1. Critical Reading: Poetry
Learning Intention:
To understand how to answer exam questions on the Scottish Set Text.

2. The Exam In this section of the exam you will be provided with:
One of the poems we have studied
20 marks worth of questions
A: 12 marks will be available from analysing the poem in front of you
B: 8 marks will be available from the final question where you draw on your knowledge of at least one other poem we have studied.

3. A: Types of Question
The questions will direct you to specific sections of the poem and give you an instruction like:
“How effective do you find...”
“Explain, in your own words as far as possible...”
“Explain...”
“Show how...”
“Identify”
“Summarise...”
It is very important to read the question carefully this will give you clues to what is expected of you.

4. A: Types of Question
“Explain, in your own words as far as possible...”
“Identify”
“summarise...”
These questions are essentially asking you to demonstrate your understanding.
You are being directed to find information in the poem and express it using your own words.
Do not quote in these instances.

5. A: Types of Question “Explain...” “Show how...”
These questions are asking you to analyse the text. You should:
Quote from the section of the poem you are directed to
Identify the technique you are discussing
Comment on how that technique has an impact on the reader

6. A: Types of Question “How effective do you find...”
This question is asking you to both analyse and evaluate.
You should be prepared to:
Quote
Identify the technique
Comment on the impact
Explicitly state how well the poet has conveyed whatever you are being asked about

7. A: Available Marks For an understanding question:
One mark is available for each main idea you identify.
For a question involving analysis:
One mark is available for quoting a relevant extract from the poem
One mark is available for commenting on the impact
Look at the marks available to find out how many points you need.
If four marks are available, you should quote and comment on two examples.

8. A: Available Marks
Be aware: you may encounter a question that asks you to combine the two.
For example, you may be asked to:
Identify, summarise or explain something in your own words
Show how language is used to convey it
for a total of three marks.

9. Remember...
You will be told which part of the poem to look for answers.
The phrasing of questions may vary - read very carefully!
You may be told which, or how many, technique(s) to look for and how many examples you need to analyse - read very carefully!
It is not enough to just write something you know about the poem.
Your answer must directly address the question!
Use bullet points to make clear you are giving the marker what they’re looking for.

10. B: The 8 Mark Question
This question asks you to link the poem in front of you with another you have studied by the same poet in a specific way. There is a specific procedure to follow in order to achieve all of the marks available to you.

11. B: The 8 Mark Question x2 Two marks for:
Identifying commonality. (For example, theme, importance of setting, use of technique or any other key element.)
Identify what the poems have in common and explain how this manifests in each.
Quoting from (1) and commenting (1) on the poem in front of you.
Four marks:
Quoting from/referring to (1) another poem and commenting on the impact (1). x2

12. B: The 8 Mark Question
You should lay out your answer in the following way:
Commonality
What they have in common.
How this appears in Text 1
How this appears in Text 2
Title of Text 1
Quote
Comment
Title of Text 2
Quote/reference

13. Remember...
It is important that you know the poems and are familiar both with the themes and how they are conveyed. You have to be able to think about what you’re being asked to do and use what you know about the poems to answer the question.