English Literature A-level - Wider Reading

Is this for Unit 6? I haven't done that much wider reading for that, as I thought it'd be better to achieve a balance between having a variety of material and remembering it properly. There's no use having read it all if you can't discuss it properly in the exam.

I'd go into more specifics about what I've read but I don't know what unit or syllabus you mean so I'll wait until you say so :smile:

Reply 2

OP

Yea its module 6 on the AQA board... is that the same as you?
For my wider reading I thought it would be a better idea to have less but have a better understanding of them... also with doing my other A-levels I've found it hard to find the time to do the reading! (I made the mistake of spending A LOT of my time reading the whole of "testament of youth" by vera brittain... wouldn't advice that to anyone else!
How many resources would you say you'v collected? Have you been gathering quotes form them or are you gonna talk about them generally? :smile:

(thanks for your advie btw) :smile:

Reply 3

Yeah, I'm doing the same :smile:

I'm not very well prepared myself ATM but I think I'll be okay when the time comes! I am working towards being able to quote from about 3 or 4 novels, at least the play I've done in class (if I can't find another), some stuff from non-fiction (like Goodbye to All That) and of course plenty of poems.

I think it's important to be able to both quote and talk about pieces generally, but I need an A grade in it so I'm aiming for the best I can do!! My plan is to memorise at least one quote for each area that the writers look at, e.g. trench conditions, killing, death, patriotism, comradeship. I've also looked at different kinds of writers, such as female writers (I see you'll be prepared for that already!), those from lower-classes, those at home, things like that. I think that it's not number but flexibility that counts, and how well you can apply what you've learnt to the question.

Oh dear, now I'm getting worried myself, lol!

Reply 4

OP

lol... you've got no need to worry, it sounds like you're going 2 do v well! :smile:

Thanks for you're help... i feel a lot better! Good luck with you're exam!! :biggrin:

Reply 5

wibble...

lol... you've got no need to worry, it sounds like you're going 2 do v well! :smile:

Thanks for you're help... i feel a lot better! Good luck with you're exam!! :biggrin:

Happy to help! and good luck yourself :biggrin:

Reply 6

Leaby

7

I'm only revising the stuff we covered in the lesson - my english teacher gave us loads of extracts, so I'm not going to read any more than that, I really don't have the time.

I think I'll just be memorising loads of important quotes and throwing them in wherever possible!

Reply 7

waiting2smile

2

wibble...

Hey... I was just wondering how much wider reading prep most people have done for their exam. Is anyone collecting loads of quotes from prose? Its just that I’m really starting to panic that I haven’t done enough… :eek:

x

We've been given a collection of prose and poetry, which I've been highlighting and annotating in my study periods. I'm currently reading Sebastian Faulks Birdsong and attempting to memorise any interesting quotations. I need to get an A in this so I'm doing as much as I can.

* For Keats/Blake/Wordsworth/Othello etc I've found this site which might be helpful if you want to do some writing, it may also help you formulate your own revision Qs http://www.aqa.org.uk/news/pdf/AQA-5741-6741-Feb03.pdf
And if you're stuck on Keats: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/keats.html - A brilliant site, with extensive notes etc on various odes/sonnets, just scroll down and you'll find the list of poems.

Reply 8

hester

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

That keats stuff is fantastic!! I am sooooooooooooo stuck on him.. I just dont get it... lol

As for wider reading.. I've done a bit, but not much, I just hope the question is easy!!!

Ooh.. www.englishbox.com is GREAT!

Reply 9

charlord

is this for the synoptic paper? because Ive not done any wider reading for it. surely u dont have any idea whats going to come up until you get the pack a week beforehand?!!

Reply 10

OP

charlord

is this for the synoptic paper? because Ive not done any wider reading for it. surely u dont have any idea whats going to come up until you get the pack a week beforehand?!!

It doesn't sounds like you're doing the same board as me bcuz as far as i know we don't get any pack before the exam... what does this pack consist of?

Yea I was talking about the synoptic paper (war lierature)... you've done no wider reading at all? What board are you on? If its AQA do you realise that most of the marks are awarding for your wider reading? (not to worry you or anything...) :rolleyes:

x x

Reply 11

charlord

wibble...

It doesn't sounds like you're doing the same board as me bcuz as far as i know we don't get any pack before the exam... what does this pack consist of?

Yea I was talking about the synoptic paper (war lierature)... you've done no wider reading at all? What board are you on? If its AQA do you realise that most of the marks are awarding for your wider reading? (not to worry you or anything...) :rolleyes:

x x

yeh im on AQA doing english literature too. I get a pack ten days before the exam with a selection of texts: this normally includes a piece of prose, poetry or drama, some critical work and contextual material - there are about 4 items. the theme can be anything from gothic, to the satire to reading. I basiclaly have to look at the texts, write notes on them.
then theres a 3 hour exam a week later, with another long piece of text that i have never seen before and I have to answer questions on everything I am given.
maybe there are two different types of english literature that AQA does....at least i hope so!!

Reply 12

OP

charlord

yeh im on AQA doing english literature too. I get a pack ten days before the exam with a selection of texts: this normally includes a piece of prose, poetry or drama, some critical work and contextual material - there are about 4 items. the theme can be anything from gothic, to the satire to reading. I basiclaly have to look at the texts, write notes on them.
then theres a 3 hour exam a week later, with another long piece of text that i have never seen before and I have to answer questions on everything I am given.
maybe there are two different types of english literature that AQA does....at least i hope so!!

interesting... i can't say iv heard of it but then again it could just be my teacher not telling us so that we panic more now! (bloody teachers :tongue:

) I'm not 100% sure that there is 2 boards for AQA though... if i were you id do some wider-reading just in case... my teacher says that wivout sufficient knowledge of war literature you can't get above a D! You don't have to read whole books... just dip in and out of lots of different ones to get ideas?! saying this i am almost ceratinly going to fail so im not exactly the best person to take advice off! :redface:

x

Reply 13

charlord

maybe there are two different types of english literature that AQA does....at least i hope so!!

There is, AQA do an A and a B spec. A is the one which has a war literature synoptic, so you must be doing B :smile:

Reply 14

Trigger

18

wibble...

Hey... I was just wondering how much wider reading prep most people have done for their exam. Is anyone collecting loads of quotes from prose? Its just that I’m really starting to panic that I haven’t done enough… :eek:

x

iv just finished pride and predudice as my eng lit exam is 4 austens persusion iv now read all the sodding books my head is full of mr darcy :eek:

Reply 15

boxersarecool

AQA B is when u get pre release material and then a 3hr exam.

What preparation are you doing for the exam? - sypotic one?
and the other exam - poetry and drama?

Cheers
Ally :smile:

Reply 16

waiting2smile

2

hester

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

That keats stuff is fantastic!! I am sooooooooooooo stuck on him.. I just dont get it... lol

As for wider reading.. I've done a bit, but not much, I just hope the question is easy!!!

Ooh.. www.englishbox.com is GREAT!

You're welcome :smile:

I'm trying to learn as many Keats poems as possible, thank god the Eve of St Agnes is easy, just finished annotating it. I might read some of Pat Barker's work, since my teachers are sure there will be an extract from her novels or something from blackadder, not sure why!

Reply 17

charlord

F. Poste

There is, AQA do an A and a B spec. A is the one which has a war literature synoptic, so you must be doing B :smile:

ahhh thanx - slightly panicing there

Reply 18

waiting2smile

I might read some of Pat Barker's work, since my teachers are sure there will be an extract from her novels or something from blackadder, not sure why!

You should read some of her work, I really enjoyed Regeneration. Writing about real people is a potential disaster area but I think she did it well. I also enjoyed the "atmosphere" she creates with Owen and Sassoon.. far more convincing and interesting than Birdsong's attempt at frisson.

Reply 19

Kalypso