[Stewart993]

I am resitting the AQA English Language B in January 2012 and need help with stucturing exam answers, does any body have a 'simple' way of explaining the AO's to me please. And do you know where I can get student answers to past exams.

Also, can anyone recommend me any good revision books?

Reply ASAP thanks.

[Coursework.info]

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[goussberry]

(Original post by Stewart993)
I am resitting the AQA English Language B in January 2012 and need help with stucturing exam answers, does any body have a 'simple' way of explaining the AO's to me please. And do you know where I can get student answers to past exams.

Also, can anyone recommend me any good revision books?

Reply ASAP thanks.

I'm also resitting. The best way I found to structure the essay (on gender/technology/power) is to do it by frameworks...

EG:
Intro: Genre, Audience, Subject, Purpose (GASP)
Para 1: Lexis & Semantics.
Para 2: Grammar & Syntax
Para 3: Phonology (if relevant)/Graphology
Para 4: Discourse
Para 5: Pragmatics
Para 5: Conclusion


Within each paragraph look at how CONTEXT and PURPOSE may have affected the language used. EG: for lexis.. Context = close friends, therefore more likely to be using simple and colloquial lexis, probably using taboo language... The purpose of the discourse is (for eg) to talk about school so may use semantic field of school..

Within each paragraph or 2, try weave in a theorist into your argument.


AO3 = linking the methods (IE lexis/grammar/etc) with specific context of data
AO1/2 = theory (EG: politeness features, Grice's Maxims, accomodation...etc etc)

[Kimiechi]

(Original post by Stewart993)
I am resitting the AQA English Language B in January 2012 and need help with stucturing exam answers, does any body have a 'simple' way of explaining the AO's to me please. And do you know where I can get student answers to past exams.

Also, can anyone recommend me any good revision books?

Reply ASAP thanks.

I'm also taking this exam, although its first time round for me (I seem to be the only one on TSR doing this :/) A book I would recommend is the official Nelson Thornes coursebook, since its endorsed by AQA it has lots of useful tips, as well as some example answers

[imomimo]

Is this for language change/acquisition (i.e A2) or technology/gender/power (AS)? I'm sitting the A2 exam this month, bit confused about how to structure my answer too.

[keepinorder]

@goussberry Thanks that structure sums it up, any advice for groupings. structure to follow without ending up talking about another grouping within one grouping lol?

[keepinorder]

(Original post by goussberry)
I'm also resitting. The best way I found to structure the essay (on gender/technology/power) is to do it by frameworks...

EG:
Intro: Genre, Audience, Subject, Purpose (GASP)
Para 1: Lexis & Semantics.
Para 2: Grammar & Syntax
Para 3: Phonology (if relevant)/Graphology
Para 4: Discourse
Para 5: Pragmatics
Para 5: Conclusion


Within each paragraph look at how CONTEXT and PURPOSE may have affected the language used. EG: for lexis.. Context = close friends, therefore more likely to be using simple and colloquial lexis, probably using taboo language... The purpose of the discourse is (for eg) to talk about school so may use semantic field of school..


Within each paragraph or 2, try weave in a theorist into your argument.


AO3 = linking the methods (IE lexis/grammar/etc) with specific context of data
AO1/2 = theory (EG: politeness features, Grice's Maxims, accomodation...etc etc)

Thanks that structure sums it up, any advice for groupings. structure to follow without ending up talking about another grouping within one grouping lol?

[Petro_99]

(Original post by Kimiechi)
I'm also taking this exam, although its first time round for me (I seem to be the only one on TSR doing this :/) A book I would recommend is the official Nelson Thornes coursebook, since its endorsed by AQA it has lots of useful tips, as well as some example answers

lol not the only one

im doin as and a2 in January for the first time!!!

i reccomend

english language, variation and context, by culpepper

its written for universities- BUT covers everything you need for a level in a very accessible style!!!

[Petro_99]

for groupings use Hudson`s dimensions;

so anyone of the four or others depending on the texts given

ephemeral/permanent
standard english/non-standard
context dependence
level of interaction
formality
type of interaction: interactional/phatic

[Kimiechi]

(Original post by Petro_99)
lol not the only one

im doin as and a2 in January for the first time!!!

i reccomend

english language, variation and context, by culpepper

its written for universities- BUT covers everything you need for a level in a very accessible style!!!

You're doing both as and a2 at the same time?? :s

[goussberry]

(Original post by keepinorder)
@goussberry Thanks that structure sums it up, any advice for groupings. structure to follow without ending up talking about another grouping within one grouping lol?

Ahah I have the same issue! As another poster said, you can use Hudson's dimensions. Orrr you can go with any of the frameworks, genre, puropose, subject, audience, formality, etc etc. Look at mark schemes they tend to show what kinds of groupings you can make just try remember what yu already wrote to not repeat yourself; maybe a good way of doing this is to keep groupings as different as possible - EG: gender representation, formality, purpose, or whatever. Careful when using Hudson's dimensions & another 2 or 3 not within those dimensions, as some can overlap! (EG: i think transitoriness & purpose may overlap but I forgot a bit...)

[goussberry]

(Original post by imomimo)
Is this for language change/acquisition (i.e A2) or technology/gender/power (AS)? I'm sitting the A2 exam this month, bit confused about how to structure my answer too.

Not sitting the A2 exam in Jan, but I can try help here... For structure, follow the frameworks again. It's what I do all the time, just split my essays into Lexis & Semantics, Grammar & Syntax, etc... For Language Change.

I'd do the same for CLA too, EG phonology, lexis...

[keepinorder]

thanks very much, very helpful also what do you mean by a group or representational? thanks!

[Petro_99]

(Original post by Kimiechi)
You're doing both as and a2 at the same time?? :s

yup-luky me!!!

should have a complete a level by march! and.... hopefully an A*!!!

another piece of advice
is within your groups explain the minor differences and the "level" of that type of grouping- i think its A02 which states students should demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of data- basically they can go into more than one grouping! it`s this element which shows higher understanding!!!

oh another good grouping-
monologue (diary/novel piece/transcript)
dialogue (novel/transcript/advertisement?)

as the genre conventions will be different, it`ll give you alot of scope to explain why they`re all different. also, you can talk more about grammer choice which is the hardest framework so yields more marks! AND, if ur feeling really confident you could link with power, what power is given to the audience by the text, AND WHYYY!!

[keepinorder]

Hello, just wondering if there are any AS english language AQA B students who wouldnt mind messaging me any A grade essays on groupings/language and power or gender as i cant seem to find any on the internet and reading some would be great! thanks in advance, you help will be much appreciated!

[keepinorder]

heloooooo? so had did you find it in the end? i thought it was horrible. the texts given to us were so stupid! the transcripts did have much to talk about. And the language and gender question- practically had a heart attack when i saw it!

[Kimiechi]

The two transcipts were so similar, it was hard to compare them :s I did four groupings though i heard that the gender question was bad, makes me glad we only studied technology although I completely forgot to mention any theorists whatsoever although it was quite hard to relate them.... how important are theorists?? :s

[keepinorder]

they will gain you extra marks as they are mentioned in one of the AO's, however it does not mean that you cannot score well if you don't mention them! as long you had a systematic answer full of contextual analysis your fine! what groupings did you do?

[courgettemadness]

What was the exact wording of the questions on gender, power and tech?

[Kimiechi]

(Original post by keepinorder)
they will gain you extra marks as they are mentioned in one of the AO's, however it does not mean that you cannot score well if you don't mention them! as long you had a systematic answer full of contextual analysis your fine! what groupings did you do?

I did speech, purpose to entertain, graphology and use of imperatives. What about you?