Knockbreda High School English Department

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

UNIT TWO REVISION BOOKLET

1 hr. 30 mins examination on:

Thursday 5th June 2014: 9:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m.

Section A Functional Writing (spend 45 minutes on this

section.)
Section B Non-Fiction Texts (spend 45 minutes on this
section.)
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Section A: Functional Writing

You should be able to:

write accurately and effectively;

use an appropriate writing form;
express my ideas and information
precisely and accurately;
form independent views;
select vocabulary to persuade and
inform my reader;
Use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation.

This question is marked out of 24:

16 marks are awarded for content!

8 marks are awarded to you for SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR!!!

You will be required to express your views and opinions on a given topic to a specified
audience. The task will tell you what form/genre your writing should take, for example:

A speech or talk;
A letter;
A magazine article; or,
A discursive essay.

In order to succeed in this question, it really is important that you take five
minutes to plan your answer!!!!

Use the following to plan:

Bullet points;
Spider-diagram;
A mind map;
A flow chart etc.

GENRE/FOR
M
AUDIENCE
HOW TO MAKE USE OF THE STIMULUS INFORMATION:

IT IS THERE AS A STARTING POINT DO NOT COPY ANY THING FROM THE PAGE.

PURPOSE
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INSTEAD: just paraphrase, or use the ideas to strengthen your own argument the
examiner is ONLY interested in YOUR viewpoint.

INTRODUCE YOUR IDEAS IN DIFFERENT WAYS:

Consider this.
Imagine.
Believe me when I say
The truth is

OPENINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Repetition
You could use these techniques to start of your argument:

Humour Emotive
Language

Inclusive WE

Speaking
directly to you Rhetorical
Question

Imperatives

Hyperbole

Alliteration List of 3!

IN YOUR ARGUMENT

USE CONNECTIVES.
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AND PUNCTUATION FOR EFFECT!

. ? : ,

ENDS ASKS USED TO BREAKS A

SENTENCES QUESTIONS SHOW AN SENTENCE UP
EXPLANATION

! ; ()

A PAUSE/AN
TO SHOW GENERALLY IS UNFINISHED USED TO ADD
STRONG USED FOR THOUGHT EXTRA
FEELINGS LISTING INFORMATION

ALSO USE PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES!!

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USE THE ONES PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN THE OPENINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

SECTION, BUT ALSO USE THESE:

Indirect Assertive Language

involvement

Quotations

Statistics
Using different tones

Getting that C grade

Engage and relate to your audience from the very beginning.

Use descriptive adjectives, interesting verbs and adverbs alongside your persuasive
techniques.
Use correct punctuation!!! When re-reading your work you should be able to pick up
on overly long sentences and paragraphs you can quickly fix that stick a comma
in if your sentence needs a break, or a full stop, if you feel it is appropriate. If you
want to indicate a new paragraph when youre re-reading use this symbol: [- it is
universally recognised as the start of a new paragraph.
Also, relate back to the question. The key terms of the question should be clear in
EVERY paragraph.

REMEMBER

- Spend at least FIVE minutes planning your answer launching straight into the
question will get you NO WHERE!!
- And, spend at least FIVE minutes rereading your work this is where all marks can
be earned back!

THE KEY THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS QUESTION IS

THAT YOU NEED TO STAY ASSERTIVE!!!
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ALSO:
YOU WANT THE EXAMINER TO BE THINKING:

NOT:

SECTION B: NON-FICTION

You should be able to:

Read and understand texts;

Select appropriate material;
Make comparisons as appropriate;
Explain and evaluate linguistic, grammatical, structural and
presentational features that engage and influence the reader; and,
Use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation.
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This question is marked out of 24:

16 marks are awarded for content!

8 marks are awarded to you for SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR!!!

You will be required to respond to a NON-FICTION TEXT. You will have to identify and
comment on how a writer has presented information in a text.

- Newspapers/magazines
- Leaflets/pamphlets
- Letters
- Biographies
- Travel writing
- Menus etc.

KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Audience
Purpose

The heading/title

Vocabulary
Attitude
Argument
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IDENTIFYING WRITING TECHNIQUES:

Paragraphs?
What has the writer used?

Sentences?

Words?
Connectives/discourse markers?

Persuasive Techniques?

Personal pronouns?
Facts and Opinions?

Exclamations?
Emotive vocabulary?
Statistics?
NON-FICTION WRITERS CAN CHOOSE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF METHODS TO
CREATE EFFECTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR PURPOSE. LOOK AT THE
TECHNIQUES ALREADY MENTIONED IN THIS BOOKLET!
TIMING

Spend 5 minutes reading the passage

Spend 30 minutes answering the question
Spend 5 minutes checking your answer
MAKE SURE YOU HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT AS YOU READ
IT!
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IN YOUR ANSWER INCLUDE:

Who is writing?
Who was it written for?
The content: facts, opinions and statistics.
The structure! is there an introduction and conclusion?
The language: formal, informal alliteration rhetorical questions etc.
COMMENT ON LANGUAGE!!!
E.G. EVIDEN
The writer has used a rhetorical question What
CE did she pay for
her shoes? to end her argument. This leaves the reader
pondering whether the price of shoes are worth the price we
POINT
pay for them when there are children dying during the
manufacturing process.

EXPLANATION

ALSO LOOK AT TONE

- Is the text positive or negative? Which adjectives, verbs and
adverbs help the writer get across their tone?
- E.g. the verb sweating is negative whereas the adjective
attractive is positive.
Getting that C grade

Exploit the detail of the passage comment on what is RELEVANT

Use the bullet points to help you they are invaluable!
Appreciate the writer and their view compliment the clever rhetorical question
and pain invoking emotive language THE EXAMINER WANTS TO SEE YOU
ENGAGE WITH THE TEXT.
Comment on techniques!!! Do NOT just lob them in. What is the effect? As a reader,
YOUR own personal opinion of what they do to you will matter most! If the
alliteration makes you appreciate something or someone mention it!!
Use variety in your writing look at the connectives section again!!
DO NOT RETELL EVENTS
ALWAYS provide examples!!

REMEMBER

- And, spend at least FIVE minutes rereading your work this is where all marks can
be earned back!
 Knockbreda High School English Department

Do not substitute this booklet as your way of learning the

whole course it definitely will not help you do this.
Instead, use this to help buffer your memory in the week
leading up to the exam.

HAPPY REVISING PEEPS!