RUAE

RUAE The purpose of RUAE is to study a piece of writing in detail. This will allow you to consider how the writer has used language. RUAE questions are all pretty much the same as each other.

TIPS The RUAE exam is worth 30% of your overall National 5 grade. There are questions on each TYPE of RUAE question: notably, ‘own words’ questions, ‘summarising’ questions, ‘word choice’ questions, ‘imagery’ questions, ‘sentence structure and punctuation’ questions, ‘tone’ questions and ‘use of language’ questions.

Pay attention to how many marks are on offer and read the questions carefully. Practice makes perfect; if at first you don’t succeed, try again. The skills you learn in the RUAE section will help you with the Textual Analysis of the Scottish Text (Critical Reading paper) and your analysis in Critical Essay writing will improve.

RUAE questions want you to identify Vocabulary The author's use of individual words Figures of speech The rhetorical devices used to give decoration and imaginative expression to literature, such as simile or metaphor Literary devices The devices commonly used in literature to give added depth to the work, such as imagery or symbolism Tone The author's attitude to the subject as revealed in the manner of the writing Style The author's particular choice and combination of all these features of writing which creates a recognisable and distinctive manner of writing.

Word choice questions These type of questions want you to think about how something is described. For example: The room was messy or The room was disgusting A single word can change the emphasis of a whole sentence.

Indentify the word choice: The meal was horrible Their outfit for the dance was perfect I found the journey never-ending He made a selfish decision The bath was soothing

Word choice questions To answer this type of question you must quote the important word And Using the term connotations, Explain what the quoted word suggests

Sample question: ‘The room was disgusting’ Answer – Comment on the narrator’s impression of the room. ‘The room was disgusting’ Answer – The writer uses word choice when he says the room was ‘disgusting’ Which had connotations of dirty and probably looked and smelled terrible. This tell as the narrator felt…

Context questions These questions want you to work out the meaning of an unusual word. and show how the words around it helped you to figure this out.

Context questions To answer this question you must – Give an explanation And Quote the words that helped you come to this conclusion.

Sample When I arrived at the rock face I wanted to climb, I looped a bandolier around my body and clipped my ice axe on to it. I then pulled on my climbing shoes and I was ready to go

Show how the context of the word Sample question- Show how the context of the word ‘Bandolier’ help you arrive at it’s meaning. Answer ‘A Bandolier is some kind of belt for carrying climbing equipment. We know this because the narrator says he wore it ‘around his body’ and that he ‘clipped his spare ice axe into it. This shows that it was worn and used to carry his equipment ’

Imagery Questions Imagery refers to any sensory description or comparisons that allow the reader to imagine the appearance, smell, sound taste or texture of whatever is being described. ‘Bodies littered the battlefield like torn ragdolls.’

Dealing with Comparisons If you discuss a metaphor or a simile in an answer you must Identify the technique Say what (real) is compared to what (made up) Say what they have in common Say what this comparison emphasises

‘The room is like an oven.’ The writer uses a simile to compare the room to an oven. This is because the room is hot like an oven therefore this emphasises the heat.

Tone This is the writer’s attitude to whatever he is describing: Is it positive, what words tell you this? Is it negative, what words tell you this? Do they use facts, humour, sarcasm,irony etc.

Link sentences Sometimes you will be asked to comment on the function of a sentence. Often this will be a link question where you need to: Identify the first subject Identify the word (conjunction) that signifies a change Identify the new subject

Punctuation

exclamation mark (!), is used at the end of a sentence or a short phrase which expresses very strong feeling Creates emphasis In dialogue, indicates forcefulness

Note that such sentences are exclamations, and not statements. You can also use an exclamation mark to show that a statement is very surprising An exclamation mark is also usual after an exclamation beginning with what or how: What fools people can be! How well Marshall bowled yesterday! Note that such sentences are exclamations, and not statements.

The Colon : The colon is used to indicate that what follows it is an explanation or elaboration of what precedes it

Ellipsis … Shows when information is left out. Usually to allow the reader guess or imagine what happened next.

Parenthesis ( ) - - Used to insert additional information ( ) - - Used to insert additional information Last year I went to Denny (a charming town in Scotland) for my holidays.

If you comment on parenthesis… You must say what is added, in your own words

Listing This emphasises whatever is listed Use your own words to explain Eg. The writer provides a list of all the advantages to emphasise how gaming has many benefits…

This emphasises whatever is repeated Use your own words to explain Eg. The writer uses the repetition of ‘old’ to emphasise how old the place was…

Resources SQA (for free past papers) Scholar for advice Prepwork / Glow for support materials