Feedback

I can't blame everything on my teachers but I can't remember anything my English teacher said to me that helped me improve my work. Focused feedback is proven to be the most effective way of improving a students' grade. My drama teacher at high school once said that my 'comedy hobby horse' riding for a Spoof Western looked like a 'drunk tramp trying to dance with a broom'. With that comparison, I understood clearly what she meant and modified my......

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Q1 - By Popular Demand

After analysing the mock results (looking at the hidden reasons as to what went well and what went badly) soon having to explain them, here by popular demand is a question 1, which wasn't well done to say the least! Looking at the 70-80 answers I've seen, there is one key problem: Using the right skills. What are those skills? Understanding what the task is asking you for. Selecting appropriate information and embedding quotations. For example: 'What......

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Exam Countdown Begins

We are now 8 double lessons away from the exam (6 doubles if you are in mock exams this week) and you've got your mock marks back. Some of you are very please - some less so. Here is my weekend rundown of the key errors I have seen question by question: Q1 - Look at what the question is asking you. You don't have to analyse language or anything difficult like that just select, retrieve and interpret information. Look at the key words in the question......

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Individual Presentation - Why I am suited to my ideal job...

Many of you will be doing individual presentations between now and December. Here is a top level response that I had from a student at my previous school asked to present on Why they were suited to their ideal job... Some people have a clear idea from very early on in their childhood about what they want to do when they 'grow up'. This can often focus on the heroes of children's television: a Policeman, a Fireman or whatever 'Sportacus' is. For many, and I include myself in this, it is a longer process of appraising what I enjoy and am good at in school and then trying to link these skills......

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Writing Task of the Week - Q6

Completing the full exams worth of questions, here is a Q6. Argue / Persuade Remember - Writing to Argue should be balanced and Writing to Persuade - Biased  It is worth 24 marks with 8 of those being for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar. You have 35 Minutes to write it in and you must aim to write 1 1/2 pages - 2 Pages. Following on from a discussion in class today,  here is a task: Write an Article for an Animal Rights......

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Q4 Time OWLS

Time to channel your inner Battle OWL. Q4 is the question that has the most marks assigned to it in Section A and you should be spending the most time on. It is also the most difficult! First of all the basics - 16 Marks / 24 Minutes / 1 - 1 1/2 pages Here you are asked to compare the language in two of the sources. This tests the same skill as you have developed through your Macbeth assessment. What is OWLS - well it is an acronym to help......

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Q3 - Thoughts and Feelings

Ok Q3 practice question. Listen carefully (especially those that missed the lesson because of the Maths Exam). The question always focuses on the thoughts and feelings of the writer and you have to identify these from the language used. 3 Step plan for this: 1) Read through the article and identify two thoughts and two feelings. 2) Pick out two quotations for each (These should not be too obvious, you will need to show you can infer meaning and interpret texts. 3) Explain how the language highlights the thoughts or feelings. This question relies on you showing you can interpret information......

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Q2 Revision - CLIFF TOP Higher Paper

Here is a little Q2 practice for you. This question is another 8 Mark question and requires you to develop an answer that focuses on Presentational Devices. To help you out you have CLIFF TOP Colour Layout Image Font Form Techniques Overall Tone Purpose Now remember you don't need to comment on each one of these - just the most relevant to the question (remember the question is always the same it is the text that changes). 8 Marks means you......

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Writing Task of the Week

Quick writing task for you all this weekend. Q5 - Writing to Inform Explain Describe Remember worth 16 marks with 6 of those being for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar. You have 25 Minutes to write it in and you must aim to write 1 to 1 1/2 pages. You have been asked to write an article for a technology magazine explaining why teenagers cannot live without a gadget of your choice. Remember - be daring, engaging, sarcastic and eloquent. Show......

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Revision Kicks Off

Here is the first Section A reading practice for you. This question requires you to skim read, pick out the relevant parts of the source and interpret linking to the question. You must use quotations and explain. You should take no more than 12 minutes on this once you've read the article and you should be writing 1/2 - 3/4 of a page. It is worth 8 marks. Follow the link - http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/03/4g-national-parks-threat?cat=environment&type=article What......

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