A Student Guide to Drama (Unit 2 Section A) GCSE English Literature Unit 2 – Section A Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

What will I need to do? Unit 2 of the GCSE English Literature qualification is an external written examination lasting 2 hours. You should spend 1 hour on your answer to Section A – Drama.

In Section A you will be answering on the drama text you have studied. EITHER: Juno and the Paycock or An Inspector Calls or Philadelphia, Here I Come! or Blood Brothers or Journey’s End or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

This is an open book examination which means you can bring a clean, unannotated copy of the play in to the examination room with you. Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

For each text there will be a choice of two questions For each text there will be a choice of two questions. You only answer one. The first thing to do is find the questions for the text you have studied. Then read the two questions to decide which one you want to answer.

One question will be a discussion of the dramatist’s methods in relation to a character or theme. The other question will refer you to an extract from the play and ask you to discuss how a character or theme is portrayed in this extract and elsewhere in the play.

Unpacking the Question The first important thing to do is to read the question carefully. What are you being asked to discuss? What is the examiner expecting you to do?

Now take time to plan your answer. This will save time later when you realise you have omitted something important. You can also jot down page references for the quotations which you will use in your answer. Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

(a) TYPE QUESTIONS Let’s look at an (a) question. It does not matter what the play is, this type of question will be worded in the same way and is approached in the same way.

Here is an (a) question about a character from An Inspector Calls. (a) With reference to the ways Priestley presents Gerald, show how far you agree that he feels the most guilty of the characters in the play.

(a) With reference to the ways Priestley presents Gerald, show how far you agree that he feels the most guilty of the characters in the play. The playwright will be named e.g. Friel, Stephens, etc. This is a key word. It is showing that you are expected to discuss HOW the playwright has written the play; what language techniques and devices and any structural or dramatic methods he has employed. This is what you are being asked to discuss.

(b) TYPE QUESTIONS Let’s look at a (b) question. It does not matter what the play is, this type of question will be worded in the same way and is approached in the same way.

First you will be directed to an extract. You will be told where it comes from in the text so you can find that section in your clean copy of the play. This will help you see where the scene occurs in relation to the events of the play. Read it carefully.

Here is a (b) question about a character from Blood Brothers. (b) Look again at the extract from Act 1 beginning at the top of page 7 with the stage direction MRS LYONS enters and ending near the middle of page 10 with the stage direction There is a pause before MRS JOHNSTONE nods. With reference to the ways Russell presents Mrs Johnstone in the extract and elsewhere in the play, show how far you agree that she is admirable.

The first part is directing you to where you should start your response – with a detailed exploration of the extract. (b) Look again at the extract from Act 1 beginning at the top of page 7 with the stage direction MRS LYONS enters and ending near the middle of page 10 with the stage directions There is a pause before MRS JOHNSTONE nods.

The second part is the focus of the question and is like the type (a) question. With reference to the ways Russell presents Mrs Johnstone in the extract and elsewhere in the play, show how far you agree that she is admirable.

The key words are: presents in the extract elsewhere in the play show how far you agree (in this case that she is admirable) Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

No matter whether you choose to answer an (a) or (b) question, the examiner will look to reward two aspects of your answer: Assessment Objective AO1 – Argument Assessment Objective AO2 – Form and Language

When you see the word ‘presents’ you need to consider: Let’s start with AO2: Form and Language When you see the word ‘presents’ you need to consider: what is written how it is written how it is staged, including structure and dramatic techniques. Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

AO2 requires you to “explain how language, structure and form contribute to the writer’s presentation of ideas, themes, characters and settings.”

use of techniques e.g. narrator, monologue, song/music The types of aspects you should be commenting on include (depending on which play you have studied): use of techniques e.g. narrator, monologue, song/music stage directions, lighting, sets, costume how the play is divided up into acts and scenes and how this particular scene fits in to the plot Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

stream of consciousness vocabulary choice use of dialogue/dialect use of flashbacks internal monologue stream of consciousness vocabulary choice use of dialogue/dialect You should be able to use the proper technical terms e.g. protagonist, hero, denouement, dramatic irony Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk

AO 1 This Assessment Objective is testing your ability to respond to the drama text critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations.

You need to: Focus on the question being asked. Use the actual term(s) from the question as you write your answer. Remember to explore the alternative viewpoint. Use evidence from the extract and elsewhere in the text.

In an open book examination the examiner does not expect long quotations simply copied out. You should use short appropriate quotations which support what you are arguing. Your answer should be clearly structured (remember to plan before you start writing). The quality of your written communication – spelling and punctuation can support your argument or, if poor, prevent you being understood.

DON’T Re-tell the story of the play Simply copy out long quotations Begin with a long general introduction with contextual and background information which is not answering the question Refer to the playwright by his Christian name – he is not your friend!

DO Know your text thoroughly Read the question carefully Underline key words to help in answering the question Take time to plan your answer Use short quotations which support your point of view Check your work at the end for spelling and punctuation mistakes

REMEMBER ANSWER THE QUESTION! Images © thinkstockphotos.co.uk