Exam Technique LO- to consider different ways to approach the English exams in May/June

Different ways of planning in the Exams Listing points out Using a mind map to get ideas down Highlighting/marking out examples linked with questions Lotus planning

Listing points out Question: Explain how Roger McGough presents his ideas about trees and their importance. (Unseen Poetry 20 marks) SMILE/FLIRT Poem is about his love of trees Uses imagery to portray trees positively Uses quatrains, questions for structure

Your turn to List: Write an article for your school magazine with the title: ‘The school of the future’. (24 marks)

Mind Mapping- QUICKLY Question: Discuss the significance of Crook’s character in Of Mice and Men. (Lit Question 40 marks + 7 SPaG)

Your turn to Mind Map: Discuss the significance of Crook’s character in Of Mice and Men. (Lit Question 40 marks + 7 SPaG)

Highlighting Question: How is language used to portray the character of Lennie? (Unit 2 Lang 16 marks) Here, you use your highlighter to indicate aspects of the texts you must write about in your response. The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse. The small man stepped nervously beside him. “Lennie!” he said sharply. “Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.” Lennie continued to snort into the pool. The small man leaned over and shook him by the shoulder. “Lennie. You gonna be sick like you was last night.”

A.What does the reader learn about Watson in the extract? (8) B.Comment on the how language is used to present the setting. (12) C.Danger is presented in the extract. Explore how danger is presented in another extract in the novel. (16) + 3 SPaG I remembered the case well, for it was one in which Holmes had taken an interest on account of the peculiar ferocity of the crime and the wanton brutality which had marked all the actions of the assassin. The commutation of his death sentence had been due to some doubts as to his complete sanity, so atrocious was his conduct. Our wagonette had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge expanse of the moor, mottled with gnarled and craggy cairns and tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering. Somewhere there, on that desolate plain, was lurking this fiendish man, hiding in a burrow like a wild beast, his heart full of malignancy against the whole race which had cast him out. It needed but this to complete the grim suggestiveness of the barren waste, the chilling wind, and the darkling sky. Even Baskerville fell silent and pulled his overcoat more closely around him. Marking/annotation planning A A B B B B

Lotus Planning Different types of technology Audience: teenagersPurpose: informative Information is easier to find/research Write the question in middle of square: ‘How has technology improved our lives? Write an informative article for a teenage online magazine exploring your views. (Unit 2 Lang 24 marks) Mobile phones More jobsAble to keep in contact with friends/parents Internet

Your turn to Lotus Plan: Discuss the significance of the George’s character in OMAM:

Remember your timings!! English Language exam: – OMAM Q1. 30 mins, Q2. 30 mins – Writing task 5 mins planning, 35 mins writing – 5 minutes to check and correct English Lit HOB/OMAM exam: – 60 minutes on HOB: a. 10 mins, b. 15 mins, c mins – 40 minutes on OMAM- link SCH! – 5 minutes to correct and check work English Lit Poetry exam: – mins on Unseen poem – mins for the Relationship comparison questions – 5 mins to check through work

SPaG Give yourself enough time to check through your work Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar marks can make the difference!

Approaching the different texts

Unseen Poetry Question Read the question first Then read the poem and make annotations to help respond to the question Remember to SMILE or FLIRT

HOB Exam Skim the extract first (this will remind you what it is about) Read the first two questions Highlight/mark/annotate examples for each question Start responding to each question, using the times suggested

OMAM Lang Questions Skim the extract (or find the extract) Read the question Re-read extract and mark/annotate examples that support your response to the question Quickly plan out points Start responding to question

Do not panic! Just PEE instead! If all else fails, remember to PEE all through your exam! Point- restate question/idea linked to quest Evidence- give a concise quote from the text Explain- evaluate the quote linking back to point