1. Ms. Fahy 2013 Examination

2.  Understand the structure of the examinations.  Identify the areas covered in each paper  Identify the texts for each of the sections  Understand the marking scheme – PCLM = ?

3.  There are 2 papers in the English Leaving Cert Exam.  Each paper = 200 marks  Total 400 marks = 100%  PAPER 1 – COMPREHENSION & COMPOSITION  PAPER 2 – ALL STUDIED LITERATURE.

4.  This paper is divided into 2 sections:  Comprehension  Composition

5.  In the ‘Comprehending’ section there will be three texts, all of which will be related to the same theme. The theme could be, for example, friendship, childhood or war.  Most of the texts will be taken from books or newspapers, but you could also get some visual material such as a set of photographs or some book covers. Bear in mind the following points:  Each text is followed by a question A and a question B. You must answer question A from one text and question B from a different text. In other words, you may NOT answer questions A and B from the same text!  Question A is made up of a number of small questions relating directly to the text. They are designed to check both that you understand the text well and that you are able to express your own response to it. The second part, Question B, requires you to complete a writing task arising out of the text. You might be asked, for example, to write in the style of a debate, a letter, a diary entry, or a news report.

6.  Here you will have to choose one composition from a set of seven options. You have studied five different language categories in your Leaving Cert years – information, argument, persuasion, narration, and the aesthetic use of language – and this is where these are tested. All of the options are linked in some way to the texts in the comprehension section. Take good note of the following points:  Make sure you read the instructions very carefully and do exactly what you are asked to do. Try as far as possible to write in the language category which the composition suggests.

7.  This paper is divided into 3 Sections  Single Text60 marks  Comparative Studies70 marks  Poetry 70 marks

8.  Single Text = Macbeth or The Great Gatsby  Comparative Studies = How Many Miles to Babylon, Casablanca &/or 1984.  Poetry = 36 prescribed poems.

9.  Clarity of Purpose (P) 30%  Coherence of Delivery (C) 30%  Efficiency of Language Use (L) 30%  Accuracy of Mechanics(M) 10%

10.  “To display a clear and purposeful engagement with the set task.” (DES) ???????? This means that all answers must be relevant to the questions asked. ARE YOU DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE ASKED TO DO?

11.  “To sustain the response in an appropriate manner over the entire answer.”  In other words – structure! Are you making sense? A strong PQE core!

12.  “To manage and control language appropriate to the task”  Are you using the appropriate language style? Informative? Argumentative ? Etc…. End is as clear as the start.

13.  “To display levels of accuracy in spelling and grammar appropriate to the required/chosen register.”  Spellings!

14.  Paper 1 – 2012 Text 1