Question 4 | AQA's Language Paper 1

Summary

In this video, Mr. Watson explains how to tackle question 4 of AQA's Language Paper 1. He advises students to focus on the given opinion, re-read the directed section, and plan their response using a structured approach—'what, how, and why.' Mr. Watson highlights the importance of detailed answers, offering a model paragraph that demonstrates how to analyze the text using evidence and subject terminology. He emphasizes the need to explain the writer's techniques and their effect on the reader to maximize marks in the 25-minute time frame.

Takeaways

• 📄 The focus of the video is on Question 4 of AQA's Language Paper 1.
• 🕰️ The suggested time for answering this question is 25 minutes, as it is worth 20 marks.
• 💬 The question asks students to agree or disagree with a reader's opinion based on an extract.
• 🔍 It's essential to reread the given section of the text and find evidence to support your view.
• 📝 Planning is crucial for this question due to the high marks available, so students should outline their response before writing.
• 📊 The answer structure should follow the 'What, How, and Why' approach: What is your opinion, How is the writer using techniques, and Why are they using them.
• 📚 Evidence and quotations should be used to support your point of view.
• 🔑 Subject terminology (like personification) should be included when analyzing the writer's techniques.
• 🖋️ It's important to develop multiple detailed paragraphs, focusing on language and structure where relevant.
• 👍 The video encourages viewers to subscribe for future content and to engage with the video by liking it if they found it helpful.

Q & A

What is the focus of question 4 in AQA Language Paper 1?

Question 4 asks students to focus on a specific section of the extract, providing an opinion from a reader, and requires students to evaluate whether they agree with that opinion.

How much time should students spend on question 4?

Students are advised to spend no longer than 25 minutes on question 4, as it is worth 20 marks.

What is the recommended approach to answering question 4?

The recommended approach is to first focus on the reader's opinion, reread the relevant section of the extract, decide if you agree, and collect supporting evidence. After planning, structure the answer using the 'what, how, and why' approach.

What does the 'what, how, and why' approach involve?

It involves addressing 'what' your opinion is on the statement, 'how' the writer uses language or structure to convey the idea, and 'why' the writer has used specific techniques to impact the reader.

Why is planning essential for question 4?

Planning is crucial because question 4 is worth a significant number of marks, and a well-structured, detailed response is required to maximize points.

What should students consider when rereading the extract for question 4?

Students should focus on whether they agree with the opinion given, while identifying quotations that support their viewpoint.

What is a key strategy for supporting an answer in question 4?

A key strategy is to underline or highlight relevant quotations from the extract to back up your opinion, ensuring evidence is clearly tied to your response.

How does the example paragraph in the script use personification?

The example shows how the storm is personified by describing the sea as 'startled' and making a 'desperate attempt to break free,' implying the sea is afraid of the storm's power.

Why is subject terminology important in question 4 responses?

Using subject terminology, such as identifying personification or other literary techniques, helps to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the writer's methods and can earn additional marks.

What is the impact of personifying the sea in the example answer?

Personifying the sea creates the impression that the storm is so dangerous that even powerful elements of nature, like the sea, are intimidated, which heightens the reader's sense of the storm's intensity.