AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11
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AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11
Hello... I was just wondering if anyone was doing the same paper as me and studying the same topics for the exam; Seamus Heaney and Owen Sheers - poetry. These are the collections i have studied in class; 'Death of a Naturalist' (1966), 'Door into the Dark' (1969), 'The Haw lantern' (1987) - Seamus Heaney collection. 'Skirrid Hill' (2010) - Owen Sheers.
And if so, how many poems do you recommend I study for it? I have looked at many pratice papers and they recommend you do two poems for Heaney (in depth) and one poem for Sheers for the actual exam.
But is it a bad idea to actual just study only the recommended amounts? or should I study more poems just in case the poetry does not fit the criteria asked in the question on that day.
*sorry if i have done any mistakes - i'm kinda new to this stuff* -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11I'm doing exact same poems and same exam(Original post by -masquerade-)
Hello... I was just wondering if anyone was doing the same paper as me and studying the same topics for the exam; Seamus Heaney and Owen Sheers - poetry. These are the collections i have studied in class; 'Death of a Naturalist' (1966), 'Door into the Dark' (1969), 'The Haw lantern' (1987) - Seamus Heaney collection. 'Skirrid Hill' (2010) - Owen Sheers.
And if so, how many poems do you recommend I study for it? I have looked at many pratice papers and they recommend you do two poems for Heaney (in depth) and one poem for Sheers for the actual exam.
But is it a bad idea to actual just study only the recommended amounts? or should I study more poems just in case the poetry does not fit the criteria asked in the question on that day.
*sorry if i have done any mistakes - i'm kinda new to this stuff*
I find English Lit quite difficult compared to my other subjects but i guess it's because i'm not really interested in it,
We have been told to learn in depth about 4-5 Heaney poems and 2-3 Sheers poems and so then you have the chance to choose the poems depending on what question topic they ask.
How have you been taught to write/structure the essay? Like is their a certain plan or way of doing it go get a decent grade like a B?
Thanks in advance -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11
Hiya, I'm doing the exam on Monday as well.
We've studied loads of Heaney and Sheers poems, so there's a big range to choose from. We've been told to address two Heaney poems in depth, and then link in about four Sheers poems throughout. I'll try and make sure I'm familiar with two Heaney poems I can write about for each prominent theme.
I'll probably address each Heaney poem seperately, and link Sheers to each one as much as possible through things like imagery, similar notions, structure etc. -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11hi i'm really sorry to ask(Original post by hawkinsj)
Hiya, I'm doing the exam on Monday as well.
We've studied loads of Heaney and Sheers poems, so there's a big range to choose from. We've been told to address two Heaney poems in depth, and then link in about four Sheers poems throughout. I'll try and make sure I'm familiar with two Heaney poems I can write about for each prominent theme.
I'll probably address each Heaney poem seperately, and link Sheers to each one as much as possible through things like imagery, similar notions, structure etc.
but could you list the poems linked to the themes that are likely to come up for both heaney and sheers (so i know what to do the essay on)
i'm struggling with structure also
i vaguely recall learning them but i've barely paid attention to english lit revision and i've been incredibly ill so that hasnt helped, i really appreciate it i'm so worried -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11Hey! I'm doing Duffy/Pugh AND Broken Glass(Original post by mezlande)
Anyone here doing Duffy and Pugh? ... I swear our school's like the only ones who do them :/
Or any Broken Glass peeps out there?

Broken Glass I think will be OK depending on the question but the poetry one will definitely depend on what they decide to put as themes >___> -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11
I'm doing Broken Glass, do you perhaps have any revision you could share? haha. .... Im doing Larkin and Abse .... very difficult to find any revision aids for Abse, not feeling too confident about this exam, but got the best coursework grade so hope that gives me a boost
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Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11
hi winning11, sorry for SUCH a late reply, it's almost not worth it now as it's tomorrow morning :/
There are so many themes that I think it's difficult to pick which ones will come up!
Possibilities are:
- borders and divisions
- death
-relationships
- home country
-surroundings
-change
-separation
-senses
-childhood
etc. There's so many, it's just too difficult to link them all on here. I'm really sorry, I hope it goes okay for you
x
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Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11How would u strucutre the answer, say for example the theme was relationships.(Original post by hawkinsj)
hi winning11, sorry for SUCH a late reply, it's almost not worth it now as it's tomorrow morning :/
There are so many themes that I think it's difficult to pick which ones will come up!
Possibilities are:
- borders and divisions
- death
-relationships
- home country
-surroundings
-change
-separation
-senses
-childhood
etc. There's so many, it's just too difficult to link them all on here. I'm really sorry, I hope it goes okay for you
x
Thanks in advance, hope its not too much of a hassle -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11thanks so much that's brill! i ran out of reps sorry but i shall when i get some more(Original post by hawkinsj)
hi winning11, sorry for SUCH a late reply, it's almost not worth it now as it's tomorrow morning :/
There are so many themes that I think it's difficult to pick which ones will come up!
Possibilities are:
- borders and divisions
- death
-relationships
- home country
-surroundings
-change
-separation
-senses
-childhood
etc. There's so many, it's just too difficult to link them all on here. I'm really sorry, I hope it goes okay for you
x
and i never realised you responded either but this is a great help i'm going to list poems for each and try and find sheers ones which connect then fully analyse for the first time in the exams.. i guess they'll be testing my non existant skills rather than my memory haha! good luck
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Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11Hey, how did it go? I thought it was a pritty fair paper tbh.. but i still managed to really mess up broken glass(Original post by Azwozzle)
Hey! I'm doing Duffy/Pugh AND Broken Glass
Broken Glass I think will be OK depending on the question but the poetry one will definitely depend on what they decide to put as themes >___>
ddavies93 - Got the highest mark too, High 5! I think i'm really going to be relying on that to bring me up now
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Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11Hey mezlande, I'm doing all the same texts as you. I thought it was a good paper too! I did the "loss of innocence" poetry one and the "issues around physical intimacy" one for Miller. Poetry was easy, Miller was hard but I wrote six pages for Duffy/Pugh and then two or three Miller pages of gibberish and I know I did well on AO4 in there. Struggled with AO2 in the intimacy question but think I did OK... Making it up as I go along has never failed me yet! What did you write about?(Original post by mezlande)
Hey, how did it go? I thought it was a pritty fair paper tbh.. but i still managed to really mess up broken glass
ddavies93 - Got the highest mark too, High 5! I think i'm really going to be relying on that to bring me up now
Got 79/80 on coursework but I'm paranoid that the moderators will have docked me - scared they might realise I bluffed the whole thing
Last edited by Spiffing; 24-05-2011 at 03:08. -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11I thought it was Ok, the poem question about lost innocence was really good and I did Girl Talking, In Mrs Tilscher's Class and Paradise for the Children. But same about Broken Glass, I didn't have any time to plan it, but I did the attitudes towards marriage question but don't know if I put enough context in it and I forgot to include a critical view(Original post by mezlande)
Hey, how did it go? I thought it was a pritty fair paper tbh.. but i still managed to really mess up broken glass
ddavies93 - Got the highest mark too, High 5! I think i'm really going to be relying on that to bring me up now
What questions did you do?
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Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11(Original post by Spiffing)
Hey mezlande, I'm doing all the same texts as you. I thought it was a good paper too! I did the "loss of innocence" poetry one and the "issues around physical intimacy" one for Miller. Poetry was easy, Miller was hard but I wrote six pages for Duffy/Pugh and then two or three Miller pages of gibberish and I know I did well on AO4 in there. Struggled with AO2 in the intimacy question but think I did OK... Making it up as I go along has never failed me yet! What did you write about?
Got 79/80 on coursework but I'm paranoid that the moderators will have docked me - scared they might realise I bluffed the whole thing
79/80 !! Congrats! I was just a couple short of that but still.. :P I did loss of innocence too.. it seems to be the most popular choice, almost all of my class did it and we all used somehting like 'Lizzy, Six', 'Boy', 'Girl Talking', 'Inter City Lullaby' and 'Paradise for the Children' (I didn't but most did 'In Mrs.... too).. Is it wierd that I sort of enjoyed that Q.. might have rambled off the point a bit though talking about the preservation of innocence.. bout 5 pages.(Original post by Azwozzle)
I thought it was Ok, the poem question about lost innocence was really good and I did Girl Talking, In Mrs Tilscher's Class and Paradise for the Children. But same about Broken Glass, I didn't have any time to plan it, but I did the attitudes towards marriage question but don't know if I put enough context in it and I forgot to include a critical view
What questions did you do?
I did the attitudes toward marriage Q. I was gutted, got the right timing, made and awesome plan.. just don't know how I managed to go so wrong. only wrote about 2 1/2 pages (pritty sure I got the AO4 marks though).
Did you guys use any critics opinions? I put 2 in my plan of broken glass and completely forgot to put them in my essay :/
You two sound like you've done well tbh.. don't worry, i think it's the ones you bluff through that the examiners tend to go for
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Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11Ugh, sorry I didn't respond earlier.(Original post by mezlande)
79/80 !! Congrats! I was just a couple short of that but still.. :P I did loss of innocence too.. it seems to be the most popular choice, almost all of my class did it and we all used somehting like 'Lizzy, Six', 'Boy', 'Girl Talking', 'Inter City Lullaby' and 'Paradise for the Children' (I didn't but most did 'In Mrs.... too).. Is it wierd that I sort of enjoyed that Q.. might have rambled off the point a bit though talking about the preservation of innocence.. bout 5 pages.
I did the attitudes toward marriage Q. I was gutted, got the right timing, made and awesome plan.. just don't know how I managed to go so wrong. only wrote about 2 1/2 pages (pritty sure I got the AO4 marks though).
Did you guys use any critics opinions? I put 2 in my plan of broken glass and completely forgot to put them in my essay :/
You two sound like you've done well tbh.. don't worry, i think it's the ones you bluff through that the examiners tend to go for
High five for high coursework marks! They're such a lifesaver when I go to pieces in the exam xD
Yeah, I didn't like the other question - theme of change with reference to 'Whoever She Was"...haha, no. I would never bill change as a (major) theme of that poem o__o I used Lizzie, Six (detailed), Boy (briefly), Girl Talking (detailed), In Mrs Tilscher's Class (detailed) and Paradise for the Children (detailed). I'm positive that I used one other poem but I forget what it was :'(
I used the transition from childhood to adulthood as my line of connection for loss of innocence, what about you?
I stuck in stuff like "Critics have said" and quoted York notes or something (didn't say they were the York notes!) for the Duffy/Pugh stuff. I also quoted that odd poem...
"Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age...but I don't think it really counts
The child is grown, and puts away childish things.
Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies."
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
I paraphrased some quote by Miller that I couldn't remember properly for Broken Glass - something about roses and perfume, I think - but it wasn't very good or even particularly relevant xD However I only need a low mark on Miller because I'm confident in my Duffy/Pugh essay and my coursework, so I'm not going to worry too much ^^ <3 -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11(Original post by Spiffing)
Ugh, sorry I didn't respond earlier.
High five for high coursework marks! They're such a lifesaver when I go to pieces in the exam xD
Yeah, I didn't like the other question - theme of change with reference to 'Whoever She Was"...haha, no. I would never bill change as a (major) theme of that poem o__o I used Lizzie, Six (detailed), Boy (briefly), Girl Talking (detailed), In Mrs Tilscher's Class (detailed) and Paradise for the Children (detailed). I'm positive that I used one other poem but I forget what it was :'(
I used the transition from childhood to adulthood as my line of connection for loss of innocence, what about you?
I stuck in stuff like "Critics have said" and quoted York notes or something (didn't say they were the York notes!) for the Duffy/Pugh stuff. I also quoted that odd poem...
"Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age...but I don't think it really counts
The child is grown, and puts away childish things.
Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies."
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
I paraphrased some quote by Miller that I couldn't remember properly for Broken Glass - something about roses and perfume, I think - but it wasn't very good or even particularly relevant xD However I only need a low mark on Miller because I'm confident in my Duffy/Pugh essay and my coursework, so I'm not going to worry too much ^^ <3
Haha, don't worry, this response is even later
I think I'm going to use you as encouragement to work harder, you souns like you really know your stuff. And even if they don't award anything for the extra quotes, I'm sure the examiner takes them into account (whether they try to or not).
I focused less on transition, specifically. I remember wishing I'd revised 'Originally' better when I saw that Q. I tried to connect my points with that view a bit though.. so although there wasn't much about childhood to adulthood, there was quite a bit of 'corruption with age'.. yano.
I think it depends on the examiner really.. s'probably entirely right or entirely wrong haha. I'm just glad it's over (for now :/) and I seem to be about the only person not dropping it at the mo!
We start the new course tomorrow though, d'you know what you'll be studying in A2? (just thought i'd ask seems as AS was the same as me). -
Re: AS level WJEC Literature exam 23/5/11Hey, do you have AO sheets? they help alot - for the poetry analysis your looking at 15 marks for AO1 which is your ability to structure and write the essay, 15 marks for AO2 which is demonstrating you understanding of language and structure and 10 marks for AO3 which is exploring comparisons and interpretations.(Original post by delasandro)
I'm doing exact same poems and same exam
I find English Lit quite difficult compared to my other subjects but i guess it's because i'm not really interested in it,
We have been told to learn in depth about 4-5 Heaney poems and 2-3 Sheers poems and so then you have the chance to choose the poems depending on what question topic they ask.
How have you been taught to write/structure the essay? Like is their a certain plan or way of doing it go get a decent grade like a B?
Thanks in advance
Hope this helps!

