AQA GCSE English Literature Exams - 20th and 23rd May 2013 *OFFICAL THREAD*

Unit 1, the novel paper, in part 2 (the context one) do you think I should do one big essay question for part i and ii or 2 small ones? My teacher says that higher mark students are expected to link it together, especially because apparently both parts are marked as one, but I prefer doing it in 2 halves. What do you think I should do? Really need that A*...

I would recommend that you do it in parts as you can structure your answer with ease instead of panicking if you have linked par b into part a. You can still definitely get that A*

Hope this helps

Unit 1, the novel paper, in part 2 (the context one) do you think I should do one big essay question for part i and ii or 2 small ones? My teacher says that higher mark students are expected to link it together, especially because apparently both parts are marked as one, but I prefer doing it in 2 halves. What do you think I should do? Really need that A*...

Does anyone have any notes on the structure for The Crucible? I'm stumped..
Happy to give advice on other points on the Crucible though

Hi,

Please could someone mark this answer to part a (it took me just under 25 minutes) and is on the character of slim. could someone tell me the mark I would get if i wrote like this for part b.

In the passage, what methods does Steinbeck use to present Slim and the importance of him? Refer closely to the passage in your answer. PASSAGE FROM PAGE 36 'A TALL MAN' TO PAGE 37 'YOU THE NEW GUYS'.

From the extract, Slim is perceived to be an integral character on first insight, through the ways the novelist describes his entrance. The entrance is almost like that of a king as he moved into the bunkhouse ‘with a majesty’ only apparent because of his ‘master craftsmen’. This not only alludes to that he has the status of a prince, but is indicative of that only the best like Slim could survive in a challenging environment like the ranches. Perhaps, Steinbeck employs the character of Slim in the novella so he could reinforce his idea that life was solely on surviving almost like an Animal Kingdom. The Great Depression in 1929 had a huge impact on itinerant workers and forced them to move from ranch to ranch, again connoting the idea that life had almost focused itself on surviving.

Further on, the writer portrays Slim to be almost like a God by adopting adjectives in the novella. Slim is described to be ‘ageless’ and to possess ‘calm, godlike eyes’. This implies that his character is perceptive almost as if his eyes let him have a different view to life on the ranch. The word ‘Godlike’ strengthens his idea that society at the time where America was suffering had all kinds of people of different mental and physical abilities which meant that differences between people were more clear. Also, it lets other characters hold confidence in him later on in the novella similar to how religious people have confidence in God. Perhaps, the writer is endeavoring to imply that he is the perfect ranch worker that all itinerant workers desired to be at the time but was only determined by how people treated you. It could be argued that Crooks has been more influential in the success of the ranch but because of his skin colour he is treated differently. This again impacts on the reader realising the importance of a character like Slim in the novella as the author wanted to convey his message that the character of people was determined through futile features like skin colour etc.

The religious imagery is further employed by the writer where he adds that his hands were as ‘delicate’ as ‘those of a temple dancer’. The word ‘delicate’ has the connotations of him being almost pure of all sins and someone that is thoughtful about every action.


PLEASE COULD SOMEONE GIVE ME A ROUGH MARK OUT OF 30 IF I WAS TO RWITE LIKE THIS ASWELL IN PART B

Thanks in advance

Other way round

The two questions usually relate to each other, and are based around a character or theme, and therefore after you've done Part 1 just go straight into Part 2 with a new introduction. Timing wise, I'm splitting my time by doing 30 minutes on the Section A question (An Inspector Calls for me), 15 minutes on the first part of Section B and then 30 minutes on the second part of Section B.

im not going to give you a mark but i will give you a few suggestions:

- you used double interpretations.... so write another connotation to the words...is... //instead of saying it once and then saying prehaps...its isnt explicit
- write more // lol
- the first papragraph contained a lot of waffle (in my eyes) ... you didnt get straight to the point... if it was an introduction fine its ok but you built on it (if it was...although i dont think it was)
- the second paragraph was fine... i just wrote down your idea hehe lol :P
- i think there are only 4 compound sentences on context.. beef it up man lol

i know i probably will do the same as you though lol

but i think the ideas are good...
have you looked at the mark scheme??

ryan

oh

has anyone got any good quotes that link into context for each character for OMAM???

this will help like everyone in part B

ryan

me!

Were you put in for foundation in january?

Thanks for you input,

in the actual exam i will inevitably write more but just wanted to know about the quality. Also, how could i link slim to context and what do you think will come up in the exam.

Cheers

How on earth do I structure section B? Do you mix part a and b together or separately?