Have a read of the links here to do with INFERENCE and see how you get on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/english/close_reading_exam/
The key is that you're not supposed to just be choosing quotations and then repeating exactly what is in the quotation.
To INFER, you need to add something extra or come to a judgement based on the information you've been given.
For example. If you have the quote:
"I always felt safest when I was at home in bed" don't say 'This shows us that he feels safest when he is at home in bed'
Instead, say we know that he is perhaps someone who feels nervous in places he doesn't know, as he "feels safest when he is at home in bed".
Try it yourself!
Monday, 3 June 2013
The booklet I gave you today!
One of the best things that you can be doing with your time is reading through that big booklet that I gave you today. It should really help you to get to know the exam (if you don't already).
Dig it out, and trust it!
I'll add a few more things.
NW
Dig it out, and trust it!
I'll add a few more things.
NW
And now for the reading questions - CLIFF H
As I mentioned to you all this week, the question that MOST of you dropped the MOST marks on was the one where you had to comment on the PRESENTATION of a text, or the PRESENTATIONAL FEATURES.
I've told you that this is easy to get around by using the method 'CLIFF H' which stands for:
COLOURS
LAYOUT
IMAGES
FONTS
FORMALITY
HEADLINES
In my book, if you write a paragraph about each of those, you can't go wrong really. You always need to make sure you have read the question carefully and that you're answering it as carefully as you possibly can.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/BHHIslander/TTF/AllTimeGreats.jpg
Have a look at the image that I have linked you to, and I will show you how I would answer this question:
How has this text used PRESENTATION to appeal to the audience? (remember, use CLIFF H)
The first thing that the author of the text has done to appeal to the audience is the use of COLOUR. For example, the text uses very dark colours such as blacks and greys in order to make the ride look scary and dark. It also uses brighter colours such as bright white and yellows on the lighning flashes to make it look more exciting. This contrast of colours makes the ride look more interesting and might make the reader more likely to visit or pay to go on the ride.
Another thing that the text does is that it uses an interesting LAYOUT. The layout is very busy, and there are lots of things to see such as a selection of different rides. Any spare space is filled up with stars and sparkles to make it look even more interesting. All of these features make the theme park look more interesting as if there is lots to see and do.
The next thing I would like to comment on is the IMAGES that are used. If you look closely at the images, there is a lot of small details that we can focus on. For a start, each of the rides has its own logo which gives tyhe rides identity and will make it more likely that you will recognise the rides when you finally get to the theme park. Also, the faces of all of the people on the rides look like they are having a fantastic time. This will make people want to go on the rides as the images make them look fun.
Next, the FONTS that have been used are very important. If you look at the font used on the main slogan 'All time greats', it looks very similar to the sort of writing you might get in a story book or at Disneyland. This will appeal to young people as it will make them think that their experience will be different to normal life, and they will be taken 'out of the ordinary'.
This is the sort of thing that you should be trying to do yourself!#
Try finishing off the last two paragraphs commenting on the FORMALITY and HEADLINES used in this image. To get more practice, find some other texts or adverts online and try practicing CLIFF H with them!
I've told you that this is easy to get around by using the method 'CLIFF H' which stands for:
COLOURS
LAYOUT
IMAGES
FONTS
FORMALITY
HEADLINES
In my book, if you write a paragraph about each of those, you can't go wrong really. You always need to make sure you have read the question carefully and that you're answering it as carefully as you possibly can.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/BHHIslander/TTF/AllTimeGreats.jpg
Have a look at the image that I have linked you to, and I will show you how I would answer this question:
How has this text used PRESENTATION to appeal to the audience? (remember, use CLIFF H)
The first thing that the author of the text has done to appeal to the audience is the use of COLOUR. For example, the text uses very dark colours such as blacks and greys in order to make the ride look scary and dark. It also uses brighter colours such as bright white and yellows on the lighning flashes to make it look more exciting. This contrast of colours makes the ride look more interesting and might make the reader more likely to visit or pay to go on the ride.
Another thing that the text does is that it uses an interesting LAYOUT. The layout is very busy, and there are lots of things to see such as a selection of different rides. Any spare space is filled up with stars and sparkles to make it look even more interesting. All of these features make the theme park look more interesting as if there is lots to see and do.
The next thing I would like to comment on is the IMAGES that are used. If you look closely at the images, there is a lot of small details that we can focus on. For a start, each of the rides has its own logo which gives tyhe rides identity and will make it more likely that you will recognise the rides when you finally get to the theme park. Also, the faces of all of the people on the rides look like they are having a fantastic time. This will make people want to go on the rides as the images make them look fun.
Next, the FONTS that have been used are very important. If you look at the font used on the main slogan 'All time greats', it looks very similar to the sort of writing you might get in a story book or at Disneyland. This will appeal to young people as it will make them think that their experience will be different to normal life, and they will be taken 'out of the ordinary'.
This is the sort of thing that you should be trying to do yourself!#
Try finishing off the last two paragraphs commenting on the FORMALITY and HEADLINES used in this image. To get more practice, find some other texts or adverts online and try practicing CLIFF H with them!
Saturday, 25 May 2013
One last thing for the writing task!!!
ANECDOTES -
If you are writing a letter, article etc (especially if you are trying to use emotive language), then use an ANECDOTE. This is a made up story which helps you to make your point. Imagine you have been asked to improve road safety on days lane..
"Take Tommy Frost, for example. Tommy is just a normal boy who went to a local school. One day he was on his way home from a hard day studying when a car sped around the corner and knocked him off his bicycle. Tommy was badly injured and required weeks worth of hospital treatment to cure him from his terrible injuries. Tommy is now scared to go out on his bike, and suffers flashbacks about his ordeal. Don't you think it is important to help children like Tommy?"
You know what to do!
Mr W
If you are writing a letter, article etc (especially if you are trying to use emotive language), then use an ANECDOTE. This is a made up story which helps you to make your point. Imagine you have been asked to improve road safety on days lane..
"Take Tommy Frost, for example. Tommy is just a normal boy who went to a local school. One day he was on his way home from a hard day studying when a car sped around the corner and knocked him off his bicycle. Tommy was badly injured and required weeks worth of hospital treatment to cure him from his terrible injuries. Tommy is now scared to go out on his bike, and suffers flashbacks about his ordeal. Don't you think it is important to help children like Tommy?"
You know what to do!
Mr W
More guidance for the writing task
Answering the Writing Task!
In a lot of ways, the writing task should be the easiest part of the exams this summer. A lot of people say that ‘Anyone Can Write’. I agree with this to a certain extent, but there are definitely things we can do to make our planning and preparation better.
You will not know what the writing question is until you get into the exam, so we have to be prepared for a few different outcomes.
You have TWO questions.
The first thing we have to do is to be prepared for the TYPE of writing we are being asked to do.
Type:
You will be asked to write a particular TYPE of writing, and you must show that you understand what you have been asked to do by including certain things. For example:
NEWSPAPER/ MAGAZINE ARTICLE – Headline, date, subheadings, picture boxes, author name, speaking to audience, paragraphs, columns?, bullet points?
LETTER – Name and address at the top, Dear Sir/Madam, Yours Sincerely/Faithfully, paragraphs.
WEBSITE/WEB ARTICLE – URL bar, links, tabs etc?
You also have to think about you AUDIENCE. Who are you writing for and how do you appeal to them?
Audience:
TEENAGERS – Maybe use A BIT of slang, maybe A BIT of text speak, talk about things which young people are interested in. Be funny.
OLD PEOPLE – Be formal, be polite, don’t use slang, try to talk about things which old people are interested in. Make them feel safe and included.
SOMEONE IMPORTANT – Be very polite, very formal, set out your writing in a sensible and orderly way, always back up your points with lots of reasons. Try to flatter them.
etc.
The last thing you need to think about is the PURPOSE of what you are being asked to do.
You will either be asked to PERSUADE, EXPLAIN, DESCRIBE, REVIEW or INSTRUCT(Or something similar) and you should make sure that you approach this directly!
More for the writing section
Firstly, spend around 5 minutes planning your piece of writing. It is essential you know how you are going to structure it and what you paragraphs will be about. The class set me the following task:
"Write a LETTER to the school caretaker where you EXPLAIN to him the important of closing all of the windows overnight."
Very quickly, we agreed that my plan would look something like this:
-Name and address
-Dear Mr Whoever
-A paragraph about burglars
-A paragraph about how weather could damage the building
-A paragraph about how vermin and pests could be attracted
-A paragraph about how it makes the school look bad and untidy
-A paragraph about how squatters could be attracted
-A paragraph about how it would keep the heat in, saving on energy bills.
-A conclusion summing up you main points and politely asking him to take action.
However, I gave the class the following instructions
*Make sure that you are BRAVE and INVENTIVE.
It is all very well deciding what your paragraphs will be about, but the CONTENT needs to be attention grabbing and original. So...MAKE STUFF UP!!!
This is not cheating, it is what you are supposed to do!
So, make up FACTS and FIGURES, QUOTES, SURVEYS, STATISTICS etc to back up what you are saying.
For example,
"One reason why it is very important to close all the windows is because it prevents the possibility of the school building attracting vermin such as rats - something which I think we all want to avoid! A recent survey carried out by the local authority found that around 35% of local Maghull residents had had some sort of trouble with rats or mice on their property within the last two years. For a school our size, this is a figure which is quite simply very worrying. Anything which we can do to play our part in keeping vermin out of our beloved building should be done!"
*Be enthusiastic
Whatever the question is that gets thrown at you, it is important that we approach it with enthusiasm. If you have an attitude of "that question is boring/I don't care" then it will come across in your writing. Play a part and pretend you are MASSIVELY INTERESTED in whatever it says. This will benefit you. Trust me.
*Only use slang rarely and make sure you only use it if you are writing to a YOUNG target audience. (Speaks for itself really)
And finally - some presentational features.
For a website, make sure you include a URL bar, some picture boxes (with captions) and make sure you write in HYPERLINKS.
For example. "A recent survey highlighted the problem of rats in our local area. CLICK HERE to read the findings of the survey".
"Write a LETTER to the school caretaker where you EXPLAIN to him the important of closing all of the windows overnight."
Very quickly, we agreed that my plan would look something like this:
-Name and address
-Dear Mr Whoever
-A paragraph about burglars
-A paragraph about how weather could damage the building
-A paragraph about how vermin and pests could be attracted
-A paragraph about how it makes the school look bad and untidy
-A paragraph about how squatters could be attracted
-A paragraph about how it would keep the heat in, saving on energy bills.
-A conclusion summing up you main points and politely asking him to take action.
However, I gave the class the following instructions
*Make sure that you are BRAVE and INVENTIVE.
It is all very well deciding what your paragraphs will be about, but the CONTENT needs to be attention grabbing and original. So...MAKE STUFF UP!!!
This is not cheating, it is what you are supposed to do!
So, make up FACTS and FIGURES, QUOTES, SURVEYS, STATISTICS etc to back up what you are saying.
For example,
"One reason why it is very important to close all the windows is because it prevents the possibility of the school building attracting vermin such as rats - something which I think we all want to avoid! A recent survey carried out by the local authority found that around 35% of local Maghull residents had had some sort of trouble with rats or mice on their property within the last two years. For a school our size, this is a figure which is quite simply very worrying. Anything which we can do to play our part in keeping vermin out of our beloved building should be done!"
*Be enthusiastic
Whatever the question is that gets thrown at you, it is important that we approach it with enthusiasm. If you have an attitude of "that question is boring/I don't care" then it will come across in your writing. Play a part and pretend you are MASSIVELY INTERESTED in whatever it says. This will benefit you. Trust me.
*Only use slang rarely and make sure you only use it if you are writing to a YOUNG target audience. (Speaks for itself really)
And finally - some presentational features.
For a website, make sure you include a URL bar, some picture boxes (with captions) and make sure you write in HYPERLINKS.
For example. "A recent survey highlighted the problem of rats in our local area. CLICK HERE to read the findings of the survey".
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