igcse english language and literature edexcel help!!

3

I am a current year 11 who just sat her mocks, and I just got a 5 in lang and a 6 in lit. english is henuinely my worst subject, and i really want to get 9's and 8's in the real thing. i do the poetry and prose for english language and inspector call, of mice and men, macbeth, for literature. any advice on essay planning, structure, analysis would be more than helpful!!

Reply 1

fenyxperyton

14

I’ve got you covered!!

Firstly, check the assessment objectives for each paper.
They’re usually in mark schemes, and detail what the examiners want per question.
For instance, OMAM’s AOs are very generous, because they want you to have a critical understanding of the text and insert historical context, BUT you’re not required to list literary techniques, structure, form, etc etc! Of course, for the modern dramas (like AIC) or the historical texts (like Macbeth), you do need to have sound understanding and analyse the devices (AND, in Macbeth’s case, add context), so keep these distinctions in mind!

Talking of context - when appropriate - do NOT dedicate a paragraph of context, whether it is at the last paragraph, or in the middle paragraph, or at the introduction/conclusion.
This is not what the examiners want. (source: examiners’ reports - Remember, context should support the points made and not be included in a separate paragraph.)
If you’re required to insert context (OMAM/Macbeth), try to provide context in most, if not all of your main paragraphs so you demonstrate a clear understanding of the plays’ backgrounds and its historical/religious allegories throughout the essay.
Ie, for Macbeth, you can write about the superstitious beliefs around witchcraft, the significance of Christianity, masculinity vs femininity, and so on.

Did I mention examiners’ reports? Just like mark schemes, these are really useful, as they provide tips from the examiners themselves, real model answers, and essays that the examiners don’t exactly approve of.
They are very in-depth, but it will help you become closer to understand how examiners process essays.
There’s also examiners’ reports for all subjects, by the way!

I actually haven’t written a lot of essays, so I can’t comment on this, but I often prepare for them by analysing quotes. This includes splitting them into themes/characters, applying literary techniques, providing alternative interpretations, and perhaps some context.
Here’s an example for the Macbeth quote “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness”.

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Milk is a naturally white substance

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The colour white is traditionally associated with purity and justice.

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According to Lady Macbeth’s metaphor, she assumes that Macbeth is “too full”, or too good-willed to commit regicide

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Milk is also closely linked to women, especially mothers

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Macbeth is concerned with his masculinity

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Jacobean society idolised the concept of strong, courageous men

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Lady Macbeth’s remark effeminates her husband and slightly erodes his authority whilst leveraging hers

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The symbolisation of milk as a sign of weakness is recurs as a motif

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“take my milk for gall”.

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Themes: Power, masculinity, conscience, good vs evil

Don’t neglect structure and form, though, because those are vital to the mark scheme as well.

In summary:

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Look at all of the assessment objectives and examiner’s reports

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Split quotes into themes

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Where appropriate, ensure every paragraph covers a language technique, the effect on the reader/audience, alternative interpretations, and context

Good luck with your studies!

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 2

Kingston Trenyce

Official Rep

11

Original post

by 4711

I am a current year 11 who just sat her mocks, and I just got a 5 in lang and a 6 in lit. english is henuinely my worst subject, and i really want to get 9's and 8's in the real thing. i do the poetry and prose for english language and inspector call, of mice and men, macbeth, for literature. any advice on essay planning, structure, analysis would be more than helpful!!

Hi,

My advice is to structured, focused practice: for essays, always start with a clear thesis, follow with evidence/quotes, then analysis linking back to the question.

Trenyce (Kingston rep)

Reply 3

BethanygH.

10

Original post

by 4711

I am a current year 11 who just sat her mocks, and I just got a 5 in lang and a 6 in lit. english is henuinely my worst subject, and i really want to get 9's and 8's in the real thing. i do the poetry and prose for english language and inspector call, of mice and men, macbeth, for literature. any advice on essay planning, structure, analysis would be more than helpful!!

Hi, I also do igcse english lit and lang, and just received my mock grades yesterday- I got a 8 in lit and 9 in lang. For OMAM, I would advise starting off by reading examiners reports and look at exemplar essays to see how people are achieving top marks. Then, create mindmaps for each character/ theme containing key ideas, context, and what Steinbeck's intentions were. If doing characters, still link to themes e.g Candy links to theme of isolation. Create essay plans and then practice writing them under timed conditions, and then if you like you can tell chat gpt to mark it (just tell it your exam board, tell it to mark harshly like an examiner)
Hope this helps!

igcse english language and literature edexcel help!!

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