1. Williamwood High School
English Department
Higher Study Skills
Williamwood High School

2. Welcome to the English Department
The purpose of this presentation is to provide you with an insight into how you can best support your child as they prepare themselves for the English examination at Higher.
The presentation will explain the content of the English course and exam, along with providing some information about the best ways to study.

3. What is in the Course?
In Higher English, there are three key elements that contribute to the overall grade awarded.
The components and their contribution to the overall award are outlined below:
Close Reading: 40%
Critical Essay: 40%
Folio of Writing: 20%

4. The Writing Folio What is the Writing Folio?
Pupils are required to complete a folio of writing.
The writing folio equates to 20% of the overall grade. Two writing pieces are submitted at Higher.
These are graded externally by the SQA, and the writing pieces are graded with a mark out of 25.

5. The Writing Folio
Pupils produce their folio pieces over the course of the year.
The pieces submitted should be an accurate reflection of the best work that the pupils can produce.

6. The Writing Folio
The writing pieces contained in the folio should cover the following genres…
The creative piece is likely to be either a Personal Reflective essay or a short story. The work should be wholly original.
Creative
Discursive
For this essay, pupils will discuss an issue in society. They will aim to display an awareness of the key features of argumentative/persuasive writing.

7. What Support Will The School Offer?
Class introduction to genre
Research time (if necessary)
Planning time
Writing time (first draft)
The Writing Folio
Individual Feedback
Redraft
Final proof read and review

8. What Support Can I Offer?
Encourage your child to attend writing folio supported study.
Ask to read writing folio pieces (although do not be surprised if your child is reluctant to share personal reflective essays.)
The Writing Folio
Assist in the planning and research of discursive essays. Discuss topics with your child to help them to develop their argument.
Encourage your child to read over their writing with care to check for errors in technical accuracy and expression.

9. Close Reading
The close reading paper will be completed by pupils in the final exam.
This examination tests knowledge about language through their responses to questions on 2 non fiction pieces of writing.
These are generally taken from newspapers or magazines.

10. Close Reading The close reading paper is worth 50 marks.
Pupils are given 1 hour 45 minutes to complete the paper.

11. Close Reading
Pupils are required to read an extract of “moderate difficulty” and answer a range of questions on it.
Pupils will be tested on their understanding of the writer’s ideas and opinions as well as their analysis of the writer’s use of language and structure.

12. Close Reading
The questions in a close reading paper come under three individual categories…
Understanding
Analysis
Evaluation

13. Own Words
Summarise
Understanding
Quotation
Context
Link
Word Choice
Sentence Structure
Analysis
Imagery
Tone
Contrast
Evaluation

14. Close Reading Formula
Here is an example of a close reading formula, and how to apply it.
WORD CHOICE
Quote the word.
Give a denotation of the word
3. Give connotations of the word.
4. Use the connotations to
explain the effect of the word.

15. This is how the formula can be applied to a question…
When I moved to a flat in New York and discovered that my new neighbours included a colony of pigeons, my first reaction was: exterminate the brutes!
Show how the writer's word choice helps us understand how he feels about pigeons.

16. “Exterminate”
Means to wipe out/eliminate/destroy
This has connotations of violence/brutality
This helps us to understand that the writer wanted to destroy the birds and violently kill them.

17. What Support Can I Offer?
Read broadsheet newspapers
Ensure that they have notes of their formula and that they are learning them. You can test their knowledge!
Close Reading
Ensure that they are using past papers which are available on both the department and SQA website.
Encourage your child to attend supported study when it is available.

18. Critical Essay
The third element of the course is the Critical Essay Paper.
Pupils are required to write two extended responses at Higher. These will be on two separate genre and the questions are unseen.
Pupils have 45 minutes per essay.

19. Critical Essay
Pupils will cover a range of texts in class throughout the year. These will cover a range of genres, such as:
Prose
Poetry
Drama
Media
Pupils must select two questions in the exam which they feel best suit their knowledge of each chosen text.
It is vitally important that pupils know a range of quotations and analysis from a range of texts (we recommend at least three for the final exam.) Pupils should have these on study cards.

20. Quotation Study Cards Here is an example a quotation and analysis.
Bent double like old beggars under sacks
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags,
We cursed through the sludge…
Simile – ‘Old beggars’
Word choice – ‘beggars’
Alliteration – ‘knock kneed’
Simile – ‘coughing like hags’
Word choice – ‘cursed’

21. How Can You Help? Critical Essay
Purchase a copy of the text
Consider Study Guides such as York Notes
Test their knowledge of quotes
Encourage ‘five minute’ essay plans on a range of questions
Critical Essay
Timed Essays from past papers
Offer to proof read their essays to check for technical accuracy and common errors

22. Supported Study - On Offer
Monday:
Mrs. Pennman (Folio)
Mr. Mackay (General Support)
Tuesday:
Miss Gourlay (Folio)
Mrs. MacCaig (General Support)
Wednesday:
Mr. Smart (Folio)
Mr. Getty (Folio)
Mrs. Maciver (Folio)
Mrs MacKinnon (General Support)
Thursday:
Miss MacRobert (Folio)
Miss Rhodes (Folio)
Mrs MacKinnon (Folio)

23. Supported Study
Please be advised that times and teachers, as well as the content provided, are subject to change in response to the course demands
Pupils should always make sure they sign up outside of the English base so they know what session they are attending
Spaces are limited – pupils must sign up early to avoid disappointment