1. Strategy 1: Decode the question
There are 2 main types of questions
Understanding questions
Analysis questions
How can you tell the difference?
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2. From the 2015 P & N . . . #find5marks
1.By referring to at least two features of language in lines 1–9, analyse how the writer conveys that he does not share others’ reverence for John Lennon.
You should refer in your answer to such features as word choice, sentence structure, tone . . .
2. Identify three reasons the writer gives in lines 10–21 for being able to take a positive view of Lennon.
3. By referring to specific word or phrases, explain how lines 22–24 perform a linking function in the passage as a whole.
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3. 1.By referring to at least two features of language in lines 1–9, analyse how the writer conveys that he does not share others’ reverence for John Lennon A
2. Identify three reasons the writer gives in lines 10–21 for being able to take a positive view of Lennon. 3 U
3. By referring to specific word or phrases, explain how lines 22–24 perform a linking function in the passage as a whole
4. Re-read lines 25–28. (a) In what ways does the writer find the song “Tomorrow Never Knows” to be unsatisfactory?
(b) Analyse how the writer’s use of language in these lines conveys his dislike of the song
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4. 5. By referring to at least two features of language in lines 29–37, analyse how the writer conveys his contempt for Lennon’s activities A
6. Using your own words, identify the writer’s criticisms of the song “Imagine” in lines 38– U
7. Using your own words, identify the key features of what the writer calls “the cult of Lennon the independent spirit” (line 44)
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of the final paragraph (lines 53–58) as a conclusion to the passage as a whole
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5. Strategy 1: Decode the questions
After reading the passage . . .
Write down U or A beside each question
Underline/highlight key words
Time required: 2 minutes
Impact: More precise answers = more marks
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6. Strategy 2: Bullet point
Compare these two answers . . .
John Lennon was a singer and some of his songs are enduring, of a high standard and he had nice purple glasses and the songs are of a high standard and he spent too much time in bed that one time and an example of how good music can be and they are unpretentious.

7. With this . . . some of his songs are enduring, of a high standard
The songs are of a high standard, an example of how good music can be
they are unpretentious

8. Strategy two: bullet point
Look at the number of marks available and bullet point accordingly
Time required: time is saved (so less)
Impact: concision, happier markers, more marks.

9. Understanding questions . . .
Understanding questions require you to do two things:
Find the answer to the question in the passage
Translate the answer into your own words
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10. An example . . .
Identify three reasons the writer gives in lines 10–21 for being able to take a positive view of Lennon.
Now, look at the passage – lines 10 – 21 – and identify 3 separate reasons identified by the writer.
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11. The common mistake with this type of question is to lift the answer directly from the passage (therefore not using your own words)
Or . . .
Use your own words, but not directly translate any part of the text, rather translating some idea in your own head of what was in the passage (somewhere)
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12. If his admirers restricted themselves to praising “She Loves You” or “Help!”, there wouldn’t be an argument. Those songs scrub up well 45 years after Lennon (1), with a little help from Paul McCartney, knocked them into shape. This is pop music at its best (2), fresh and zingy, making no bid for the higher ground (3). Coming from Liverpool, The Beatles, particularly in the golden period from 1964 to 1966, were superb popular entertainers(4). Moreover, they contributed significantly to a bracing chapter in the social history of post-war British life(5). The Beatles represented something that owed nothing to the London-centric view of a rapidly changing kingdom, and together with actors/writers from towns well away from London, they changed our view of ourselves(6), and hurrah for that.
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13. Find the answer then translate . . .
Those songs scrub up well 45 years after Lennon (1),
some of his songs are enduring, of a high standard
This is pop music at its best (2),
The songs are of a high standard, an example of how good music can be
making no bid for the higher ground (3).
they are unpretentious
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14. Strategy Three: Understanding questions
Find the answer in the passage and underline it
Translate it into your own words
Impact: quicker identification of
the answer + direct translation
into your own words = more
marks for Understanding questions
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15. The story so far . . . Strategy 1: Decode the question
Strategy 2: Bullet point
Strategy 3: Understanding questions – find the answer/directly translate into own words

16. Analysis questions For analysis questions, you have to do 4 things:
Identify a technique being used
Quote an example
State the connotations/literal root/function
Explain the impact

17. Make sure you are prepared . . .
The big
Word choice
Imagery
Sentence structure
Tone
You need to put time and effort into learning each of these . . .

18. State the connotations Explain the impact
Word choice
State the technique
Quote an example
State the connotations
Explain the impact

19. What are connotations?
Mother

20. Mum

21. Mummy

22. Underweight Skinny Slim
Another example . . .
Underweight Skinny Slim

23. Your task in a word choice question is to identify words that the writer uses to create a particular impact and explain how they create this impact using the connotations.

24. How to ‘train’ for word choice . . .
Buy a quality newspaper. One will do you for many weeks.
Read an article that interests you.
Pick out as many examples of word choice that you can that the writer uses to create a particular effect.
Practise the process of explaining how the writer creates the impact.

25. State the connotations Explain the impact
Word choice process . . .
State the technique
Quote an example
State the connotations
Explain the impact

26. Imagery
Simile
Metaphor
Personification

27. Identify the technique Quote an example State the literal root
Imagery process
Identify the technique
Quote an example
State the literal root
Explain the impact

28. “Life is like a box of chocolates . . .”
F. Gump
In what way?

29. Connotations . . . Lots of different varieties Hard shell/soft centre
Some you like/some you don’t
Some have nuts
Once it’s finished, it’s finished

30. Answer Simile ‘Life is like a box of chocolates’
Life is being compared to a container of cocoa based confectionery.
Just as a box of chocolates has lots of different varieties with some you like and some you don’t, so too does life have a lot of varied experiences, some pleasant and some not so pleasant.

31. How to ‘train’ for imagery questions
Go back to your newspaper.
Look for examples of similes, metaphors and personification.
Doing this will help you sharpen up on spotting imagery.
Then follow the process and explain the impact of each example you find.

32. Identify the technique Quote an example State the literal root
Imagery process
Identify the technique
Quote an example
State the literal root
Explain the impact

33. Sentence structure . . . need to know
Sentence length
Repetition
Word order
Punctuation
Type of sentences
Paragraph structure

34. Learn what you don’t know . . .
If you do not know the various punctuation marks used or what effect they are used for, types of sentences etc you just need to learn this.
If needed, your teacher will go over this information in class and you then need to learn it.
There is no shortcut!

35. Sentence structure process
Identify the technique
Quote an example
State the impact

36. How to ‘train’ for sentence structure questions
Go back to your trusty newspaper.
Look at how the article/paragraphs are structured and what impact it has.
Look for particular features of sentence structure and try to explain the impact of each one.
Use the process to write out your explanation of the impact of examples you find.