Some tips for success
How to survive the Unit 2 exam…
Answer the questions
 The question will be quite specific - so give the
examiner what they want.
 If it asks for a formal letter or an informal speech
or whatever, give them just that.
 If it asks you to compare two stories in relation to
a particular theme, do just that.
 If you ANSWER THE QUESTION, you cannot go
very far wrong.
 Make sure everything you say remains relevant
and pertinent, and that you always show this.
P.E.E.
Each paragraph in the main body of your
essay should have a:
 POINT (or ‘topic sentence(s)’)
 EXAMPLE (evidence, quotation etc.)
 EXPLANATION (deeper analysis)
This applies to ANY writing task - and
any of the questions today.
Timing is all
 1 hour 45 minutes in total
 Section A: 35 minutes
 Planning: 5 minutes
 Writing: 30 minutes
 Section B: 35 minutes for EACH question
 And remember to allow time to CHECK your
work at the end.
Argue Persuade Advise
 Powerful start and finish - VERY important
 Original and engaging - think of audience
 Lots of persuasive techniques - rhetorical
tools, esp.:



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Rule of 3;
Rhetorical Questions;
Figurative;
Emotive
 Style AND content - thread/argument
Analyse Review Comment
 Overview - pithy and pertinent
 Range of examples - analysis/review
 Route A (+/-) or Route B (mini-analyses)
 Connectives and paragraph markers
 Comment - personal opinion
 Balanced and objective - different from APA
Opening Worlds
 Thread - introduction
 P.E.E. - apart from intro/conc
 Embedded quotations - short and frequent
 Original ideas - backed up by examples
 Compare AND contrast - similarities but also
significant difference(s)
 DON’T just tell the story
Some things you might have
forgotten
 POS begins with a long and powerful description
of EDUCATION and TYRANNY.
 There are lots of graphic examples of the poverty
of Clement’s household.
 RB explores two worlds - the fantasy of the
fountain, the cricket game and Woodford Square;
and the reality whose cobwebs he can’t shake off
 Poverty has destroyed Bolan’s father in almost
every respect - emotionally; psychologically; and
his family.
Some things you might have
forgotten (ctd.)
 LF is about tyranny - the parents’ despotism
over Sidda AND Leela
 Sidda makes no effort to challenge or reverse
the cruel hierarchy which oppresses him
 In YC, India (and its representative, her
mother-in-law) is like an army - but also like a
whirlpool, sucking Cathy into its hold
 Setting is very important - the flat is light and
airy (and ‘pastel-coloured’); the house is
heavy and oppressive.
Some things you might have
forgotten (ctd.)
 The significance of GAT is Ravi’s total annihilation at
the end (his overwhelming ignominy) - all the worse
for his high hopes beforehand
 The shed, whilst hostile at first, provides a cocoon in
which for his confidence to breed for once.
 In WO, Savushkin is insulated against society - the
ice crystals may melt, but his independence,
resilience and contentment do not
 Anna Vasilevna’s role as teacher is reversed, and
she LEARNS from Savushkin - casting a whole new
light on education.