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A summary question will often ask you to 'explain briefly…' several points.

It is best to use bullet points, one for each mark available.

You should also use your own words as far as possible.

UNDERSTANDING

SUMMARY QUESTION

A context question will ask how the language surrounding a word or expression helps you understand the meaning of it.

It will usually be worth two marks.

Start by explaining the expression in your own words.

Then give one or two quotations from the surrounding text and explain how they help you understand.

Remember, quotations may not stand alone – you must explain how they convey the meaning.

UNDERSTANDING

CONTEXT QUESTION

A link question will ask you to show how a sentence provides a link between two ideas.

You must provide four elements:

a quotation from the sentence which sums up the first idea

a summary of that idea in your own words

another quotation from the same sentence which sums up the following idea

a summary of it

UNDERSTANDING

LINK QUESTION

1. Quote a word or phrase

2. State the donotations of the word

3. Explain the connotations of the word

4. Explain the effect this has on the passage. (ATQ)

• Consider if the words used are informal or formal. It is in word choice questions you are most likely to fall into the trap of commenting on meaning rather than style. (meaning is UNDERSTANDING)
• A very popular technique is to use a mixture of the two. A writer can achieve great impact by suddenly using a colloquial or dialect word in a formal context.
• You may also comment on the effect produced by the sound of words, through the use of techniques such as alliteration and onomatopoeia.

ANALYSIS

WORD CHOICE QUESTION

1. Quote the image

2. State whether it is a simile, metaphor, personnification

3. Explain the literal meaning

4. Explain the figurative meaning

4. Answer the question 

To answer imagery questions effectively you must do two things. First, identify the literal root of the image. Second, explain how this helps you understand the topic. 

ANALYSIS

IMAGERY QUESTION

1. Quote a phrase/word

2. State the technique used

3. Comment on it's effectiveness/what it is doing

4. Answer the question

The most common techniques to look for are:

• List - Usually a progression of words leading up to a climax
• Colons, dashes - Introduce ideas ad lists
• Semi Colon - May show contrast to previous points or provide expansion
• Question marks - Do not ALWAYS have to be rhetorical questions
• Inversion, repetition, commands, exclamations, short sentences

WORD CHOICE IS NOT PART OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE. DO NOT COMMENT ON LONG SENTENCES.

ANALYSIS

SENTENCE STRUCTURE QUESTION

1. State the tone of the paragraph/passage

2. Quote to show how you know this (wording, sentence structure...)

3. Comment on it's effectiveness of passage as a whole

4. Answer the question

Tone refers to the attitude towards the subject which the writer conveys.

A writer may be passionately for or against a particular topic and express this through various means, such as by using very emotional language – an emotive tone – or through techniques such as humour, which may be used either affectionately or in a mocking, critical way.

A figure of speech which often influences tone is hyperbole – exaggeration.Exaggeration may also extend to things like the deliberately excessive use of techniques such as alliteration or parenthesis, which can have a comic, mocking effect. 

ANALYSIS

TONE QUESTION

The question will ask you to consider the effectiveness of each passage, and compare them. 

The usual format of the question is along the lines of, 'Which of the passages do you find more effective in….'

You will then be asked to justify your choice by comparing the ideas of the two passages OR the style of the two passages OR the ideas and style of the two passages.

1. Note carefully which of the above bulleted topics you are asked for: if you are asked to discuss ideas, you will get little or no credit if you focus on style features.
2. You must refer to both passages, and ideally quote from each, although you need not spend an equal amount of time on each.
3. Try to write at length for final question, this is out of 5 marks and should be a mini essay if timing permits. 

EVALUATION

FIVE MARK - FINAL QUESTION