1. RUAE

2. RUAE The purpose of RUAE is to study a piece of writing in detail.
This will allow you to consider how the writer has used language.
RUAE questions are all pretty much the same as each other.

3. TIPS The RUAE exam is worth 30% of your overall National 5 grade.
There are questions on each TYPE of RUAE question: notably, ‘own words’ questions, ‘summarising’ questions, ‘word choice’ questions, ‘imagery’ questions, ‘sentence structure and punctuation’ questions, ‘tone’ questions and ‘use of language’ questions.

4. Pay attention to how many marks are on offer and read the questions carefully.
Practice makes perfect; if at first you don’t succeed, try again.
The skills you learn in the RUAE section will help you with the Textual Analysis of the Scottish Text (Critical Reading paper) and your analysis in Critical Essay writing will improve.

5. RUAE questions want you to identify
Vocabulary The author's use of individual words
Figures of speech The rhetorical devices used to give decoration and imaginative expression to literature, such as simile or metaphor
Literary devices The devices commonly used in literature to give added depth to the work, such as imagery or symbolism
Tone The author's attitude to the subject as revealed in the manner of the writing
Style The author's particular choice and combination of all these features of writing which creates a recognisable and distinctive manner of writing.

6. Word choice questions
These type of questions want you to think about how something is described.
For example:
The room was messy or
The room was disgusting
A single word can change the emphasis
of a whole sentence.

7. Indentify the word choice:
The meal was horrible
Their outfit for the dance was perfect
I found the journey never-ending
He made a selfish decision
The bath was soothing

8. Word choice questions
To answer this type of question you must quote the important word
And
Using the term connotations, Explain what the quoted word suggests

9. Sample question: ‘The room was disgusting’ Answer –
Comment on the narrator’s impression of the room.
‘The room was disgusting’
Answer –
The writer uses word choice when he says the room was ‘disgusting’
Which had connotations of dirty and probably looked and smelled terrible.
This tell as the narrator felt…

10. Context questions
These questions want you to work out the meaning of an unusual word.
and
show how the words around it helped you to figure this out.

11. Context questions To answer this question you must –
Give an explanation
And
Quote the words that helped you come to this conclusion.

12. Sample
When I arrived at the rock face I wanted to climb, I looped a bandolier around my body and clipped my ice axe on to it.
I then pulled on my climbing shoes and I was ready to go

13. Show how the context of the word
Sample question-
Show how the context of the word
‘Bandolier’ help you arrive at it’s meaning.
Answer
‘A Bandolier is some kind of belt for carrying climbing equipment.
We know this because the narrator says he wore it ‘around his body’ and that he ‘clipped his spare ice axe into it.
This shows that it was worn and used to carry his equipment ’

14. Imagery Questions
Imagery refers to any sensory description or comparisons that allow the reader to imagine the appearance, smell, sound taste or texture of whatever is being described.
‘Bodies littered the battlefield like torn ragdolls.’

15. Dealing with Comparisons
If you discuss a metaphor or a simile in an
answer you must
Identify the technique
Say what (real) is compared to what (made up)
Say what they have in common
Say what this comparison emphasises

16. ‘The room is like an oven.’
The writer uses a simile
to compare the room to an oven.
This is because the room is hot like an oven
therefore this emphasises the heat.

17. Tone This is the writer’s attitude to whatever he is describing:
Is it positive, what words tell you this?
Is it negative, what words tell you this?
Do they use facts, humour, sarcasm,irony etc.

18. Link sentences
Sometimes you will be asked to comment on the function of a sentence. Often this will be a link question where you need to:
Identify the first subject
Identify the word (conjunction) that signifies a change
Identify the new subject

19. Punctuation

20. exclamation mark (!),
is used at the end of a sentence or a short phrase which expresses very strong feeling
Creates emphasis
In dialogue, indicates forcefulness

21. Note that such sentences are exclamations, and not statements.
You can also use an exclamation mark to show that a statement is very surprising
An exclamation mark is also usual after an exclamation beginning with what or how:
What fools people can be!
How well Marshall bowled yesterday!
Note that such sentences are exclamations, and not statements.

22. The Colon :
The colon is used to indicate that what follows it is an explanation or elaboration of what precedes it

23. Ellipsis …
Shows when information is left out. Usually to allow the reader guess or imagine what happened next.

24. Parenthesis ( ) - - Used to insert additional information
( )
- -
Used to insert additional information
Last year I went to Denny (a charming town in Scotland) for my holidays.

25. If you comment on parenthesis…
You must say what is added, in your own words

26. Listing This emphasises whatever is listed
Use your own words to explain
Eg. The writer provides a list of all the advantages to emphasise how gaming
has many benefits…

27. This emphasises whatever is repeated
Use your own words to explain
Eg. The writer uses the repetition of ‘old’
to emphasise how old the place was…

28. Resources SQA (for free past papers) Scholar for advice
Prepwork / Glow for support materials