English Literature: Aiming for an A/A*
Hello,
My school has made English Literature a compulsory subject and I have to take it no matter what.
However, it is not my best subject, and it is near the bottom on my favourite list, but I am still striving to do well in it. We have nearly finished analysing poems in class but I do not know how I should go about comparing the two poems in the exam.
This is my specification: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/english/english-overview.php?id=01
My exam for Unit 2: Poetry Across Time is in May but I am becoming very anxious about sitting it as it is one of my worst subjects, but I am determined to improve. There is only one Specimen paper I can use as my past paper and there are no past papers for my unit so I am becoming more apprehensive.
How many points/ comparisons should I make?
What points do I have to cover to get the top grades (e.g. structure, form, language etc.)?
How should I structure/ layout my answer?
Do you have any other tips?
BTW, I am advised to spend 45 mins for Section A and 30 mins for Section B so I have 1 hour 15 mins in total.
My school has made English Literature a compulsory subject and I have to take it no matter what.
However, it is not my best subject, and it is near the bottom on my favourite list, but I am still striving to do well in it. We have nearly finished analysing poems in class but I do not know how I should go about comparing the two poems in the exam.This is my specification: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/english/english-overview.php?id=01
My exam for Unit 2: Poetry Across Time is in May but I am becoming very anxious about sitting it as it is one of my worst subjects, but I am determined to improve. There is only one Specimen paper I can use as my past paper and there are no past papers for my unit so I am becoming more apprehensive.
How many points/ comparisons should I make?
What points do I have to cover to get the top grades (e.g. structure, form, language etc.)?
How should I structure/ layout my answer?
Do you have any other tips?
BTW, I am advised to spend 45 mins for Section A and 30 mins for Section B so I have 1 hour 15 mins in total.
In my opinion Literature is an extremely hard topic, and one which I find myself in a continuous battle with in order to try and get the best grade I can. Not only is the marking abysmal but in the exams there is quite a lot of pressure as you want to might as much good stuff as possible in a short time frame ( i think 1 hour for unit 1 and 1hr 15mins for unit 2). Therefore I urge you to try and get the best grade you can possibly get in the controlled assessment. However when it comes to tackling the poetry exam I strongly recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444121464/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d2_g14_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=09MVM2Z2YH05DVX9ZMVH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294
It has helped me loads and now I have got a low a* (but an a* nonetheless) in my retake, first time
round i got a C!
As for the marking for Literature, if you feel you deserve a better grade go for the remark. In both my units that I have taken so far (Shakespeare CA and poetry) I have remarked them both. And in total my mark has improved by 12 UMS (6 for each module).
Tips for poetry:
Go into the exam with some clever and unusual points, and cleverly mix them in with the other garbage that you waffle about! For example start and end with good, sophisticated points to leave your examiner in a good mood!
Make sure you compare the poems as this is what I failed in first time round. This does not mean Poem A + Poem B and then a quick comparison paragraph.
Analyse structure, form and language.
For the unseen poem try and look for features that you have learnt about and tell the examiner how this relates to the question. For example in January I spotted that the unseen poem was a sonnet:
How to Leave the World that Worships should by Ros Barber
Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves.
Let junkmail build its castles in the hush
of other people’s halls. Let deadlines burst
and flash like glorious fireworks somewhere else.
As hours go softly by, let others curse
the roads where distant drivers queue like sheep.
Let e-mails fly like panicked, tiny birds.
Let phones, unanswered, ring themselves to sleep.
Above, the sky unrolls its telegram,
immense and wordless, simply understood:
you’ve made your mark like birdtracks in the sand -
now make the air in your lungs your livelihood.
See how each wave arrives at last to heave
itself upon the beach and vanish. Breathe.
I then explained that this shows that the poet likes to have tight control of her poem as she does her life by not letting her work dominate it.
Finally, however, just keep your cool and it should be fairly easy to get an A/B, however if you work hard enough, which trust me is a lot, then you can get that A*!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444121464/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d2_g14_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=09MVM2Z2YH05DVX9ZMVH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294
It has helped me loads and now I have got a low a* (but an a* nonetheless) in my retake, first time
round i got a C!
As for the marking for Literature, if you feel you deserve a better grade go for the remark. In both my units that I have taken so far (Shakespeare CA and poetry) I have remarked them both. And in total my mark has improved by 12 UMS (6 for each module).
Tips for poetry:
Go into the exam with some clever and unusual points, and cleverly mix them in with the other garbage that you waffle about! For example start and end with good, sophisticated points to leave your examiner in a good mood!
Make sure you compare the poems as this is what I failed in first time round. This does not mean Poem A + Poem B and then a quick comparison paragraph.
Analyse structure, form and language.
For the unseen poem try and look for features that you have learnt about and tell the examiner how this relates to the question. For example in January I spotted that the unseen poem was a sonnet:
How to Leave the World that Worships should by Ros Barber
Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves.
Let junkmail build its castles in the hush
of other people’s halls. Let deadlines burst
and flash like glorious fireworks somewhere else.
As hours go softly by, let others curse
the roads where distant drivers queue like sheep.
Let e-mails fly like panicked, tiny birds.
Let phones, unanswered, ring themselves to sleep.
Above, the sky unrolls its telegram,
immense and wordless, simply understood:
you’ve made your mark like birdtracks in the sand -
now make the air in your lungs your livelihood.
See how each wave arrives at last to heave
itself upon the beach and vanish. Breathe.
I then explained that this shows that the poet likes to have tight control of her poem as she does her life by not letting her work dominate it.
Finally, however, just keep your cool and it should be fairly easy to get an A/B, however if you work hard enough, which trust me is a lot, then you can get that A*!
Original post by metaltron
In my opinion Literature is an extremely hard topic, and one which I find myself in a continuous battle with in order to try and get the best grade I can. Not only is the marking abysmal but in the exams there is quite a lot of pressure as you want to might as much good stuff as possible in a short time frame ( i think 1 hour for unit 1 and 1hr 15mins for unit 2). Therefore I urge you to try and get the best grade you can possibly get in the controlled assessment. However when it comes to tackling the poetry exam I strongly recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444121464/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d2_g14_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=09MVM2Z2YH05DVX9ZMVH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294
It has helped me loads and now I have got a low a* (but an a* nonetheless) in my retake, first time
round i got a C!
As for the marking for Literature, if you feel you deserve a better grade go for the remark. In both my units that I have taken so far (Shakespeare CA and poetry) I have remarked them both. And in total my mark has improved by 12 UMS (6 for each module).
Tips for poetry:
Go into the exam with some clever and unusual points, and cleverly mix them in with the other garbage that you waffle about! For example start and end with good, sophisticated points to leave your examiner in a good mood!
Make sure you compare the poems as this is what I failed in first time round. This does not mean Poem A + Poem B and then a quick comparison paragraph.
Analyse structure, form and language.
For the unseen poem try and look for features that you have learnt about and tell the examiner how this relates to the question. For example in January I spotted that the unseen poem was a sonnet:
How to Leave the World that Worships should by Ros Barber
Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves.
Let junkmail build its castles in the hush
of other people’s halls. Let deadlines burst
and flash like glorious fireworks somewhere else.
As hours go softly by, let others curse
the roads where distant drivers queue like sheep.
Let e-mails fly like panicked, tiny birds.
Let phones, unanswered, ring themselves to sleep.
Above, the sky unrolls its telegram,
immense and wordless, simply understood:
you’ve made your mark like birdtracks in the sand -
now make the air in your lungs your livelihood.
See how each wave arrives at last to heave
itself upon the beach and vanish. Breathe.
I then explained that this shows that the poet likes to have tight control of her poem as she does her life by not letting her work dominate it.
Finally, however, just keep your cool and it should be fairly easy to get an A/B, however if you work hard enough, which trust me is a lot, then you can get that A*!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444121464/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d2_g14_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=09MVM2Z2YH05DVX9ZMVH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294
It has helped me loads and now I have got a low a* (but an a* nonetheless) in my retake, first time
round i got a C!
As for the marking for Literature, if you feel you deserve a better grade go for the remark. In both my units that I have taken so far (Shakespeare CA and poetry) I have remarked them both. And in total my mark has improved by 12 UMS (6 for each module).
Tips for poetry:
Go into the exam with some clever and unusual points, and cleverly mix them in with the other garbage that you waffle about! For example start and end with good, sophisticated points to leave your examiner in a good mood!
Make sure you compare the poems as this is what I failed in first time round. This does not mean Poem A + Poem B and then a quick comparison paragraph.
Analyse structure, form and language.
For the unseen poem try and look for features that you have learnt about and tell the examiner how this relates to the question. For example in January I spotted that the unseen poem was a sonnet:
How to Leave the World that Worships should by Ros Barber
Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves.
Let junkmail build its castles in the hush
of other people’s halls. Let deadlines burst
and flash like glorious fireworks somewhere else.
As hours go softly by, let others curse
the roads where distant drivers queue like sheep.
Let e-mails fly like panicked, tiny birds.
Let phones, unanswered, ring themselves to sleep.
Above, the sky unrolls its telegram,
immense and wordless, simply understood:
you’ve made your mark like birdtracks in the sand -
now make the air in your lungs your livelihood.
See how each wave arrives at last to heave
itself upon the beach and vanish. Breathe.
I then explained that this shows that the poet likes to have tight control of her poem as she does her life by not letting her work dominate it.
Finally, however, just keep your cool and it should be fairly easy to get an A/B, however if you work hard enough, which trust me is a lot, then you can get that A*!
Cool, thanks, I'll keep those tips in mind.
I just found on the CGP website, that they sell study guides/ workbooks tailed specifically to the poems and syllabus I'm doing! They claim their Higher books (which I'm thinking of buying) contain information and tips that help you achieve an A*. However, I'd like your advice- do you think I should buy them and do you think they will help? Or not?CGP Study Guide: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=ACHR42
Workbook: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=ACHW41
Original post by bobbricks
Cool, thanks, I'll keep those tips in mind. I just found on the CGP website, that they sell study guides/ workbooks tailed specifically to the poems and syllabus I'm doing! They claim their Higher books (which I'm thinking of buying) contain information and tips that help you achieve an A*. However, I'd like your advice- do you think I should buy them and do you think they will help? Or not?
CGP Study Guide: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=ACHR42
Workbook: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=ACHW41
I just found on the CGP website, that they sell study guides/ workbooks tailed specifically to the poems and syllabus I'm doing! They claim their Higher books (which I'm thinking of buying) contain information and tips that help you achieve an A*. However, I'd like your advice- do you think I should buy them and do you think they will help? Or not?CGP Study Guide: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=ACHR42
Workbook: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=ACHW41
Well I've never used those books so I wouldn't be able to say how good they were. I can only say that the philipallan books are really good and they have one for conflict too:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Anthology-Conflict-Relationships-Literature/dp/1444110284/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332267919&sr=8-1-spell
Also they have online tips and model answers here:
http://literatureguides.philipallan.co.uk/studentgcse.aspx#
Good luck
Original post by metaltron
Well I've never used those books so I wouldn't be able to say how good they were. I can only say that the philipallan books are really good and they have one for conflict too:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Anthology-Conflict-Relationships-Literature/dp/1444110284/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332267919&sr=8-1-spell
Also they have online tips and model answers here:
http://literatureguides.philipallan.co.uk/studentgcse.aspx#
Good luck
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Anthology-Conflict-Relationships-Literature/dp/1444110284/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332267919&sr=8-1-spell
Also they have online tips and model answers here:
http://literatureguides.philipallan.co.uk/studentgcse.aspx#
Good luck
Alright, thanks.
So how did you use that book to revise/ practice? Did you memorise bits, or something else? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions-the English Literature exam is the only exam I'm worried about!How to Leave the World that Worships should by Ros Barber
Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves.
Let junkmail build its castles in the hush
of other people’s halls. Let deadlines burst
and flash like glorious fireworks somewhere else.
As hours go softly by, let others curse
the roads where distant drivers queue like sheep.
Let e-mails fly like panicked, tiny birds.
Let phones, unanswered, ring themselves to sleep.
Above, the sky unrolls its telegram,
immense and wordless, simply understood:
you’ve made your mark like birdtracks in the sand -
now make the air in your lungs your livelihood.
See how each wave arrives at last to heave
itself upon the beach and vanish. Breathe.
This Poem is a Sonnet in two stanzas. It is made up of Metaphors and Similes to aid understanding by the reader. What is the real message? Is it not to let work rule your life? Is it about the things that are unimportant in our lives and so we should not get too caught up in them? Look at how we know what this poem is about. What words or phrases does the poet use to tell us that there is more to life than work? What are the poet's methods- the use of imperative verbs perhaps?
Hope this helps.
Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves.
Let junkmail build its castles in the hush
of other people’s halls. Let deadlines burst
and flash like glorious fireworks somewhere else.
As hours go softly by, let others curse
the roads where distant drivers queue like sheep.
Let e-mails fly like panicked, tiny birds.
Let phones, unanswered, ring themselves to sleep.
Above, the sky unrolls its telegram,
immense and wordless, simply understood:
you’ve made your mark like birdtracks in the sand -
now make the air in your lungs your livelihood.
See how each wave arrives at last to heave
itself upon the beach and vanish. Breathe.
This Poem is a Sonnet in two stanzas. It is made up of Metaphors and Similes to aid understanding by the reader. What is the real message? Is it not to let work rule your life? Is it about the things that are unimportant in our lives and so we should not get too caught up in them? Look at how we know what this poem is about. What words or phrases does the poet use to tell us that there is more to life than work? What are the poet's methods- the use of imperative verbs perhaps?
Hope this helps.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Considering my options (access /a levels)
- English literature course
- Med school question [ANY HELP APPRECIATED]
- Help with studying English Literature + Language GCSE!
- What Unis should i aim for? Yr 12 student
- Would this A Level combination be okay?
- A levels for going into law
- Geography or English literature A-level?
- AQA A-level English Literature A Paper 1 (7712/1) - 24th May 2024 [Exam Chat]
- Is this set of A-Level choices suitable for law?
- year 10 study buddy
- trying to get all As for AS
- how cold is this a level combo
- Is it worth me applying to Cambridge Modern languages with these grades ?
- Is this a good A-Level Combination for Law?
- Universities views on access to HE courses
- my gcse journey!
- French or English lit at A-level
- University Guidance Appreciated
- How do i get a grade 7 in English Literature?
Latest
Last reply 56 minutes ago
Official University College London Applicant Thread for 2024Last reply 1 hour ago
Can I do economics degree without a level maths?Last reply 1 hour ago
How to choose unis in UCAS application for CS undergraduate course?Last reply 1 hour ago
Rishi Sunak pledges to remove benefits for people not taking jobs after 12 monthsLast reply 2 hours ago
Got my crush's number 2 days ago and no reply yet. What could be the reasons?Posted 2 hours ago
GB News set to axe 40 jobs after channel posts heavy lossesLast reply 2 hours ago
Rwanda bill likely to be stalled at least till April after seven defeats in the LordsPosted 2 hours ago
Sunak rejects offer of youth mobility scheme between EU and UKTrending
Last reply 4 hours ago
AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1 (8702/1) - 13th May 2024 [Exam Chat]Last reply 2 days ago
Edexcel GCSE English Language Paper 1 (1EN0 01) - 5th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 2 days ago
A-level English Literature Study Group 2023-2024Last reply 3 days ago
AQA A-Level English Literature B Paper 2 (7716/2) - 8th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 4 days ago
OCR A-level English Literature Paper 2 (H472/02) - 8th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 2 weeks ago
what predicted poems for power and conflict 2024?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 (1ET0 01) - 17th May 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 1 month ago
AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 (8700/1) - 7th November 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 1 month ago
Please mark my gcse english language paper 2 question 5!!!Last reply 1 month ago
AQA A-level English Language Paper 1 (7702/1) - 25th May 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 1 month ago
AQA A-level English Language Paper 2 (7702/2) - 5th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Trending
Last reply 4 hours ago
AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1 (8702/1) - 13th May 2024 [Exam Chat]Last reply 2 days ago
Edexcel GCSE English Language Paper 1 (1EN0 01) - 5th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 2 days ago
A-level English Literature Study Group 2023-2024Last reply 3 days ago
AQA A-Level English Literature B Paper 2 (7716/2) - 8th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 4 days ago
OCR A-level English Literature Paper 2 (H472/02) - 8th June 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 2 weeks ago
what predicted poems for power and conflict 2024?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1 (1ET0 01) - 17th May 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 1 month ago
AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 (8700/1) - 7th November 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 1 month ago
Please mark my gcse english language paper 2 question 5!!!Last reply 1 month ago
AQA A-level English Language Paper 1 (7702/1) - 25th May 2023 [Exam Chat]Last reply 1 month ago
AQA A-level English Language Paper 2 (7702/2) - 5th June 2023 [Exam Chat]
