AQA English Literature AS LIT1C 15th May

Hey Guys

Anyone else doing LIT1C (Struggle for Identity) on Friday 15th May?

How is revision coming along?

What do you predict this year for the topic choice in the contextual linking section of the paper?

Have you done much wider reading?

How are you finding it?

Hey Guys

Anyone else doing LIT1C (Struggle for Identity) on Friday 15th May?

How is revision coming along?

What do you predict this year for the topic choice in the contextual linking section of the paper?

Have you done much wider reading?

How are you finding it?

I'm doing LIT1C I'm finding it alright considering my English teachers are incompetent as hell...

I've just been going through past papers and writing quites for my wider reading. I'm now attempting to do a past question. How are you revising and what texts are you studying for wider reading? I'm doing The Kite Runner, A Streetcar Named Desire and Howl.

I'm doing OK for the Context Question section but the Poetry side is a bit dodgy.
Umm Streetcar Named Desire, A View from The Bridge and The Handmaid's Tale

I'm finding contextual linking extremely stressful, especially knowing that it's unseen. What poems will you refer to in Q1?

I am also finding the contextual bit so difficult. I don't know what counts as a similarity as the extract sure has some differences with the wider readings. So I just don't know what to classify as a similarity except differences which is ok. As for linking it with my wider reading, it's tricky too because usually I get comments on my mocks saying the links are 'forced'. Would anyone care to help me with some sentence starts that'd 'flow' with the extract analysis. I'm aiming for atleast 35 marks for the extract and 35 for poetry. So any advice is appreciated!Thanks! Posted from TSR Mobile

I am also finding the contextual bit so difficult. I don't know what counts as a similarity as the extract sure has some differences with the wider readings. So I just don't know what to classify as a similarity except differences which is ok.

As for linking it with my wider reading, it's tricky too because usually I get comments on my mocks saying the links are 'forced'.

Would anyone care to help me with some sentence starts that'd 'flow' with the extract analysis.

I'm aiming for atleast 35 marks for the extract and 35 for poetry. So any advice is appreciated!

Thanks!


Posted from TSR Mobile

Hi!

I apologize for this incredibly long answer.

I agree, teachers are vague when it comes to the level of contextual analysis requiredI'm going to email my teacher and ask them to send me essays which have got good grades and see their level of contextual analysis. From looking at past papers, I think you should get a basic understanding of gay rights, gender, Creation of african countries, post war E U conflicts, Refugees, dual identities, class post war, apartheid and the Irish troubles.

In terms of similarities, anything linked in theme, technique, tone, but it's usually best to link in content. For example, if the extract is on refugees feeling displaced, link to something about feeling displaced, or better, you could link to refugees.

To link, I was taught shorter the better. Literally 'Similarly'. That's it. Another tip, to tighten your answer but remain tentative, just say 'arguably' or something similar. It's better than 'It is perhaps arguable to suggest that the author may also be portraying' yada yada yada.

The more wider reading you have the better, to make your links sound less forced I'd advise you to analyse more literature on the surface and less indepth. As in 8 plays with short but solid analysis of relevant themes is maybe better than 2 plays with analysis on every theme, even those which are not relevant. Try not to over load yourself, poems are good ways to make content links as they're faster to get through.

The most helpful thing I've learnt is to keep it really tied to the extract, wider reading can just be hear and there where you see fit. But stitch everything up with analysis to the extract, and attempt to sound contextual ( basically refer to what's going on in the world when the thing was written) But the extract's the most important thing. In terms of structural analysis, simply ' The extract begins like' 'then it slides into'. I tend to do this while analyzing any changes in tone.

Good luck!

Thanks for the useful tips. However, how on earth are we supposed to get through mentioning 8 plays let alone the recommended: one poem, prose and a play. Needless to say, we have only ONE HOUR for the extract in depth analysis, contextual references and the wider readings.

My teacher said it would be best to add wider readings at the end, and I've been so used to doing this so I need to use all the time from now to combine it with my extract because it seems best fitting.

Really need this A but stuck on low B's. HELP!

Hi!

I apologize for this incredibly long answer.

I agree, teachers are vague when it comes to the level of contextual analysis requiredI'm going to email my teacher and ask them to send me essays which have got good grades and see their level of contextual analysis. From looking at past papers, I think you should get a basic understanding of gay rights, gender, Creation of african countries, post war E U conflicts, Refugees, dual identities, class post war, apartheid and the Irish troubles.

In terms of similarities, anything linked in theme, technique, tone, but it's usually best to link in content. For example, if the extract is on refugees feeling displaced, link to something about feeling displaced, or better, you could link to refugees.

To link, I was taught shorter the better. Literally 'Similarly'. That's it. Another tip, to tighten your answer but remain tentative, just say 'arguably' or something similar. It's better than 'It is perhaps arguable to suggest that the author may also be portraying' yada yada yada.

The more wider reading you have the better, to make your links sound less forced I'd advise you to analyse more literature on the surface and less indepth. As in 8 plays with short but solid analysis of relevant themes is maybe better than 2 plays with analysis on every theme, even those which are not relevant. Try not to over load yourself, poems are good ways to make content links as they're faster to get through.

The most helpful thing I've learnt is to keep it really tied to the extract, wider reading can just be hear and there where you see fit. But stitch everything up with analysis to the extract, and attempt to sound contextual ( basically refer to what's going on in the world when the thing was written) But the extract's the most important thing. In terms of structural analysis, simply ' The extract begins like' 'then it slides into'. I tend to do this while analyzing any changes in tone.

Good luck!

Hi, sorry for not being clearer earlier, I meant look at 8 plays in total! Of course, only use one or two in the exams. I've been getting As- full marks, and what I found made the difference was writing style. Basically, lead your answer with meaning rather than technique. I hope that makes some sense? But you're keen to do well and have given it a lot of thought, I think your teacher may be marking a little harsh. Either way, I'm sure you'll do great! There's still enough time, reading some critical essays online can really help.

Good luck

Of course

I'll put a paragraph in here, just to make sure it's what you're looking for.

After this, the speech travels back in time to Mandela’s ‘youth’, marking a dramatic change in tone from fiery patriotism and power to something gentler, yet equally emotive. Talking of his youth is a sharp twist of identity compared to the criminal the jury currently see before them. Mandela talks of the ‘old days’, the ‘fatherland’ and it’s stories, portraying how identity is preserved in place and language. His language itself becomes more romantic, with an almost fairy tale mistiness in ‘amongst the tales’, which perhaps is reflective of South African heritage fading due to western influences. This in the African words which follow, ironically seeming to drown in the sea of english, a medium which has almost been imposed on the nation. The tight, listing effect of the names portrays South African identity as almost squeezed together, violently displaced by colonial rule. The African names are listed in pairs, perhaps suggesting a unity, and the syndeton creates a rhythm which expands, creating an almost celebratory tone. The very names themselves are rhythmic, having inflection towards the end, ‘Bambata’, ‘Disgane’, creating a certain lightness, even giving the speech a more optimistic tone, perhaps once again to reassure his black audience that their struggle for identity could be overcome.

can you give an example of how you would blend your wider reading in with the extract? this was so great!

Of course

I'll put a paragraph in here, just to make sure it's what you're looking for.

After this, the speech travels back in time to Mandela’s ‘youth’, marking a dramatic change in tone from fiery patriotism and power to something gentler, yet equally emotive. Talking of his youth is a sharp twist of identity compared to the criminal the jury currently see before them. Mandela talks of the ‘old days’, the ‘fatherland’ and it’s stories, portraying how identity is preserved in place and language. His language itself becomes more romantic, with an almost fairy tale mistiness in ‘amongst the tales’, which perhaps is reflective of South African heritage fading due to western influences. This in the African words which follow, ironically seeming to drown in the sea of english, a medium which has almost been imposed on the nation. The tight, listing effect of the names portrays South African identity as almost squeezed together, violently displaced by colonial rule. The African names are listed in pairs, perhaps suggesting a unity, and the syndeton creates a rhythm which expands, creating an almost celebratory tone. The very names themselves are rhythmic, having inflection towards the end, ‘Bambata’, ‘Disgane’, creating a certain lightness, even giving the speech a more optimistic tone, perhaps once again to reassure his black audience that their struggle for identity could be overcome.

Thanks a lot! How would you structure out Section A? I'm struggling with the how to lay out my points apart from the obvious PEEL structure. In particular, how would you structure out one of your points and speak of FSL?