Author’s choice, and how to discuss it. Saturday, 01 December 2018 Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

Find the missing angle! (not to scale) If angle ACB measures 49 degrees, what is the size of angle CAB? B C Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

Example question How does the choice of language in the following quotation show the way men are affected by the thought of treasure? “Their eyes burned in their heads…” Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

WHICH word has been chosen to create effect? THINKING BURNED WHICH word has been chosen to create effect? Their? Eyes? Heads? Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

Can eyes “burn”? A metaphor compares things without using “like” or “as” – as though they ARE what is being stated… He is a bull in a china shop… She looked a picture… What is the comparison here? Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

FIRE Connotations of fire: Heat, danger, destruction… what else…? Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

So, why has the author chosen these words? The writer is trying to show… how passionate the men are about the treasure. This is a POINT Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

After the POINT A Quotation provides Evidence: He uses the word… “BURNED”… to describe the feelings in the men’s heads. Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

THEN Explain you point. The connotations of the word “burned” suggest uncontrolled destruction. It is as though the men are being inflamed by a passion which will not die down. Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

Structure: P E or Q E If you wish to improve as students of English, you need to learn to PEE! It is the basic skill of all analysis from Year 7 right through to University. Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

The full response: How does the choice of language in the following quotation show the way men are affected by the thought of treasure? “Their eyes burned in their heads…” The writer is trying to show how passionate the men are about the treasure. He uses the word “BURNED to describe the feelings in the men’s heads. The connotations of the word “burned” suggest uncontrolled destruction. It is as though the men are being inflamed by a passion which will not die down. Jonathan Peel JLS 2014

NOTES: Any question about the choices made by the author requires you to show your working. Use a structure to make your answer clear: PQE or PEE, if you prefer. Ensure that the Evidence is always a quotation – ideally between 1 and 10 words – no whole paragraphs or stanzas Always explain how your evidence works – show your working. Just like the triangle on the first slide. Jonathan Peel JLS 2014