Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/002 GCSE English Language Unit 2 Feedback from June 2011 Online event

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/003 Aims and Outcomes The purpose of this event is to: provide an overview of the unit from the summer 2011 series Talk through the standardisation scripts from the website to understand how the mark scheme is applied for each tier Collate delegate questions and concerns to create a document for the unit for all teachers to use as a guide for the forthcoming examination series

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/004 General comments from the examiner report – June 2011 Examiners commented that many students provided evidence that they had understood the writers ideas Students were also able to select examples of the writers language, with a range of language features Less successful answers showed an insecure grasp of language or ideas and failed to support their points with textual evidence In the writing task, most students wrote reasonably on a topic but some did not have secure control of language or argument

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/005 Section A English Language specification: Students should answer one question in this section, on an extract from the text they have studied. They will respond to questions on an extract of approximately 500 words taken from their text. Students must analyse the language showing understanding of the impact on the reader of the writers choice of linguistic, grammatical and structural features, and the use of language to support the writers ideas and perspectives. Part (a) of the question will focus on the extract. Part (b) of the question will focus another part of the whole text

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/006 Foundation Tier

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/007 Section A – what is being assessed. Foundation Tier

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/008 Section A Foundation Tier part a(i) The Foundation paper a (i) differs from the higher paper. The Foundation paper does simply require the students to list/identify and underline in a sentence the language features to ease them into the exam This is the only question on either tier which require students to do feature spotting.

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/009 Question 5 (a) (i) – Of Mice and Men 5 (a) (i) Give three examples of the writers use of language in the extract. Identify the language feature for each example chosen. Summary of 5 (a) (i) from examiner report: Students need to follow the example given on the paper and not be tempted to write too much for this response. Examiners noted that some candidates copied out a phrase but did not indicate which word they were identifying as a noun/verb/adjective/adverb etc In some cases, there was some uncertainty about what constituted a language feature.

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0010 Question 5 (a) (ii)– Of Mice and Men 5 (a) (ii) Explain how the language in the extract influences your view of Slim. In your answer, you must give examples of the language the writer uses. You may include examples from your answer in 5 (a) (i) Summary of 5 (a) (ii) from examiner report: There were reasonably sound responses to Slims introduction, his character and his role in the novel The best dealt with the introductory description and the dialogue to talk about his relationship with George and Lennie The less successful answers showed some misunderstanding of Slims character and felt he was arrogant or loved himself

Question 5 (a) (ii) – Of Mice and Men Read script F5B (a) (ii) on the screen This response scored 12 out of 13 The examiner comments that this response shows sound understanding of Slim in the given extract. Band 5 Sound understanding of the text Sound understanding of the writers ideas Sound understanding of how the writer uses language Clear reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0011

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0012 Question 5 (b)- Of Mice and Men 5 (b) – Slim is one of the male characters in the novel. Describe how another male character is presented in one other part of the novel. In your answer, you must give examples of the language the writer uses. You may wish to consider how the writer describes the characters physical appearance, describes the kind of person he is, shows what other characters think of him. Summary of 5 (b) from examiner report: This produced some reasonable responses especially on Crooks (ch.4), Lennie (in terms of his physical and mental characteristics) and Curley and George. Weaker scripts either copied out sections of the given extract or drew general points at random from the whole novel. Candidates should make a reference (chapter, page number) to make clear the chosen extract or episode.

Question 5 (b) – Of Mice and Men Read script F5B (b) on the screen This response scored 15 out of 24 The examiner comments that the chosen extract just gets into band 4 as the bullet points are covered in a generally sound way Band 4 Generally sound understanding of the text Generally sound understanding of the writers ideas Generally sound understanding of how the writer uses language Mostly clear reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0013

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0014 Question 3 (b)– Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 3 (b) In the extract, the Narrator describes the life of the Little Seamstress. Describe how the Little Seamstress is affected by what happens to her in one other part of the novel. In your answer, you must give examples of the language the writer uses. You may wish to consider how the writer describes what happens to the Seamstress, describes her feelings about what happens, shows the effect on her. Summary of 3 (b) from examiner report: A number of extracts could have been chosen for this part of the question such as her decision to leave for the city and how this affected her clothing and attitudes. Some selected how the Seamstresss pregnancy changed her personality.

Question 3 (b)– Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Read script F3 (b) on the screen This response scored 22 out of 24 The examiner comments that this is a well-chosen extract for b) showing sound knowledge of writers ideas and language, with short embedded quotations. Band 5 Sound understanding of the text Sound understanding of the writers ideas Sound understanding of how the writer uses language Clear reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0015

Question 9 – Writing Your local newspaper is publishing a special edition about the 2012 London Olympic Games. The newspaper wants to include young peoples views. Write a contribution which gives your views about the 2012 London Olympic Games. In your contribution you may wish to consider the competitors, the audience for the Games, the effect on the country holding the Games and any other ideas you may have. Summary of Q9 from examiner report: Most candidates used the bullet points to structure their answer Most students were enthusiastic in their responses to the question and many answers had a clear text structure At the top of the range, candidates often used punctuation accurately such as exclamation marks and speech marks for interviews. Weaker students struggled with sentence structure. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0016

Question 9 - Writing What is being assessed? Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0017

Question 9 - Writing Read script F9C on the screen This response scored 11 out of 16 for AO4 (i) and (ii) The examiner comments that the candidate writes with a generally sound grasp of purpose and audience with appropriate ideas Band 4 Expresses ideas that are generally appropriate. Generally sound grasp of the purpose and audience. Generally sound evidence of control in the choice of vocabulary and sentence structures. Organisation shows generally sound grasp of text structure, with opening and development, and broadly appropriate paragraphing Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0018

Question 9 - Writing This response scored 6 out of 8 for AO4 (i) and (ii) The examiner comments that the candidate shows some control of QWC Band 2 Sentences show some attempt to structure and control expression and meaning. Some variety of sentence structures used. Some control of a range of punctuation devices, enabling intended emphasis and effects to be conveyed for some of the response Spelling is sometimes accurate, with some slips which may hinder meaning. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0019

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0020 Higher Tier

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0021 Section A – what is being assessed. Higher Tier parts (a) and (b)

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0022 Question 3 (a) – Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 3 (a) Explore how the language in the extract influences your view of the Little Seamstress and her Father. Summary of 3 (a) from examiner report: Candidates focussed on the detailed descriptions of her appearance and on the fathers importance and status.

Question 3 (a) – Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Read script H3 question (a) on the screen This response scored 4 out of 16 The examiner comments that the response is rather repetitive; not full coverage, but has some clearly picked out language. Band 2: Sound understanding of the text Sound understanding of the writers ideas Sound understanding of how the writer uses language Clear reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0023

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0024 Question 5 (a) – Of Mice and Men 5 (a) Explore how the language in the extract influences your view of Slim. You must include examples of the language features in your answer. Summary of 5 (a) from examiner report: Many candidates were confident in identifying language features through they often struggled to explore their resonance. Good candidates knew how to look at language and there was lots of evidence of PEE. There was the usual feature spotting and mixing up of simile and metaphor, not to mention adjective and adverb.

Question 5 (a) – Of Mice and Men Read script H5B (a) on the screen This response scored 13 out of 16 The examiner comments that this response works systematically through the extract making good use of evidence and making a number of assured points Band 4 Assured understanding of the text Assured understanding of the writers ideas Assured understanding of how the writer uses language Pertinent reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0025

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0026 Question 3 (b)- Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 3 (b) In the extract, the Narrator describes the life of the Little Seamstress. Explore how the writer presents the ways the Seamstress is affected by an experience in one other part of the novel. You must use examples of the language the writer uses to support your answer Summary of 3 (b) from examiner report: Candidates were able to choose a relevant extract relating to the Seamstress life and quoted appositely in support of their choice.

Question 3 (b) – Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Read script H3 (b) on the screen This response scored 4 out of 24 The examiner comments that this response is somewhat simple in structure with a systematic use of PEE. Band 1 Generally sound understanding of the text Generally sound understanding of the writers ideas Generally sound understanding of how the writer uses language Mostly clear reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0027

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0028 Question 5 (b) – Of Mice and Men 5 (b) Slim is one of the male characters in the novel. Explore how the writer presents another male character in one other part of the novel. You must include examples of the language features in your answer. Summary of 5 (b) from examiner report: Some of the most successful answers were on the character of Crooks which enabled candidates to explore the language of the novel in great depth. They concentrated on the first couple of pages of Section 4 which gave them more than enough material. Some candidates were unable to select one character which meant that their answer lacked detail Some also said they were going to look at a particular scene but often ended ranging more widely and the focus on language became lost as the answer drifted into a character sketch.

Question 5 (b) – Of Mice and Men Read script H5B (b) on the screen This response scored 20 out of 24 The examiner comments that the answer is: confident and assured and at times discriminating. Also aware of Steinbecks crafting. Band 5 Perceptive understanding of the text Perceptive understanding of the writers ideas Perceptive understanding of how the writer uses language Discriminating reference to the extract to support response Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0029

Comparing the two scripts H5B (Of Mice and Men) is a response to Q5 a and b which gains 33 marks in total. The candidate has a limited reference to language terms, but offers a detailed and assured analysis which was marked at the upper end of the mark range; H3 (Balzac and the LCS) is a much less successful response gaining 8 marks in total and although it identifies a number of language features, the accompanying analysis is significantly weaker, and was marked at the bottom end of the range. This is an example of how candidates fail to support their points and replace language analysis with spotting language features. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0030

Question 9 – Writing Your local newspaper is publishing a special edition about the 2012 London Olympic Games. The newspaper wants to include young peoples views. Write a contribution which gives your views about the 2012 London Olympic Games. Summary of Q9 from examiner report: The better responses crafted their writing for the appropriate audience and purpose and often had a clear personal voice. Many of the views expressed were strongly expressed and enjoyable to read Some found it hard to sustain the response at a high level after the 1 st couple of paragraphs Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0031

Question 9 - Writing What is being assessed? Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0032

Question 9 - Writing Read script H9C on the screen This response scored 11 out of 16 for AO4 (i) and (ii) The examiner comments that the candidate uses titles and subtitles effectively and expresses opinions in an assured way Band 4 Assured presentation of fully developed ideas A consistent fulfilment of the writing task and assured realisation of its intended audience Aptly chosen, reasonably extensive vocabulary and assured control in the construction of varied sentence forms. Organisation is assured, with sophisticated control of text structure, skilfully sustained paragraphing and the effective applications of cohesive devices Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0033

Question 9 - Writing This response scored 5 out of 8 for AO4 (iii) Band 2 Sentences are purposefully structured, with sustained control of expression and meaning. A wide and varied selection of sentence structures is used. Thorough control of the full range of punctuation, enabling intended emphasis and effects to be conveyed. Spelling is almost always accurate, with occasional slips. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0034

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0035 Any Questions?