AQA English Language Unit One Understanding and Producing Non-Fiction Texts QUESTION 2 Main menu:  overview of question twooverview of question two  active reading strategiesactive reading strategies  active reading exampleactive reading example  active reading practiceactive reading practice  question 2question 2  mini-assessmentmini-assessment

Overview Question 2 is essentially the same as question 1b, as the skills that you have to show are the same. The main differences are that you are referring to a different source and you have to write more for an answer. You are being assessed on understanding and interpreting details. Key information  question 2 always refers to Source Two  this question is worth a total of 8 marks  you need to score a minimum of 5 marks to gain a C grade  use the same active reading strategies as question 1  spend about 17mins on this question, including reading Back to main menu

Active Reading Strategies In order to help you understand the information in each source, it is important that you employ a range of active reading strategies. These active reading strategies should be used for question 2.  read the question carefully and highlight key words - make sure you understand what each question is looking for  highlight the topic sentences (see slide 4) - a topic sentence tells the reader the focus of the paragraph - it is often (but not always) the first or second paragraph  summarise each paragraph (see slide 4) - in the margin sum up what you think the paragraph is about - do this in only a few words e.g. what to do; where to go; costs - if they are long paragraphs, it might help to summarise sections Back to main menu

Active Reading Example The following text is taken from the June 2011 Foundation Level exam. Look at how the reader has been actively involved by highlighting the topic sentence and summarising the content. We have adapted perfectly to Liverpool but when it comes to eating we still follow a Spanish timetable. Eating at English times still feels too early so we started arranging barbeques. One Sunday we started eating in the garden. It was a sunny day with the odd cloud and we didn’t think anything of it.... until the heavens opened and it started snowing. Yes, snowing. Since then the slightest sign of bad weather and we set up in the garage instead. Eating in the UK Back to main menu

Active Reading Practice Activity: read the second paragraph in this source and try to identify the topic sentence and summarise the paragraph focus. I enjoy shopping too. A friend of mine in Liverpool sometimes opens up his shop for me so that I can go when it’s quiet. I like to stroll around the big department stores. You always find something new for the house or the latest fashions. I don’t suffer the same amount of hassle in England as I did in Spain and I can go about my business much more easily. Back to main menu

Question 2 exemplar Highlight key words i.e. Torres’s free time Fernando Torres likes to spend his free time cooking barbeques. He tells the reader that ‘the slightest sign of bad weather’ forces Him to cook in the garage. It seems Torres really enjoys eating with his friends and family despite the bad weather. 1. Make a Point about Torres’s free time (use your notes) 2. Give short quotation as Evidence 3. Infer to show your understanding (you need min. of 3 points) Activity: Write two more Point Evidence Explain paragraphs that explain how Torres spends his free time. Back to main menu Check source

Q2 Skills Checklist What you need to do:  use active reading strategies  make 3-4 points that answer the question  give 3-4 short quotations as evidence  use 3-4 inferences to show understanding

November 2012 Time Allowed 17mins Now read Source 2, the World Food Programme webpage. Answer the question below. 2. Explain what you learn about feeding children in Mogadishu. (8 marks) Remember to:  show your understanding by explaining in your own words  support your ideas using the text. Assessment practice Back to main menu