Paper 1 Question Techniques

Question 1 (information retrieval)

• 5-10 mins

• 4 marks

• pay very close attention to the exact question wording

• short quotations

• CHECK: quotation or explanation (paraphrase) or both?

• check line numbers

Question 2 (short comparison of texts)

• 10-15 mins

• 6 marks (3 comparative points)

• 3x point + a quote from each text

• find short quotes first to ensure you can easily prove your point

• look at Q4 for help

• state the obvious BUT be specific (e.g. ‘small parasites’ not just ‘animals’)

• NO ANALYSIS

Question 3 (how does the writer use language and structure to show x?)

• 20 mins

• 12 marks (4 paras analysing Language & Structure)

• 2-3 quotations for each point

• MARK LINES!

• Language analysis = specific word choices

• Structural analysis: show how structure reinforces/emphasises word choice

• structure can also be shift in tone/mood or sentence structures

• topic sentence = answer the ‘idea’ part of the question (NOT L&S- ‘the writer uses alliteration…’)

Question 4 (big comparison- ‘how far do you agree with this statement?’)

• 25 mins

• 18 marks (3 highly developed paragraphs)

• Use comparison SIGNPOSTS: ‘similarly’ ‘both’ ‘contrastingly’ ‘on the other hand’

• Paragraph 1:

  • agree with statement to some extent for both texts

  • quotes to support this

• Paragraph 2:

  • ‘However, it is my contention that text 1 is more… than text 2 because…’

  • quotes for both

• Paragraph 3:

  • TWO OPTIONS:

  • 1. Disagree with statement

    • Text 2 is more… (e.g. powerful) in a different way (e.g. is intended to be humorous)

    • ‘not intended to for x, in fact purpose is more to y’

  • 2. Lean into ‘one is more… than the other’

    • bring in audience response

    • emotional reactions e.g. more ‘moving’

  • Link conclusion to bottom of this para

As you are reading

note down change of tone on one side and mood on the other side

Section A (how much time to spend)

don’t spend more than 1 hr 15 mins on section A