English lit am i cooked

I think I did a really good Othello essay, I usually only use 3-4 quotes in class and get 23-25 marks as my paragraphs are like a page or so, so for the extract yesterday, I only used one from the extract (“it is hypocrisy against the devil…”) and then 2 from the wider play, so 3 in total, each quote I wrote a page on especially the one from the extract, however I’m hearing people say 1 isn’t enough, will I get capped (I do AQA btw)

Reply 1

E......

Original post by Ghost92319

I think as long as you use the extract it's okay

Reply 2

R-pike9

Original post by E......

I think as long as you use the extract it's okay

Hi, sorry but this is just giving OP false hope. If you read the examiners report in recent years, students who have underused the extract and only focused on the wider play will get capped in Band 4, and low band 4 at that. The question asks you to focus on the extract, you need to substantiate all of your points in the extract and use it from beginning to end, with wider play quotes supporting your points.

However OP you still have another paper to go, as well as coursework. so don't think this is the be all and end all of your grade - furthermore it is only one question too, so as long as you've hit the AOs and done what the question asked in the other two questions you should be fine.

Reply 3

Ghost92319

Original post by R-pike9

Hi, sorry but this is just giving OP false hope. If you read the examiners report in recent years, students who have underused the extract and only focused on the wider play will get capped in Band 4, and low band 4 at that. The question asks you to focus on the extract, you need to substantiate all of your points in the extract and use it from beginning to end, with wider play quotes supporting your points.
However OP you still have another paper to go, as well as coursework. so don't think this is the be all and end all of your grade - furthermore it is only one question too, so as long as you've hit the AOs and done what the question asked in the other two questions you should be fine.

How did I underuse if I used 3 quotes in total with 1 from extract and wrote a page of analysis on it

Reply 4

R-pike9

Original post by Ghost92319

How did I underuse if I used 3 quotes in total with 1 from extract and wrote a page of analysis on it

Because you’re meant to focus your analysis on the extract. The Othello question is testing your ability to be given any part of the text and recognise where it’s from and analyse it. Wider reading of the play may show an understanding of the play as a whole but it also just comes off as you only having prepared with certain quotes. 1 quote from the extract is not enough at all. Even if your analysis of the quote is great, you haven’t shown an understanding and analysis of the extract as a whole. The same thing would happen if you did three points on the extract but only used one section of the extract. Again, though it’s only one question. You have the next paper and coursework to help you, as well as the other questions on the paper! I’d say to read the examiners report before paper 2 to know exactly what they’re looking for from an answer.

Reply 5

omnipresent-tale

Original post by R-pike9

Hi, sorry but this is just giving OP false hope. If you read the examiners report in recent years, students who have underused the extract and only focused on the wider play will get capped in Band 4, and low band 4 at that. The question asks you to focus on the extract, you need to substantiate all of your points in the extract and use it from beginning to end, with wider play quotes supporting your points.
However OP you still have another paper to go, as well as coursework. so don't think this is the be all and end all of your grade - furthermore it is only one question too, so as long as you've hit the AOs and done what the question asked in the other two questions you should be fine.