Basically I've only ever done like one mock eng lit gcse and that was a total mess, for some reason my eng teacher hadnt given us like any practice essays to do or mock papers and I know it sounds silly but I havent even realised until now! (Yeah maybe I sould have, but its too late now haha) So now I'm absolutely crapping myself, thinking I've got this exam in a week and I don't know what technique to use in it...
I've been revising all the poems and stories and the post 1914 drama, its just the actual essay writing I struggle with, I think I'm a fairly good writer, I'm just absolutely DIRE at planning a good essay in an exam, (well I found that out in the ONE mock for eng lit we've done)
So ANYWAY, could anyone offer a basic plan for the poems essay, the short stories essay, and the drama essay (mines on Death of a Salesman).. like Intro, something, something, something, Conclusion haha,
sorry to sound like an absolute doile but I would just like a little guidance in this area from people through having done the exam will know what works best,
thankyou for taking the time to read this, and please help if you can, I'm soooo worried for this exam! Thanks a bundle, Faye x
well to start off i spend just under 10 (out of 45) minutes planning my (novel) essay, Lord of the Flies (you might be doing something else) and and just over 10 writing the plan for the hour part. When I see the question, I usually sacfiice a piece of A4 and write down my initial ideas on answers to the questions along the page. I then take branches of each idea with supporting evidence or develop it to talk about soemthing else. I make sure I have talked about the important themes, and that I have analysed language somewhere. I usually start writing before I have finsihed my plan. I use a paragraph for each of the point. Don't feel tied down to your plan, wonder off at each thought strain as you write but always link back to the question. Thats the beauty of essay writing in English. Quote to back your points, and again, don't forget language analysis (no language analysis means < A )
I posted a similar thread a week ago or so and I was just told that there wasn't really a set essay form :/
go on the AQA website and look at the mark scheme and see if it helps I suppose
oh thanks for the speedy reply, sorry if this sounds completely stupid but what do you mean by language analysis? Oh and would you recommend saving time to check through your answer or just writing till the end? My history teacher says theres no point saving time as its not likely you'll actually change something, would you say this applies to english too? Thanks for your help again x
oh thanks for the speedy reply, sorry if this sounds completely stupid but what do you mean by language analysis? Oh and would you recommend saving time to check through your answer or just writing till the end? My history teacher says theres no point saving time as its not likely you'll actually change something, would you say this applies to english too? Thanks for your help again x
Firstly, I don't save time. Concentrate on getting down content. A few grammar mistakes won't cost you.
Lang Analysis- erm in "The Field Mouse" by Gillian Clarke in Anthology, Clarke writes "bones brittle as mouse-ribs" gives the impression that her children are extremely vulnerable and can be crushed like a mouse. The alliteration of 'b' gives the impression that the bones are very brittle and can break easily, showing that the children can easily be killed. The phrase makes me feel like the women is terrified that her children will be killed and that nothing, even innocent children, are safe in wars.
(above) an example of language analysis for that poem. Won't make much sense if you hav't studied it...
These are only my suggestions on how I work best. You may find writing an essay in a different way suits you better but this method works for me.
Oh, yeah I understand it now, yep that's like what I have in all my notes, I just didnt realised they were called 'language analysis' haha god I sound dumb, thanks againx
Remember time management especially on the lit exam theres more marks to be earned on the poems rather than the novel..
Good luck I have the same exam next tues dreading it
Remember time management especially on the lit exam theres more marks to be earned on the poems rather than the novel..
Good luck I have the same exam next tues dreading it
same thats when mine is too! ah I am so scared, my problem is I just get so bored in the exam, the questions are so dull! anyhoo I'm going to actually do some revision now, laters x
And also I'm planning to do it with poems first, then LOTF - I think I'll be able to manage my time better, because with the LOTF I often don't take into account the endless page turning just to find that one quote (grr to the length of LOTF).
And as the poems are more marks, it makes sense (for me) to tackle that first.
Next tuesday! :-|
Anyone have any speculations as to what the LOTF question will be this year? Character based? Maybe something like the Kingsley Amis question from a few years ago?
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GCSE Eng Lit help for exam in a week please!
