higher english RUAE formulae

in your own words questions

1. look for line references in the question

2. highlight the information in the passage

3. answer in bullet points, matched to number of marks available

4. translate this section only into your own words

summarising questions (these are similar to in your own words questions)

1. locate relevant parts of passage (look for quotes or line references in question)

2. consider how many marks are available

3. highlight in passage pieces of relevant text, match these to marks available

4. translate information into your own words, bullet point to make each separate point clear

context questions

1. locate key word (look for quotes or line references in question)

2. give definition of key word

3. quote 2 linked words or phrases from the text that helped you work out the meaning of the key word

4. explain how these linked words and phrases relate to the key word

quotation questions

1. identify whether you are looking for one word or a phrase

2. quote the relevant word or phrase

3. explain the effect of the word or phrase

linking questions

1. identify in the linking sentence two words or phrases: one referring to the previous topic and one referring to the following topic (do not quote the whole sentence)

2. quote a phrase from the linking sentence that refers back to the point/ideas expressed in the last paragraph, link the backward pointing one with a summary of the topic of the previous paragraph in your own words

3. quote a phrase from the linking sentence that introduces the point/ideas expressed in the following paragraph, link the forward pointing one with a summary of the topic of the following paragraph in your own words

general language questions

1. identify the attitude/opinion if you are asked to do so

2. pick examples of the techniques (you may be asked to comment on specific techniques - you must do so if asked)

3. follow other formulae - word choice, imagery, tone, sentence structure

4. multiply by the number of marks available

word choice questions

1. quote the key word or phrase

2. explain the connotations of the word/phrase, give two connotations

3. explain how the word/phrase helps us understand the idea/item that it refers to, relate back to the question

contrast questions

1. quote words or phrases that convey both sides of contrast

2. explain how the first word/phrase conveys one side of contrast

3. explain how the second word/phrase conveys other side of contrast

4. write an evaluative summative comment if required by the question

imagery questions

1. quote and identify the example of imagery (simile, metaphor, personification)

2. in your own words explain/state what two things are being compared to each other

3. explain what they have in common, just as (imagined image, two connotations)... so too/so true (real image, two connotations)

4. explain what this helps us understand about the subject that is being described, relate back to the question

tone questions

1. identify a tone (angry, sarcastic, humorous etc)

2. quote words or phrase from the passage that create a tone

3. explain how the words or phrases contribute to tone

sentence structure questions

1. identify the technique being used (think PCROLL - punctuation, contrast, repetition, order, list, length)

2. quote the technique

3. explain the effect of the technique within the context

4. multiply by the number of marks

climax/anti-climax questions

1. identify the technique (climax or anti-climax)

2. state what the writer has been building up to and quote briefly to support your point

3. state how the ending is climatic/anti climactic and quote briefly to support your point

evaluation questions (effective introductions/conclusions)

1. state your opinion on the effectiveness of the first/final paragraph or introductions/conclusions

2. quote words/phrases from both the introduction/conclusion and the rest of the text as evidence to support your opinion (state the idea or type of language feature being used)

3. explain how evidence given supports your opinion (e.g structure of passage, effect of sentence structure, imagery, word choice, tone etc)

4. link the first/final paragraph to the rest of the text or explain why this makes an effective introduction or conclusion

comparative questions (asks you to identify similarities, or differences, or similarities and differences)

1. key ideas column, state key ideas in you own words and a subheading explaining the comparison (similarities - both passages agree...), (differences - passage 1 states that... while passage 2 states that...) make sure you do this first

2. quote and a explanation/brief evaluation from passage 1

3. quote and a explanation/brief evaluation from passage 2

4. repeat this 3 times for each key idea to gain the full 5 marks