1. Semester 2 Exam Revision
Year 10 English
Semester 2 Exam Revision

2. The Exam You will have to write two essays
A text response essay on Romeo and Juliet
A comparative essay on Animal Farm and The Book Thief
You will have one and half hours
Each essay should be approximately 400 words

3. Romeo and Juliet: text response essay
5 paragraphs (introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion)
TEEL* for paragraphs > Topic sentence > Evidence > Explanation > Link
*(BUT don’t feel restricted by this)
DO use formal language
DO use present tense
DO NOT use personal pronouns e.g. ‘I think…’ or ‘In my opinion…’
Revise Sparknotes summaries/analysis + resources on Moodle

4. Comparative essay: overview
You will be required to compare and contrast similarities and differences between Animal Farm and The Book Thief in a comparative essay
5 paragraphs (introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion)
Similar to text response essay except you must discuss both texts in each body paragraph (as per integrated approach)

5. Comparative essay: topic
This will be a broad focus topic
You will be required to write a comparative essay based on themes or issues that connect the two texts
These topics will usually refer to a key theme and pose a question about how each text presents this concept
To approach this topic, you need a broad understanding of the world of each text, and the ability to draw out connections and explore contrasts
Example essay question:
Compare and contrast how Animal Farm and The Book Thief explore the concept of prejudice

6. Introduction Introduce both text title(s) and author(s)/director
Example: In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, and the film The Book Thief (2013) directed by Brian Percival…
Give some broad context about the two texts
Outline the three issues you will discuss in your body paragraphs
Establish your contention

7. Body paragraphs
Similar to text response paragraphs in that you need a topic sentence, evidence, explanation and links back to the main topic
Each paragraph should be formed around a key issue you’ve identified, or idea you have had about the topic
Text evidence (quotes and specific examples) must be incorporated into each paragraph
Structure:
Topic sentence
Discuss text one, giving evidence
Discuss text two, giving evidence
Comparison of similarities and any differences

8. Conclusion Start with ‘Ultimately…’ or ‘Overall…’
Restate your contention
Sum up the issues you discussed in each paragraph
You conclusion should sound a bit different from your introduction. It should reveal that you’ve gained insights throughout your discussion
Avoid using quotes or introducing any new evidence

9. Context
It is important to show you have an understanding of the context of a text
Animal Farm is an allegorical novel set on a farm in England, but it critiques Stalin’s rise to power during the Russian Revolution
The Book Thief is set in Germany during World War II and reveals an insight into the impact of war from the perspective of German citizens
Both texts comment on ideas around prejudice, power, education
Your turn: find issues that branch out from each of these themes

10. Narrative voice
What is the style of the narrators language (e.g. formal or informal; poetic and wordy, or plain and straight forward)?
Is the narration largely descriptive or are there long passages of dialogue?
Is the narrative from a first or third person perspective? What does this change?

11. Symbols What key symbols are used and what do they stand for?
Are values or a point of view suggested by symbols?
Your turn: choose a symbol from Animal Farm and discuss what it represents. Compare this with a symbol from The Book Thief. What do they have in common in terms of what they signify?

12. Film techniques
How does mise en scene convey information about setting and context?
Is there an overall mood or feeling created by the film’s use of images and sound (music)?
Do any reoccurring images have a symbolic function? If so, list the images and explain their meanings

13. Sentence starters for ‘how’ statements
Try using these or similar sentence starters to write about ways in which authors use text features to present ideas:
By creating a complex, sympathetic protagonist, the author encourages us to feel…
The text’s richly detailed interior settings reflect a society that…
The many stage directions describing the characters’ facial expressions emphasise…
The crisis point severely test the main characters’ values, revealing…
The omniscient narrator presents a broad view of the society which…
The way the characters relate to their social context raises many issues, such as…
The film’s dark and moody mise en scene conveys a world where…
The narrative resolution brings an end to many conflicts and tensions, suggesting that…

14. Vocabulary for writing about similarities and differences
Words and phrases expressing similarity
A similar idea is…
Both…
In the same way, …
Likewise, …
…also…
Equally, …
Just as…, so too…
Similarly, …
Words and phrases expressing difference
Conversely,
In a different way, …
In contrast,
Whereas…
However, …
In comparison, …
On the other hand, …
Yet, …
Words and phrases to modify meaning
Admittedly
Despite
Many of
Very few
Although
For the most part
In some cases
Primarily

15. Vocabulary for essay writing
Words to indicate the writer is in favour of a view or idea
supports
legitimates
argues for
validates
condones
affirms
approves
suggests
endorses
sanctions
authorises
advocates
upholds
Words to indicate the writer is opposed to a view or idea
challenges
critiques
condemns
exposes
questions
criticises
undermines
queries
argues against
subverts
contests
places pressure on
Words to indicate the writer is adopting a neutral position
examines
explores
contemplates
scrutinises
reflects on
considers
surveys
investigates

16. Get prepared
Revise notes and quotes to re-familiarise yourself with the two texts
Commit a few key quotes from each text to memory. Short quotes are fine!
Checkout summaries online if you’re really rusty with what the texts are about
Practise writing comparative paragraphs that centre around the texts’ main themes
Time yourself writing an entire essay – try for 45 minutes!