Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul

even to your smallest acts. This is the secret

of success. Swami Sivananda
Saint Cecilias Wandsworth English
Department
GCSE Revision Guide 2011


English Language - Paper 1
Section A Multi part questions on reading of unseen
non-fiction and media texts
TOP TIPS what to look for
Read the articles carefully ASK who is the audience,
what is the purpose?
What does the HEADLINE tell us?
Are there pictures? Positive or negative?
Layout what is its function? Impact, easy to access the
information, more picture than text, more text than picture?
Why?
Look for FACT and OPINION (and opinion presented as
fact)
Are there any quotes? Who from? A mixture of sources?
What is the tone?
Is the language formal or informal? Why?
Can you tell the writers opinion? DO NOT JUST
IDENTIFY THESE SAY HOW AND WHY THEY HAVE
BEEN USED!
Comparing Texts
Write what is the same
Write what is different
Articles about the same story can be very different in
terms of the message they put across. Section B A
choice of one from three or more questions testing writing
which seeks to argue, persuade or advise.


Top Tips - what to include:
Establish Audience and Purpose this will determine the
tone and vocabulary you use.
Brainstorm ideas/points on which to base your
argument/persuasion/advice. think for and against.
Use opposing views to strengthen your argument.
Develop your ideas on each point
Think of some evidence to support your ideas make up
some facts and statistics to help your case.
Strong opening paragraph to capture readers interest
and make clear your point of view.
Use connectives to structure your argument
Conclude summing up your argument.
Extra techniques:
Rhetorical questions
Personal experience (make it up)
Others viewpoints (make it up)


English Language Paper 2
Section A Poetry from Different Cultures and Traditions.
Answer ONE question comparing TWO poems.
TOP TIPS:
COMPARE, COMPARE, COMPARE!
1. THEME Give a definition of the THEME referred to in the
question and explain HOW it is used in both poems.
2. STRUCTURE How does the structure of each poem relate to
the theme of the question? What are the similarities and
differences between the structures of each poem?
Key Words:
Line length rhyme rhythm stanza shape layout symmetry
punctuation time scale repetition
3. LANGUAGE How does the language of each poem relate to
the theme of the question? Compare the ways the two poets use
language to convey the theme.
Key Words: Images, similes, metaphors Assonance Plosive
language voice onomatopoeia tone Questions personification Non
standard English
4. FEELINGS Compare the feelings conveyed through the
poems. What attitudes strike you? How are they similar /
different?
5. PERSONAL RESPONSE How do the poems make YOU feel?
Why? Do you prefer one over the other? Why?


Paper 2 Section B
Writing to Inform, Explain, Describe
Writing To Inform - MAIN PURPOSE to convey
information as clearly and effectively as possible.
Use:
Straightforward language
Base the ideas on facts
Get straight to the point
Structure points logically
Information can be presented in many forms, including:
Advertisements
Articles
Guide books
Leaflets
Reports
Reference books
Web pages
Writing to Explain - MAIN PURPOSE to make something clear
to your reader and convey this as effectively as possible. Address
the questions:
What?
How?
Why?
Information can be presented in many forms, including:
Articles
Instruction booklet
Recipe
Reference books


Writing to Describe - MAIN PURPOSE - create a picture with
words so you reader can imagine vividly the scene, person,
situation etc. by carefully selecting your words. Inspiration can
be drawn from a number of sources, including:
People you have met
Situations you have encountered
Experiences you have had
Sensations you have experiences through your senses
(touch, sight, taste, smell, hearing)
Information can be presented through a variety of
techniques, e.g.
Imagery, such a similes and metaphors
Alliteration, onomatopoeia and assonance to give sound
effects
A variety of sentence structures and rhythm patterns to
build up a particular mood or feeling.
Writing Questions to attempt for each for each type
1. To inform
Design a leaflet to provide the reader with information about a tourist
attraction of your choice. (In designing the leaflet you should think
about:
The title and headings
The information it should contain
The kind of language you should use (audience)
The layout
Any other ideas you think are important)
2. To explain
Design an instruction booklet on how to use a mobile phone. (In
designing the booklet you should think of:
What functions the phone offers
Why the phone displays certain signs
How to view the various options and select them
How your information is presented clearly and logically, concisely,
layout that makes it easy to understand.)


3. To Describe
Write a detailed description on one of the following:
A beach party or garden barbecue
A school trip
A sea or air journey
A memorable moment
An unusual character.
Remember to include:
Similes and metaphors to provide imagery
Repetition to emphasise your images
Language that appeals to the senses
A variety of sentences lengths to structure effectively
Colour


Sample Questions on Poetry from Different Cultures
Write essay plans and a sample paragraph for at least four of
these questions.
1. Compare Vultures with one other poem, showing how the
poets explore the idea of injustice.
2. Compare the ways in which the poets present ideas about rich
and poor people in Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful
People in a Mercedes and one other poem of your choice. Write
about:
What rich and poor people are like
What the poets think about rich and poor people
How the poets use language to bring out the differences
between the rich and poor
Which poem you prefer and why
3. Compare Limbo with one other poem and show how the
poets use the sounds of spoken English to present their ideas.
4. Compare the ways in which the poets present different
environments in Night of the Scorpion and one other poem of
your choice. Write about:
What the environments are like
Why the poets use these environments
How the language reveals these environments
5. Compare the ways in which poems can express strong ideas
and feelings about a subject in What Were They Like? and one
other poem. Write about:
What their ideas are
What their feelings are
The methods they use to reveal their feelings


6. Compare the ways in which the poets present relationships in
Vultures and one other poem.
7. Compare how sense of place is used to convey the main
themes of the poem in Nothings Changed and one other poem.
8. Compare how the use of structure is used to enhance the
main themes of Blessing and one other poem.


Which other poems are linked through the following themes?
Contrasting Cultures
Nothings Changed
Human Attitudes and Relationships
What Were They Like?
Sense of Place
Island Man
Repetition
Limbo
Political / Social Comment
Two Scavengers...
Sense of Identity
Limbo
Unusual Form and Presentation
What Were They Like?
Rich and Poor
Blessing
First Person Perspective
Night of the Scorpion