Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
A life’s story
Answers
1 Biography and autobiography
Student Book pages 6–7
Activity 1
1
Title
Biography or autobiography?
What are your reasons?
Billy
Biography
The author isn’t Billy Connelly himself
it is Pamela Stephenson
Voices in the Street
Autobiography
The subtitle is ‘Growing up in Dundee’
which infers that the author is writing
about her own experiences
Gordon Brown:
Past, Present and
Future
Biography
It is written by Francis Beckett about
Gordon Brown
Jessie’s Journey
Autobiography
It is written by Jess Smith about her
own childhood
William Wallace
Biography
William Wallace is dead so couldn’t
have written it himself
Activity 2
1
Welcome to My World blurb
1
a
Young women.
b
An audience interested in the lifestyle of celebrities as the blurb describes some of
Coleen’s lifestyle.
Growing up in the Gorbals blurb
1
a
Mature women and men.
b
A mature audience because the blurb explains that the book is about Alan’s childhood
and he is over 70.
2
Knowledge about language: Nouns and verbs
1
Nouns: story, girl, roots, world, dreams.
2
Verbs: left, become, started, lead.
Answers
2
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
A life’s story
2 Reading and researching
Student Book pages 8–11
Activity 1
1
Research topic
Useful?
a)Facts about Bissett’s
professional achievements
Yes
b)Interviews with Bissett
No
c)Information about what Bissett is
currently doing
Yes
d)Blurbs from Bissett’s novels for
teenagers
Yes
e)Information about Bissett’s
childhood
Yes
f) Pictures of Bissett and details
about how to contact him
Yes
2
Research topic
What I would click
on
a)Information on Bissett’s novels
Books
b)Information on Bissett’s favourite
films
Faves
c)People and personal contacts
that are part of Bissett’s life
Links
d)Examples and cuttings of media
articles on the writer
Reviews
Activity 2
2
a His parents live their.
b He used to lecture at the university there.
Knowledge about language: Capital letters and full stops
Hugh MacDiarmid was born in 1872 in Langholm in Dumfriesshire. He became a journalist
but, during World War I, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served all over Europe.
He was a strong Scottish nationalist and believed that Scots could only truly express
themselves in the Scots language. He began to recreate a written Scots language with words
used in different parts of the country. Soon he was publishing his poetry, written in Scots. His
most famous collection was A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle in 1926.
By the 1950s, a number of poets, such as Robert Garioch, William Soutar and Sidney
Goodsir Smith were using the Scots language to write modern poetry.
More recently, some writers have chosen to use Scots for writing novels. They include James
Kelman from Glasgow, Irvine Welsh from Edinburgh, and Alan Bisset from Falkirk.
Answers
3
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
A life’s story
3 Note-making
Student Book pages 12–13
Activity 1
Key words
Notes
born
fourth child, in Helensburgh near Glasgow
telephone
exchange
achievement for a young boy, linked it to four of his friends’
houses
cab accident
driver had an accident on one of the telephone exchange’s low
hanging wires and they had to be taken down
lighting
system
he used the wires to set up a lighting system in his parents’ house,
the first electric lighting in the town
home-made
glider
he was launched off his roof in a hand-made glider by his friend
Godfrey, it broke and he landed on the lawn
Activity 2
When?
What happened?
Why?
young
school boy
by the turn
of the
twentieth
century
the first
years of the
twentieth
century
1906
connected a telephone exchange
so he could speak to his friends
set up a lighting system in his parents’
house with the wires from the
telephone exchange
he had to take down the wires
because a cab driver had an
accident
fell off his roof attached to a glider
he made the glider with his friend
Godfrey who pushed him off the
roof in it
started a diploma course in electrical
engineering
although his academic record
wasn’t good this did not put him off
Knowledge about language: Sequencing
Order
Key words
5
war broke out before he could finish his
degree
2
during World War I
1
in 1925
3
after television
4
four months later
Answers
4
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
A life’s story
4 Fact and opinion
Student Book pages 14–15
Activity 1
2
Feature of recount text
Example
Events written in time order
(chronological order)
Three years ago… He entered an enclosure… For the first
eighteen months… Eventually…
Connectives related to time
(later, twenty years on)
Three years ago… For the first eighteen months…
Eventually…
Dialogue or reported speech
to reveal information about
the character
The 42-year-old-decided the only way to really get to know
his beloved wolves… fights with his ‘brothers’… he hopes to
put his findings to good use… He feels that working with
animals and trying to understand how they live is what he
was put on this planet to do…
Specific dates, times, people
and places
…an enclosure at a wildlife park in North Devon… areas
such as the Highlands
Answers to the questions
when, where, who, what, why
When – a long-standing scientific study
Where – North Devon
Who – Shaun Ellis ‘a man in wolf’s clothing’
What – conducts research ‘living wild with [wolves] and
talking their language’
Why – living alongside wolves is the best way to understand
them ‘the only way to really get to know his beloved wolves
was to become one of them’
3
a ‘Explore’, ‘crazy’, ‘wolf-man’, ‘unmissable’, ‘extraordinary’, ‘beasts’, ‘leader’, ‘acts like
them’, ‘amazing insight’, ‘unique life’, ‘fascinating’.
4
Text A, because it gives an idea of amount of time Ellis has spent researching the wolves;
explains the places that he has visited; explains how he lived with the wolves.
5 Gathering evidence
Student Book pages 16–17
Activity 2
About autism: information for brothers and sisters – gives information about living with autism.
Press releases – should provide reliable information about autism.
Some facts and statistics – gives reliable information about autism.
Is there a cure? – should argue both sides of the case.
Answers
5
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
A life’s story
Knowledge about language: The past tense
1 ‘Three years ago, I wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel set in
Swindon…’ This is in the past tense because it is talking about how long ago he wrote the
book.
2 ‘To my continuing amazement…’ This uses the present tense because he is explaining how
he feels now.
6 Preparing an essay
Student Book pages 18–21
Activity 1
Childhood
Hobbies and interests




Born in Dunblane, Scotland
Started playing tennis aged three
He plays golf and goes to the gym
Also likes playing football but doesn’t
play as much as he’d like to
Sporting achievements
Diet





In 2004 he won the US Open Boy’s Singles
Championships
2005 won Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland
Award for sport
He broke into the ATP singles world top 10
for the first time in 2007

When competing he eats lots of pasta
He likes salad and steak but usually
avoids fatty foods
Doesn’t drink or smoke
Lifestyle
Injuries




He is still growing and likes to sleep a lot!
His lifestyle is different from other young
people but he still tries to go out with his
friends when he can
Doesn’t worry about them
By looking after his body he hopes to
avoid injury but says sometimes you
can’t control these things
Success in 2005
Family




Won the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland
award
Recent win over Tim Henman

His mum is his tennis coach
Has a brother, Jamie, who also plays
tennis
His mother collected an award for
him.
How he became interested in tennis


Mother took him to Dunblane Sports Club
Got a swingball for his garden
Activity 2
So how many of you dream of being a sporting hero? Andrew Murray is the highest ranked
tennis player ever produced by Scotland and, in addition, is currently the highest ranked
British player.
So how many of you dream of being a sporting hero? Andrew Murray is the highest
ranked tennis player ever produced by Scotland. Currently, he is also Britain’s best
tennis player.
Answers
6
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
A life’s story
1
While still a teenager he has achieved some remarkable victories over other leading tennis
players, including, notably, arguably the world’s best tennis player, Roger Federer
Whilst he was still a teenager, Andrew achieved some remarkable victories over other
leading tennis players. One notable victory was over Roger Federer, who is arguably
the world’s best tennis player.
Activity 3
Introduction: Andy Murray is the highest ranked tennis player Scotland has ever produced.
Currently, he is also Britain’s best tennis player.
Murray’s childhood and family: Andy was born in Dunblane in Scotland in 1987.
How he began playing tennis: Andy started playing tennis when he was three.
Tennis achievements: As a junior tennis player, Andy won the US Open Boys’ Singles
Championships.
Other sports he enjoys: Andy enjoys playing golf.
His training and diet: Andy pays special attention to his diet.
Knowledge about language: Formal and informal language – contractions
Contractions in Text A: no contractions
Contractions in Text B: didn’t – did not; don’t – do not; can’t – cannot; I’m –I am
Contractions in Text C: no contractions
Assessment task: Reading Activity: Reading for information
Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter
Student Book pages 22–29
1
Text
Type
How do you know?
A
Billboard poster
Short, to-the-point text, bright colours and an engaging
image.
B
Newspaper article
Short paragraphs, punchy points, dramatic text, reported
speech, layout in columns, date given at end of piece,
byline.
C
Newspaper article
Short paragraphs, punchy points, dramatic text, reported
speech, layout in columns, date given at start of piece,
byline.
D
Magazine article
More descriptive, longer paragraphs, direct speech,
questions given as well as answers.
E
Newspaper article
Students may think this is a magazine article, for example
the paragraphs are not as short as other newspaper
articles and text is much more descriptive. However,
acerbic points made, dramatic text, reported speech,
layout in columns, date given at start of piece, byline
should indicate it’s from a newspaper.
Facts: Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef; Steve’s death was filmed on camera by a
cameraman.
Opinions: ‘important and talented guy’, ‘fantastic all-action character’.
2
3
a
Text most helpful: Text B as it gives a clear summary of the whole of Steve’s career
and the things he did.
Answers
7
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
b
4
5
A life’s story
Text least helpful: Text A as it just gives a very short amount of information about
Steve and lots of pictures.
Text C presents Steve Irwin in a positive way, because it includes:

a description implying that although bull rays are usually placid creatures, this one
‘suddenly turned on him and speared him through the heart’.

phrases such as ‘universally loved’, ‘talented guy’ and ‘passionate conservationist’

‘Steve would have been sad if he died and it wasn’t captured on camera’ – this
phrases suggests how Steve would have felt about his death and conveys the view
that he died happy
Text E presents Steve Irwin in a negative way because it includes:
 a quotation from Dr Meredith Peach which implies that stingrays are gentle creatures
so Steve Irwin would have had to provoke it for it to attack him
 phrases such as ‘the whole spectacle was revolting’
 brackets to emphasis the phrase ‘(as distinct from zoologists)’ to imply Steve’s fans
don’t know anything scientific about animals.
6
You could describe Steve Irwin as a courageous but also flamboyant man.
Courageous: ‘Steve Irwin made his international reputation wrestling crocodiles and
snakes.’ Text B
Flamboyant: ‘Steve would have been sad if he died and it wasn’t captured on
camera.’ Text C
Answers
8
Text for Scotland S1 Teacher Guide
Unit 1 A life’s story
1
A life’s story
Further reading/suggestions: Unit 1 A life’s story
Websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/burnsnight/biography/index.shtml - online biography of
Burns.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/baird_logie.shtml - further information on John
Logie Baird.
www.andymurray.com – the official Andy Murray website.
www.sherlockholmesonline.org – the official website of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Literary
Estate, including a biography of the Scottish-born author.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/fleming_alexander.shtml - biographical
information on the Scottish bacteriologist.
Books
Andy Murray: The Story So Far (Rob Robertson; Mainstream Publishing)
Title Deeds: Growing up in Macbeth’s Castle (Liza Campbell; Doubleday)
The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (John Dickson; Da Capo Press)
From the Allegheines to the Hebrides: An Autobiography (Margaret Fay Shaw; Birlinn)
Night Song of the last Tram (Robert Douglas; Hodder)
Jessie’s Journey: Autobiography of a Traveller Girl (Jess Smith; Mercat)
Answers
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