Practice Exams Jan 2014

Paper 2: What went well?

Student perspective
Ellie: use of a thematic structure Samantha: structure before hand that I could use in any circumstance! Branwen: Time management (completed essay) Barak: Memorised quotes and used them Akira: Stuck with format and used CPAM (on side of page as a reminder), completed a full essay Cristina: completed essay Jasmine: I planned ahead in the exam and stuck to the plan Emily: I pre-prepared by memorising some quotes that would work with any essay question Sienna: Time management Charlotte: planning before writing Daisy: I had time to proofread

Paper 2: What went well?

FMRs perspective

Everyone made good question selection Introductions in response to the question were generally very strong Most people used CPAM in their introductions Most people used topic sentences strategically Quotes, when used, were well integrated

 Beautiful language use (Criterion E) Strong knowledge esp. The Things they Carried
Characterization of male soldiers Use of representative female figures Post-modern narrative approach Juxtaposition of war as both brutal and beautiful in The Things they Carried

Conclusions that returned to question and showed a new level of understanding

Paper 2: What do we need to work on?

Selection and memorisation of quotes need quote sheet (carefully selected for their value in terms of language analysis)

Framing ideas to suit the questions

Knowledge of The Sorrow of War to a point where it equals understanding with The Things they Carried More language analysis working into our responses

Paper 2: How and when will we do this? HOW:

FMR to assign parts of the texts we should re-visit and re-read Find our more context information More content beyond the representation of women More practice papers

WHEN:
Cram in last internal assessments After school sessions

Paper 1: What went well?

You drew upon your prior knowledge of war (if texts A and B chosen) Most students identified CPAM in introduction Explicit reference to genre in most introductions Clear thesis statement Time management Comparison and contrast of the two texts throughout essays with good balanced treatment of texts Ideas were well explained with use of supporting evidence More language analysis than in Paper 2 Clear sense of purpose evident in understanding of the texts

Paper 1: What do we need to work on?

Evaluating the thesis statement against the purpose of the texts, (ie: would a Time Out review be offering a social critique of attitudes to war?) Working with tone and subtleties within a text Always making connections between the elements of CPAM throughout the essay Drawing connections between language devices to look for patterns in a text so as to comment on tone, atmosphere etc. Continuing to work on a range of different genre, especially visual texts

How and when will we do this?

Weekly packets of love After class tutorials Class time with visual texts and various genres drawn from the media (perfect fit for Part II the final section of the course)