The Writer's tone - for Question 4 - click here
1) Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 15. Choose four statements below which are TRUE. [4 marks]
- Read the question carefully to ensure you are reading the correct line numbers.
- Do not spend too long on this question - if you cannot find the fourth answer, come back to it at the end of the exam.
2) You need to refer to Source A and Source B for this question. Use details from both Sources. Write a summary of the differences between ... (the settings, the people etc.) [8 marks]
- Make sure you have the right focus for the summary - what exactly are you summarising?
- You need to pick out differences between the texts - don't just treat them as separate sources, but attempt to link them and contrast the information in the two sources.
- Pick out the main two points from each text about the focus of the question - you will need to find clear differences. You may also find some perceptive differences - some differences which are interesting and not everyone may spot, but ensure you also have a clear idea about the main differences between the texts.
To get 4 marks, you need only one developed paragraph using this structure:
In Source A, the house is ...
For example, the writer describes it as 'QUOTATION', which gives the impression that ...
However, in source B, the house seems to be ...
For example, the writer describes the 'QUOTATION', which suggests that ...
This is a clear difference between the texts as in Source A ... while in Source B there is a greater sense of ...
To get 7-8 marks, you need to find perceptive differences, developing your inference further:
In Source A, the writer suggests that the house is ...
For example, the writer describes it as 'QUOTATION', and then later mentions the 'QUOTATION'
This contrast suggests not only the ... but also gives the impression that ...
However, in Source B, the writer clearly considers the house to be more ...
For example, the descriptions of the 'QUOTATION' and the 'QUOTATION' seem to suggest that ...
The writer therefore presents the house as ... which is in complete contrast to Source B, where ...
3) You now need to refer only to Source B. How does the writer use language to ...?
[12 marks]
- Make sure you have read the question carefully to consider the focus - is the question about how the writer uses language to describe a setting, character or object?
- Make sure you focus on language. This seems basic, but lots of students simply write general comments about the article and don't focus on language. You are looking at the meanings of words and why they are used. Analyse the effects of language features. Don't just say 'The writer uses a metaphor' (this is feature spotting), but analyse why the metaphor is used - what is the specific effect?
- An answer which gets 6/12 will be clear. Aim for two paragraphs clearly analysing the effect of words and language features.
- An answer which gets 8+/12 will analyse the effects of language in more detail (This is reinforced by ... / Furthermore ... / This idea is reiterated in the description of '....' and '...' which ...)
The writer uses (LANGUAGE FEATURE) to describe the ...
The description of "QUOTATION" suggests / creates the impression that ...
This (LANGUAGE FEATURE) emphasises the sense of ...
Furthermore, the writer uses (LANGUAGE FEATURE) when describing the "QUOTATION" to reinforce the impression of ...
4) For this question, you need to refer to the whole of Source A, together with Source
B.
Compare how the two writers convey their different attitudes to (A TOPIC/ISSUE/PLACE).
In your answer, you could:
compare their different attitudes
compare the methods they use to convey their attitudes
support your ideas with references to both texts.
[16 marks]
- For this question, you are considering the attitudes of the writers - their viewpoints, their ideas. their thoughts, their perspectives, their opinions... what do they think about the issue and how do they express their ideas?
- Make sure you are comparing and contrasting the two texts - when you read them, consider how the writers have different attitudes. Consider why they think differently.
- You need to analyse the writers' methods. This is a must. When you select a quotation, you must analyse it - the word used (the connotations of the word, the effect of using this word, whether it is emotive or descriptive), the language features (metaphor, symbol, short sentence) and the tone (ironic, bitter, critical, biased).
In Source A, the writer's attitude is that ... / the writer's view is that ...
The description of "QUOTATION" suggests / creates the impression that ...
This (LANGUAGE FEATURE) emphasises the writer's view that...
However, in Source B, the writer feels that ... / the writer's view is that ...
The description of "QUOTATION" suggests / creates the impression that ...
This (LANGUAGE FEATURE) emphasises the writer's opinion that ...
This shows a key difference between the texts, as the writer in Source A has a much more ... than the writer in Source B, who is ...
Aim for two of these comparison points. If they are clear and you have analysed methods, you can get 10/16. If you spot some perceptive differences and your analysis of the writer's methods is detailed, you can aim for 13-16 marks.