Essay Tips Pick 1 title from the prose fiction section Write 1 essay Make sure you have an introduction, 4-5 main body paragraphs and a conclusion Be specific and make sure you answer the question Use 1 quotation in each main body paragraph Identify 2-3 techniques in each quotation and discuss their effect in detail Introduction: title, author, summary of the novel, key words from the title Main body: point, evidence, explain, link to the task Conclusion: title, author, repeat your main body, give your personal response to answer the question

Poetry Tips Quote for every answer unless it tells you otherwise 1 quote and explanation = 1 mark Analyse at least 1 technique for each quotation For insightful comments/2 marks make sure that you talk about at least 2 techniques Clear link to the question 10 mark question: use bullet points and the heading below Commonality: Sentence how exam poem fits the question and a sentence about how the other poems fit the question Exam poem: Quote from exam poem, identify techniques, analyse their effect and link to the question x2 Other poem: Quote from the other poems, identify techniques, analyse their effect and link to the question x6

In Your Own Words Understanding

What the examiner is looking for You must take information from the passage and turn it into your own words. Simple words from the passage can be used if there is no alternative. Figures of speech or slang must be changed into plain English. You must not lift whole phrases or sentences from the passage: these will not be awarded any marks.

Word Choice Analysis

What the examiner is looking for 1. Quote the word. 2. Say what the connotations of that word are. 3. Explain how the connotations of the word help achieve a particular effect. NOTE: All WC questions ask you to comment on how a word does a specific thing. E.g. Comment on how the WC suggests/gives the impression/creates X. You must focus your answer around X. Don’t just say what the word means on its own.

Linking Questions Understanding

What the examiner is looking for You have to show how one sentence provides a link in the passage. The link will join one idea to the next. The link sentence will often stand at the beginning of a paragraph. Usually the first part of the sentence refers back to the previous topic and another part of the sentence will introduce the new topic. Usually worth 2 marks - 1 for each identification of the part of the sentence and comment on the topic it links to.

Sentence Structure Analysis

What the examiner is looking for 1. Identify the feature of sentence structure. 2. Comment on the effect it has. Why has it been used? Depending on how many marks the question is worth, you must provide one feature/effect for each mark.

Imagery Questions Analysis Similes Metaphors

What the examiner is looking for To acquire all of the marks in an imagery question you must ask yourself: What is being compared to what? In what respects are the two similar? How does the comparison help you to visualise the subject better?

Tone Analysis Serious or Humorous?

What the examiner is looking for 1 - Identify the tone. 2 - Quote the words or phrase which helped you work out the tone. 3 - How did this help you work out the tone? Did they use any techniques to do this? (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, repetition, word choice etc...)

Final 5 Mark Question This question is unique to the Higher RUAE (close reading) paper. To answer, you must consider both passages in the paper – this is the only question you will need to answer on the second passage. It will ask you to identify and explain similarities or differences (or both) between the arguments presented in each of the passages.

How the marks are allocated Five marks – identification of three key areas of agreement with detailed/insightful use of supporting evidence Four marks - identification of three key areas of agreement with appropriate use of supporting evidence Three marks - identification of three key areas of agreement Two marks - identification of two key areas of agreement One mark - identification of one key area of agreement Zero marks – failure to identify any key areas of agreement and/or misunderstanding of the task

Top tips Identify the three key areas first – get your guaranteed three marks! Answer in a grid (next slide) or extended bullet point form. As you read passage two, highlight any areas that seem familiar (whether they have the same or an opposing view point). This will help when you have use evidence.

RUAE Tips Read the question carefully and look for key words Answer using bullet points Learn the formula for each question type and make sure you use it to answer the questions clearly The examiner will be looking for your own words in a lot of anwers Identify techniques Include analysis of the techniques and link every comment back to the question 5 mark question: include 3 points of similarity/difference, back each point up with a quotation from each passage and link these to your point where possible.

Study Ideas RUAE: 1.) Find articles yourself or use the ones attached and have a go at creating your own questions.  ‘Identify the writer’s key points on… (name topic).’  Analyse the writer’s use of language in paragraph (number).’  How effective do you find the title/ introduction/ link/ conclusion.’ 2.) Then try to answer then using the formulas. Critical Essay 1. Create revision posters for the following topics:  Effective introduction/ Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory ending/ Character development/ Themes/ Relationships or Turning point/ Setting 2. Create flashcards with your favourite quotations.  Looking at past papers lay the quotes out to consider which are relevant for the chosen question and in what order you might use them. Scottish Text Write your favourite quotations on post it notes. Rotate them displaying 5 at a time each week. Have a go at analysing these. Revise the final question formula.