[heretolearn92]

Hey, I was wondering if there was anyone who could help in prep for the exam? I've got so many revision books it's unreal, and I have a firm understanding of what to include...it's just the comparisons i'm a bit crap with. I can pick out all these great points, but to compare and contrast well is my downfall! That's section A of the exam. B seems a bit more straightforward, but help would still be appreciated!!

[Coursework.info]

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[Tils]

It may sound pretty obvious, but the most helpful way of preparing for section A is by planning (and occasionally completing) past papers. Go through each text really, really thoroughly (taking more time than you would in the exam), looking for similarities between the texts. For instance, you might notice that all three of them use repetition to create certain effects- note this down. If the effects contrast, even better! It is good to draw on comparisons as well as commonalities.

There don't seem to be enormous numbers of past papers around, so what I tend to do is print off short poems or transcripts or novel extracts and analyse them at speed, just to get used to doing it quickly. I do all I can to minimise the pressure that the exam itself will bring. The comparison isn't easy by any means, and how you plan it is completely up to you- just remember that a solid plan will probably result in a better essay.

As for section B, I've made a grid; along the top I have all the genres we may be asked to write in (review, tabloid article, report etc.) and along the side is each framework (lexis & semantics, grammar, rhetoric etc.) It's a good thing to be able to refer to, and when practising, I look at the chart and try to include some of those features. If you run out of past papers, it's easy enough to make up your own questions for each text.

Hopefully this will be just the tiniest bit helpful to you- good luck in the exam!

[IAWells]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips. Any chance you could PM any examples that your have made?

[akemikat]

I'm also taking this paper. I have the AS AQA English Language and Literature student book which is gold dust. Only text book I need tbh except my set text which is A House Somewhere.

I am
Doing past papers
Reading different stuff (articles, encyclopaedias) to get used to what they are and their forms
Reading my set texts about 5 times and looking up words I don't understand
Going back over all my notes
Revising terms

Exam is in 3 weeks on 11th June......but I think building up revision from now until then is the best way. This is not the sort of thing you can revise at the last moment.