Revision/ No Cause for Celebration
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Show how the writer’s word choice in these
lines creates a clear contrast between the
drinking habits of the young and those of the
middle-aged.
You should refer to two examples for each
group.
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Quote (try to keep to one word or phrase at a
time)
Comment on connotations (not literal
meaning)
Explain how these connotations convey the
writer’s point
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Young: ‘blitzed’ has connotations of dangerous or
reckless behaviour. This suggests that their
drinking habits were uncontrolled and harmful.
This is reinforced by ‘swig’, which has
connotations of excess. This suggests that they
were drinking large amounts in a careless manner.
Middle-aged: ‘distribute’ has connotations of
controlled and planned behaviour. ‘Tipple’ has
connotations of something with little
consequences, small and not serious. This
suggests that their drinking is controlled, not
excessive and is not problematic.
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Show how the writer's language conveys her
contempt for any one of the groups she
describes in lines 11-15
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Word choice of ‘yelping’ has animalistic
connotations. This suggest that the ‘young
people’ being described engage in wild and
unpleasant behaviour.
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How effective do you find the imagery of ‘a
thimbleful of the 100% proof misery.’
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A thimble is a very small cup that covers
finger during sewing. Therefore, a thimbleful
of a liquid would be a small amount. This is
being compared to how mortality statistics
are only a small part of the harm caused by
alcohol. This harm is compared to ‘100%
proof misery’. I found this effective because
this compares an extremely strong alcohol to
the damage it causes to our society.
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In the lines 48-69 the writer discusses the
consequences of the liberalisation of the
Scottish licensing laws in the 1970s.
Summarise in your own words, as far as
possible, why she thinks this was a ‘mistake’.
4U
Identify four separate points
Turn into your own words
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We convinced ourselves that drunken behaviour
was the main worry, not the more widespread
drinking habits.
Liberalising our restrictions on alcohol has lead
to a great increase in its consumption.
We believed we could follow sensible European
approaches to drinking, by drinking often but
little. Instead we drink large quantities
frequently.
Now many more people drink to excess
frequently. Previously this would only happen
on special occasions.
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Identify the tone and how the writer creates
this tone.
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Tone: Concerned/ mocking/ possibly ironic
Word choice of ‘pop a cork’ has connotations
of casual, careless behaviour. This suggests
that our attitude to alcohol consumption is
reckless. It also suggests celebration. The
irony being that this not being used to mark a
special occasion, just an everyday visitor.
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Show how the writer’s language in lines 1421 makes clear that she has little sympathy
for the four young men. 4 A
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Sentence structure- The short, emphatic
statement ‘Poor dears’ is an effective climax
to the paragraph. The sharp, mocking tone
clearly conveys the writer’s lack of sympathy
and contrasts with the outlining of reasons
why some sympathise with the boys in the
rest of the paragraph. By ending the
paragraph with this sentence, the writer
undermines these sob stories.
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Tone- a mocking tone is created by the use
of the image ‘One’s heart, however, fails
suitably to bleed.’ Here the writer has
manipulated a fairly clichéd image to again
undermine those who defend the boys. In
doing so she is making fun of those who
claim that the boys deserve sympathy. A
heart bleeding is an extreme image of pain
and suffering, not something we would
associate with feelings for drunken louts.
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How does the writer’s sentence structure in
lines 30-35 reinforce her point about the
effects of over-indulgence?