Tackling the final comparative question Ian Yule CfE Higher English Tackling the final comparative question Ian Yule

What you have to do After you have read Passage 1 and answered the questions there is a second passage to read. You will not be asked analysis questions on this passage. Instead, you will be asked to explain how the key ideas in the second passage: - agree with Passage 1 - or disagree with Passage 1 - or a mixture of agree or disagree

Reading Strategy I advise that before you begin answering any of the questions that your reading strategy is: Read the title, any introductory context italics, opening paragraph, closing paragraph of Passage 1. Then read the title, any introductory context italics, opening paragraph, closing paragraph of Passage 2. Then read the final question so you know what you will be asked to do at the end of the exam. When this is done (it takes about 5 minutes) go back to Question 1 and follow the instructions.

The Final Question You are asked for 5 marks to summarise the key points the writers make – but only those upon which they agree or disagree. This means that some points they make won’t be relevant to your answer. So part of the task is to demonstrate your ability to sift the relevant from the irrevelant. This answer can either be in continuous prose (basically a discursive essay) or in detailed extended bullet points. I advise the detailed extended bullet points.

Summarising and Inference This is basically a summarising of key points question. It demonstrates understanding of the key ideas and therefore should be, as far as possible, in your own words. Quotes may be used to support points but there are no marks for quotations – all the marks are for your explanation of points. Some of the points will be stated explicitly other points will be worked out by inference and by the writer’s language i.e. his strong opposition to the key point could be found in his word choice.

So where do you find these key points? Title, headings, subheadings Paragraph structure – topic sentences Evidence, anecdotes Conclusions (often themselves a summary) Don’t forget the answers you have already written about Passage 1 – these should have already made you aware of some of the writer’s key ideas

How do I gain five marks? Marks are awarded both for the quantity of your points (ie you could have five thin bullet points and be awarded one mark for each of them) And for the quality of your points (ie a detailed bullet point could be awarded 2 marks) However each bullet point should contain a clearly explained balance of agreement or disagreement between the passages or it will be awarded nothing (ie each bullet point should mention both passages)

An example Both writers agree that Britain should withdraw from the European Union. Writer A believes that economically Britain would “flourish” meaning it would do very well if it withdrew and Writer B agrees stating that this would happen if we “refocus” meaning to look again at trading with our Commonwealth partners.

Similarly: Both writers agree that Britain could do better economically if they withdrew from the EU. Writer A says it’s a shrinking market and Writer B agrees stating there is more money to be gained by trading with the Commonwealth. Both writers agree that Britain could do better culturally if they withdrew from the EU. Writer A says that in the EU we would have to accept further migrants which would weaken our traditions writer B agrees stating that there are whole areas of England where English is not the dominant language in schools.

In conclusion Leave yourself time (20 – 25 minutes) to do this question well Come prepared to tackle this – you should use a highlighter pen to identify key points in Passage 1 then see if you can align them to Passage 2 in agreement or disagreement. You may need a ruler. Check that each bullet point mentions both passages as this is a comparison task Remember to use your own words as far as possible