A* tricks for everyone LO: to discuss and identify A* techniques and use them in our own answers

Statistics In 2013 only 3% of students hit A* in English Language.

A* Tips for Q1-4 on Higher paper Q1 What do you understand… 8 marks, 12 mins Be Perceptive – go beyond the obvious. Look for subtleties and inconsistencies. E.g. a contradiction in the text. Consider alternative interpretations

Q2 – Headline and picture linking to text Q2 – Headline and picture linking to text. Based on source 2, 8 marks, 12 mins. Be perceptive: Look for things that people won’t necessarily spot. Look for tiny detail in the picture.

Your turn This picture was used in an article to promote a holiday destination. Why might it be effective? What perceptive details would you choose to write about?

Q3 Thoughts and Feelings Q3 – Thoughts and feelings, source 3. Usually from a text that we may not be used to reading such as a biography or travel book. 8 marks, 12 mins. Top tip: go for feelings as this will help to prevent you repeating what the article says. Think of an adjective that summarises how they are feeling. Don’t just write about language – look at sentence length! E.g. long sentences often reflect a sense of feeling overwhelmed.

Q4 Language Comparison Q4 – Language comparison of source 3 with one other source. 24 mins, 16 marks. NB: The language in source 3 is rarely persuasive, therefore won’t contain much DAFOREST. It is usually to inform/describe/entertain. Therefore look for humour, irony, satire and structure of techniques

A* - Structure of techniques How do writers combine effects? E.g. persuasive writing often combines facts with opinion to be more authoritative and convincing.

A* Writing for Q5 and 6 Sophisticated vocabulary- extensive and ambitious (lots and interesting) 1/3 marks are for SPaG

3 steps to improve vocabulary Leave time to go over work at the end to re-read and edit: replace repeated words: spot and change Input impressive words: avoid boring words like bad/good. Learn synonyms for each BEFORE Replace informal/slang words unless required for informal tone (eg to fellow students) no txt speak!

Your turn Persuasive argument - Smoking should be banned. Write a paragraph, then edit.

Plan words you can use Profound Exhilarating Diabolical Find 10 synonyms for good and bad

Other tips

Think complex ideas Use the phrase ‘this….but this’ E.g. Curley’s wife is fragile, but strong in her behaviour and attitude. Lennie is caring, yet/but unknowingly cruel.

Why? Characters are full of contradictions. They are never just one thing. Therefore, ‘but’ or ‘yet’ helps to extend your interpretations in a more detail. Now you try: Curly is a bully, yet…. The Woman in Black is evil, but…

Build up your interpretations in layers Use all the words: SHOWS / SUGGESTS / SYMBOLISES The Woman in Black shows us the damaging consequences of revenge. She suggests to us how a painful experience can cause a person to do bad things. She symbolises how the treatment of unmarried women in the Victorian era was unfair.

Why? This makes students actively look at the text and read between the lines.

When can I use this? Q3 Language devices Q4 comparing presentation devices (especially analysing pictures) OMAM WIB Poetry

Focus on sentences Zoom in on one aspect and make connections to other parts. Pick one sentence and use that as your starting point. OR Pick just three quotes for a character and spot how the presentation of the character changes.   

Example sentence ‘Tell an’ be damned,’ she cried. ‘Nobody’d listen to you an’ you know it. Nobody’d listen to you.’ What does this quote tell you about Curley’s wife? It shows that she… What does it tell you about Crooks, Lennie and Candy? It suggests that they… How does it relate to the themes of the novella? It symbolises that…

Example - Lennie Section 1- ‘I aint gonna say nothin’. Jus gonna stan’ there.’ Section 3- ‘What pup George? I ain’t got no pup.’ Section 6 - ‘I di’n’t forget, you bet, God damn. Hide in the brush an’ wait for George.’ What do these quotes tell us about Lennie at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the novella? How does he develop as a character?

Now you try Pick another character and find three quotations from the novella. Try to explain how they show the character development

When can I use this? Unseen poem Q3 language analysis, when looking at the non-fiction paper, pick a line in the opening, middle and closing paragraphs. WIB

Micro quotes Use micro quotes or single worded quotes. In one sentence, you can include points from different parts of the text quickly and it is so easy to do. Five micro quotes for Lennie – bear, paws, mouse, behind, shapeless.

Now your turn Think of five micro quotes for the following: Curley’s wife Arthur Kipps Medusa

Linking Techniques Don’t just spot a technique such as a simile. Instead, show how two things combine to create an effect such as a feeling or sense. Therefore, when writing, say: ‘The writer uses X and Y to create a sense of …’ Eg: Hill uses foreshadow and pathetic fallacy to create a sense of atmosphere and raise tension.

You turn now Pick two of the following and write a sentence about Steinbeck’s use of language Animal imagery Foreshadow connotation

Structure Write points in a logical structure of how the text is presented in the text. EG: Take The Woman in Black Point 1 chapter 1 Point 2 chapter 2 Point 3 chapter 3 Explain how things develop across a text. In the first stanza…. by the third stanza…. In the final stanza…. Look at the presentation of a character. How is the character introduced? How does the character develop? What does the character learn at the end? The same applies with themes. Each stage is looking at how the aspect develops.

Abstract Nouns The more you use abstract nouns the more abstract and complex your ideas will be. Love Anger Hate Peace Loyalty Integrity Pride Courage Deceit Honesty Trust Compassion Bravery Misery Childhood Knowledge Wisdom Friendship Brilliance Truth Charity Justice Faith Kindness Pleasure Liberty Freedom Delight Despair Hope Awe Calm Joy Reality

Adverbs are your friends ‘Emotionally, physically, mentally the poet is exploring the consequences of jealousy.’ ‘Emotionally’, ‘psychologically’, ‘physically’ and ‘mentally’ can also help you to comment on presentational aspects of a text. The words ‘surprisingly’, ‘disappointingly’ and ‘unusually’ allow students to subtly evaluate the effect.

Your turn now How does this image affect you: Emotionally, physically, mentally?

Why do these things? Learn from the best. Do what the best do. Aim higher.

A* tips online https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn9zaLWMdk8&safe=active Mr Bruff Ebook 99p