English Language Exam Revision

What do you learn from the text?

• This question is worth 8 marks
  
• You should aim to spend around 10 minutes on this question
• Make a range of points which summarise all parts of the text- beginning, middle and end
• Repeat the quote in your own words to show you understand what the writer is trying to say
• Pick out several key points including contradictions, subtleties and inconsistences with quotes

NOTE: you do not need to pick out any language devices 

Explain how the headline, sub-headline and picture(s) are effective and how they link to the text

• This question is worth 8 marks
• You should aim to spend around 10-12 minutes answering this questiom
• Pick out key language devices used in the headline/sub-headline including things such as puns, humour, statistics etc. and what effect they have
• Pick out obvious details in the picture(s) and how they link to the text (evidence)
• Link the evidence found within the headline and picture(s) to the text with specific quotes 
• Also offer alternative views 

What are the thoughts and feelings...

• This question is worth 8 marks
• You should aim to spend 12-15 minutes answering this question
• It is normally an extract from a non-fiction book
• Pick out a range of key events from the text (beginning, middle and end)
• Find key words and explain what effect they have on the text/ reader and what they mean
• Point Evidence Explanation Language
• Offer perceptive explanations and interpretations
• Note how the thoughts and feelings change throughout the text

Compare the ways in which language is used in the two texts

• This question is worth 16 marks
• You should aim to spend 30 minutes answering this question
• Identify 4 language devices in each text
• Analyse the effect of these devices; comment on the similarities and differences of the two texts
• Remember to include the purpose of the texts and why similar devices are used but for different effects 
• REMEMBER: be very specific and perceptive when picking out language devices/words 

• word play and puns
• 1st, 2nd or 3rd person
• directly addressing reader - 'you'
• diction (words)
• informal/formal language
• emotive language
• superlatives
• figurative language and imagery- similies, metaphors etc.
• facts and statistics
• oxymorons
• juxtaposition
• hyperboles 
• opinions 
• personification
• sentence type
• irony
• assonance
• pathos- evokes feelings