been my mistake last year :/

xxxxx

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 8

Colour Me Pretty

15

I think I'm better prepared this time around. I know where I went wrong, I need to focus on context.

Reply 9

rgm:D

ahhh does anyone know whether it'smorning or afternoon? panicing! X

Reply 10

Original post by rgm:D

ahhh does anyone know whether it'smorning or afternoon? panicing! X

Afternoon! I'm planning on getting to school at like eight so I have five solid hours of cramming x

Reply 11

rgm:D

I know that if I'm in school people will distract me :frown:

good luck to everyone taking the exam

Reply 12

How did everyone find it? I thought the extract was ok, had a lot to say but It some came out a bit sloppy ! I done the sympathy question for Hardy x

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 13

Bella_Cullen

OP

2

Original post by Rachel_Leah

How did everyone find it? I thought the extract was ok, had a lot to say but It some came out a bit sloppy ! I done the sympathy question for Hardy x

I didn't like it - I was expecting an extract from a Victorian writer, not a 1950s writer. I know I didn't do enough for AO4 (Context) and I'm worried about that. Found the Hardy question ok but ran out of time at the end. Also, didn't do enough linking between different poems.

How much did you write? I know it's quality not quantity but I always wonder...I wrote nearly 4 pages for the first question and 3 for the Hardy question.

Reply 14

Original post by Bella_Cullen

I didn't like it - I was expecting an extract from a Victorian writer, not a 1950s writer. I know I didn't do enough for AO4 (Context) and I'm worried about that. Found the Hardy question ok but ran out of time at the end. Also, didn't do enough linking between different poems.

How much did you write? I know it's quality not quantity but I always wonder...I wrote nearly 4 pages for the first question and 3 for the Hardy question.

Yeh that did throw me a bit, but it was still about victoriany stuff lol so I was just like 'meh'. I don't think I put in enough on context, I talked about slums in birmingham briefly, working class houses act, a bit on how darwin was later on so pugin wouldn't have been so sure about his faith if he lived til after 1852... And some on factory acts etc. Defo run out of time!!!

And I don't blinded bird obvs, drummer hodge, darkling, I look into my glass and a christmas ghost story and things got a bit muddled with the linking :/ I wrote 4 sides for context and 5 for hardy!
X

Reply 15

username381250

16

Original post by Rachel_Leah

Yeh that did throw me a bit, but it was still about victoriany stuff lol so I was just like 'meh'. I don't think I put in enough on context, I talked about slums in birmingham briefly, working class houses act, a bit on how darwin was later on so pugin wouldn't have been so sure about his faith if he lived til after 1852... And some on factory acts etc. Defo run out of time!!!

And I don't blinded bird obvs, drummer hodge, darkling, I look into my glass and a christmas ghost story and things got a bit muddled with the linking :/ I wrote 4 sides for context and 5 for hardy!
X

Arghh for the Hardy I forgot to compare the poems together and just based the whole debate on the question and linked it individually to each poem. :frown:

Is the Oxen okay?

Reply 16

ojl2283

Original post by Bella_Cullen

I didn't like it - I was expecting an extract from a Victorian writer, not a 1950s writer.

I LOVE YOU FOR THIS!
The idea of the exam was Victorian Literature.. not radio shows on victorian literature.. I found it hard to make links as a concept when none of the extract was the guys views himself!
They had to pick the nastiest name to spell too :frown:

Betjman - what the hell is that
0.o What Wider reading links did you use? I used:
A woman of no importance, Hard times and Dover beach

I doubt it but did anyone do John Clare for their poetry? One of the most sly questions I have ever answered... something like "to what extent can Clares love poetry move a modern ready" To what extent do you agree with this statement... there is subjective and there is simply taking the piss!!!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 17