Intermediate 2 English

1. Intermediate 2 English Close Reading Preparation for Prelim

2. We are learning to: • Improve our knowledge of Close Reading techniques in order to prepare for our Close Reading Prelim.

3. Advice • Read the information provided at the top of the passage – it will help your understanding of the text. • Use your time wisely – the last few questions are often worth a good few marks, so make sure you leave enough time for them. • Check how many marks each question is worth – this will give you an idea of the amount of information you need to give.

4. Always look at the codeat the side of each question. This will help you understand howto answer the question. There are three types of question: Understanding:asks you to show your understanding of the main ideas and important details in the passage. Analysis:asks you to identify what techniques the writer has used to get these ideas across. Evaluation:asks you to comment on how effective the writer has been.

5. Understanding Questions • When you aren’t asked to quote directly, ALWAYS use your own words as far as possible. • For questions worth two marks or more, consider using bullet points to help you structure your answers.

6. Understanding Questions • It is vital that you always use your own words. • Only include a quote if you are asked to ‘pick an expression’. • Remember that if you do include a quote you should always mark it with ‘___’. • If you are unsure about the meaning of a word, read around it. You will often find clues from the rest of the paragraph.

7. Analysis Word choice? Quote word/expression and explain meaning in own words. Techniques? Give term e.g. alliteration, simile, metaphor, pun, personification… Then explain why they were used – what effect. Sentence Structure? Look at punctuation. Revise typical effect & purpose of punctuation. Mark scheme – quote (1) comment (1)

8. Analysis What technique is used? Why? Word choice – what does the word suggest (connotations). Imagery – refer to literal meaning, then what it suggests. Use terms – simile, metaphor, personification. Sentence Structure – punctuation; patterns; length; order; type. Sounds – Alliteration, assonance Tone – writer’s attitude. Serious, angry, humorous, sarcastic etc. Register – formal or informal. Other techniques – contrast, pun, hyperbole, dialect, slang, jargon.

9. Analysis Questions • Remember you are being asked how the writer expresses their ideas. • Analysis questions deal with aspects of style: • Sentence structure and punctuation • Expression and word choice • Figures of speech • The structure of an argument • Tone.

10. The following sentence frames can be used: • The word ______ means ______. This suggests _______ • The use of _______ creates an image of ________ because.... • The use of _______ suggests _________ because... • The writer uses ________ to create the impression of ________.

11. Analysis/Evaluation Where you see the code A/E, they want you to focus on the effect of the technique and why it has been used. Think about the purposeand what exactly the writer was trying to suggest rather than picking apart the example.

12. The formula for success • Quote + comment (with correct intensity) = mark • Comment (with correct intensity) + quote = mark • You must attempt to explain the meaning of the expression in your own words (the comment). Explain what the word shows or suggests or the connotation which can be drawn from it.

13. Sentence Structure

14. Punctuation • HINT – the effect of the further information can often be to reinforce the writers idea in order to be more persuasive • Colon / dash / parenthesis usually introduce further information about the word or expression immediately before it. • Colon (:) can be used to balance two opposite ideas in the same sentence (the thesis and the antithesis)

15. You need to know what all the punctuation marks are, and what they do.

16. List You have to consider the reason why the writer chooses to use a list. • Hint – never talk about commas being used to create lists (the marker isn’t going to award marks for commenting on the comma) talk aboutthe writer uses a list (quote start & finish) in order to …

17. Repetition

18. Word Position Sometimes when you move words around in a sentence you draw attention to something or even create a new idea. • The wind blew violently through the rattling shutters. • Violently rattling the shutters, the wind blew. • Violently, the wind blew through the shutters.

19. Sentence Length

20. Tone How something is said can entirely change its meaning. As you can’t hear it in a close reading passage you have to look for clues in the word choices and sentence structure. If uncertain about the tone consider first of all if it could be humour (humorous).

21. Evaluation What was the purpose? Inform; amuse; stir emotion etc. What was the overall message? Identify a technique. Quote and comment. Informative – formal, factual, statistics etc. Amusing – informal, slang, anecdote, pun etc. How is the technique used to highlight point/emotion?

22. Evaluation Questions These questions usually come at the end of the paper. They are often worth 4, 5 or 6 marks. They will ask you about YOUR OPINION! You must back this up with EVIDENCE. Use your answers to previous questions!

23. Evaluation Questions • These questions are aimed at getting you to think of the writer’s purpose. • You will have to think about what the writer was trying to do. Argue a point? Stir an emotion? Amuse or entertain? • Often these questions will focus on the title or the final paragraph and how effective it is in summing up the passage. You will need to mention what the text was about and how the two fit together. • For evaluation questions, always keep in mind the passage as a whole.

24. Evaluation Questions EFFECTIVE MOVING EXCITING INTERESTING HUMOROUS SHOCKING DISTURBING CONVINCING • Consider how effectively the writer has presented his information. • Express your own personal response to the text. • You can also express your judgement by using words like:

25. Other things (3) LINK Occasionally the link is the other way round with the second part of the quotation linking backwards to what has gone before and the first part introducing what is to come next.

26. Don’t forget… • Expression or phrase will never be a whole sentence – typically around 4 or so words. • Parenthesis is created using dashes. Expands or adds additional info. • Words themselves can be used as ‘direction markers’ to make a link between ideas in the paragraph. • If asked to explain ‘why’, think about the overall point, message or feeling at that point. • Evaluate? Using evidence and show how it adds to the writer’s purpose, message, emotion. • Look at the mark scheme carefully. Quote (1 mark) Comment (1 mark)