Higher Close Reading
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Highlight key words in question
Highlight answer in passage
Turn into your own owrds
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Explain briefly why the writer believes that
“Modern times are a puzzle.”
“Most people in Western countries are richer
and healthier today than they have ever
been.”
“people are less happy and fulfilled than their
forebears. They feel discontented.”
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Those living in developed countries enjoy
more economic and technological benefits
than ever before. (1)
However, they are more unhappy than in the
past. (1)
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Technique
Evidence
Explanation of how the technique works (this
must be specific and detailed).
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Show how the writer uses in these lines two
features of sentence structure to emphasise
his point of view.
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Repetition of ‘Their lives are made’ at the start of
consecutive sentences helps to highlight the
many ways that technological advances have
improved people’s lives. We would expect this to
lead to happiness.
Balanced sentence at the end of paragraph two
‘All they know . .. at least solace.’ The first part
of this sentence underlines the material
prosperity enjoyed by many; the second part
connects this to a yearning for fulfilment. This
helps to emphasise the contrast between our
prosperity and our unhappiness.
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Show how the imagery in lines 21-23 conveys
the unsatisfactory nature of “these efforts”.
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Quote the image
Identify the literal root
Say what it is being compared to
Explain the effect of this comparison(
ensuring that you link back to the question at
this point).
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“They might seem to work for a time but, like
most mere coverings, they become worn or
frayed and the shape of the original problem
starts to show through.”
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‘These efforts’ are compared to ‘mere coverings’.
This simile suggests a piece of material that is
used to disguise something. This is being
compared to how quick fixes are used to hide the
emptiness many feel without addressing the
underlying problems. The comparison is
extended by saying the ‘coverings’ become ‘worn
or frayed’. This suggests that these quick fixes
only work for a while; just like a material
covering will become damaged and expose the
original problem, so our emptiness will again
surface.
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How effective do you find the imagery in lines
26-29 in describing the writer’s beliefs about
the importance of philosophy?
Evaluation- say that it is successful/
effective/ skilful. Give personal response- ‘I
find this effective because . . .’
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In fact, modern Westerners are like thirsty
people drinking from a muddy puddle on the
banks of a great river of clear water, as if they
simply had not noticed the river’s existence,
or did not know they could drink from it. The
river in question is philosophy.
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Modern Westerners- thirsty people
Quick fixes- muddy puddle
Philosophy- great river of clear water.
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The writer’s use of imagery is effective in
conveying the importance of philosophy in
curing the problems of modern life.
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Identify, in the linking sentence, two words or
phrases, one pointing back and one pointing
forward.
Link the backward pointing one with the
relevant part of the previous paragraph.
Link the forward one with the relevant parts
of the following paragraph.
You must have followed all four of these
steps to be awarded two marks.
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Astonishingly, though most people at one
time or another ask themselves some of
these questions, they almost never turn to
the immensely rich tradition of philosophical
debate to see what our culture’s greatest
minds had to say about them.
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Astonishingly, though most people at one
time or another ask themselves some of
these questions, they almost never turn to
the immensely rich tradition of philosophical
debate to see what our culture’s greatest
minds had to say about them.
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‘These questions’ refers back to the topic of
the previous paragraph- the questions about
life considered by philosophy.
‘almost never turn to the immensely rich
tradition of philosophical debate’ introduces
the topic of the new paragraph- reasons why
people fail to engage with philosophy.
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Explain why “All the great philosophers have
insisted on the fundamental importance of
independent thought”.
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There are great benefits for coming to your
own opinion on a topic. As you have taken
the time to reach that opinion, it is more
likely to be long lasting. In contrast, if you
simply accept someone else’s opinion, it is
less likely to last.
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Show how the writer’s use of language in line
51-61 makes clear his contempt for
‘heteronomy’. Refer to more than one
language feature in your answer.
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Imagery- ‘easily taken off the shelf’.
The writer is comparing the quick fixes of
‘heteronomy’ to shopping for products at a
supermarket. This clearly ridicules the belief
that we can purchase an easy solution to
major problems created by modern life as
easily as we would buy toothpaste. It also
contains allusions to the consumer culture
that creates many of these problems and
encourages the false solutions of
‘heteronomy’.
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Sentence structure –The final sentence ‘It is like
dieting . . .or labour.’
A colon is used to introduce a list of ‘external’
methods of dieting. These are all relatively quick
fixes that do not require the individual to
demonstrate strength of character. This list
helps to emphasises the amount of easy
solutions that people will turn to instead of
looking at ‘autonomy’. This is reinforced by the
list of what these external solutions do not
require form us’ no will power . . .’ The
repetition of ‘no’ is effective in highlighting how
little these solutions require from he individual.
It also provides a strong climax to the paragraph
by outlining that ‘heteronomy’ is a lazy solution.
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Show how the writer’s word choice in lines
62-68 makes clear the contrast between
philosophy and the usual way.
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Philosophy is described as ‘open-minded’.
This has connotations of freedom and
creativity. This suggests that philosophy is
not restricted and does not follow a set
pattern.
‘The usual way’ is described as ‘prepackaged’. This has unappealing
connotations of something with little vitality,
of conformity. This suggests that this way
does follow a set pattern and encourages
everyone to think in the same way.
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How effective do you find any two aspects of
the final paragraph in concluding the writer’s
argument?
Identify two different features- imagery,
ideas, tone, sentence structure- and explain
how they reiterate key ideas from earlier in
the passage.
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Imagery of ‘muddy puddles’ and ‘the river
flowing nearby’ effective returns to the
passages key image: people turning to
harmful quick fixes instead of philosophy,
which would help to cure their thirst for
meaning in their life. This is the writer’s main
argument throughout the passage.
He also returns to the key idea of
‘independent thought’. People will not be
forced to drink form this river; it is up to
them to choose: ‘if they accept the invitation’.
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Consider the attitude displayed by each writer
to modern life.
Referring to important ideas in the passages,
identify the key areas on which they agree.
You may answer this question in continuous
prose or in a series of developed bullet
points.
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Identify the key ideas of passage one.
Use your answers to understanding questios
to help you.
Have some short quotations as evidence.
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Identify the key ideas of passage two.
Use your answers to understanding questions
to help you.
Jot down short quotations.
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Find areas where they agree
Put your notes into an answer.
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Consider the attitude displayed by each writer
to Scotland’s relationship with alcohol.
Referring to important ideas in the passages,
identify the key areas on which they agree.
You may answer this question in continuous
prose or in a series of developed bullet
points.
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Compose your answer in the form of a miniessay or developed bullet points