Going from grade 5 to grade 9: AQA English Language Paper 1 Q2 (2018 exam)

Summary

In this tutorial, the focus is on enhancing students' ability to progress from a grade 5 to a grade 9 in their literary analysis. The instructor examines the difference between a grade 5 and grade 9 response using a 2018 exam paper. The video discusses the importance of understanding and effectively analyzing literary techniques such as metaphors and similes, and how to use them to enrich the analysis of a text. The instructor advises on selecting powerful examples from the text and provides strategies for deepening the analysis to achieve higher grades, emphasizing that it's not about using complex terminology but about the quality of thought and the ability to support points with evidence.

Takeaways

• 📚 The tutorial focuses on improving students' ability to analyze literary techniques and language to achieve higher grades.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of moving beyond basic understanding to a deeper analysis of language and its effects.
• 🎯 The tutorial uses the 2018 summer paper, question 2, as a case study to demonstrate how to analyze text effectively.
• 🌟 The speaker advises against relying solely on sentence forms and encourages students to explore the metaphorical and symbolic meanings of language.
• 📝 The tutorial introduces the 'P as PEEL' method to develop analysis, which stands for Point, Explanation, Example, and Link.
• 🔑 The speaker highlights the use of metaphors and similes as key literary devices that can elevate a student's analysis to a higher grade.
• 💡 The importance of using one's own vocabulary to explain the connotations of words is stressed, encouraging a personal and insightful interpretation.
• 📈 To achieve higher grades, students are encouraged to provide more detailed explanations and support their points with additional evidence from the text.
• 📑 The speaker provides examples of both a grade 5 and a grade 9 response to the same question, illustrating the difference in depth and analysis.
• 💼 The tutorial concludes with a summary that achieving a grade 9 involves finding more words to describe an example and backing up points with evidence from the text.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the tutorial?

The main focus of the tutorial is to explore how to improve from a grade 5 to a grade 9 in language analysis, specifically by examining the difference between grade 5 and grade 9 quality responses.

What is the specific exam paper and question being discussed?

The tutorial is discussing the 2018 summer paper, paper one, question 2.

What is the advice given regarding sentence forms in the exam?

The advice given is to avoid focusing too much on sentence forms as it's challenging to score high marks on that aspect, and the instructor has observed that students rarely excel in this area.

What strategy is recommended for an 8-mark question?

For an 8-mark question, the recommended strategy is to use P as PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link), which helps in developing a more analytical response.

What is an example of a metaphor used by Mr. Fisher in the text extract?

An example of a metaphor used by Mr. Fisher is describing books as 'golden,' which is not a literal description but suggests their preciousness and value.

What is the significance of the verb 'soared' in the context of the tutorial?

The verb 'soared' is used metaphorically to suggest the freedom and elevation of the imagination, which is an important aspect to consider when analyzing the text.

How does the tutorial suggest improving from a grade 5 to a grade 9 response?

The tutorial suggests improving the response by zooming in on more words, finding more things to say about the chosen word or example, and supporting the points made with additional evidence from the text.

What is the importance of using one's own vocabulary to explain the meaning of a word?

Using one's own vocabulary to explain the meaning of a word is important as it shows the student's understanding and ability to convey the connotations and imagery associated with the word.

Why is it not beneficial to use only fancy terminology in the responses?

Using only fancy terminology does not necessarily lead to higher marks. The quality of analysis, depth of thought, and the ability to support points with evidence are more critical for achieving higher grades.

What is the role of embedded quotes in enhancing the quality of the response?

Embedded quotes play a crucial role by providing additional evidence and context, which helps to strengthen the analysis and support the points made in the response.

How does the tutorial define the term 'apperceptive' in the context of language analysis?

In the context of language analysis, 'apperceptive' refers to the ability to look in more depth and detail, noticing nuances and meanings that others might overlook.