Hi folks,
Here's some more advice ahead of Paper 1 on Wednesday.
First, a reminder of the questions and suggested timings:
For question 3, you should consider:
These blogs (aimed at teachers) also have a go at explaining this question. The first offers you some sample sentence starters. The second is a recent update with some essential ideas. Both are written by the same teacher (who is also an examiner):
https://thestableoyster.wordpress.com/2017/05/13/less-than-a-month-to-go-question-3-structure-again/
Finally, as I indicate above, a useful way of thinking of this question is to think of it visually. Why not try analysing the structure of this opening sequence from the 1999 sci-fi classic, The Matrix:
How does the director structure this opening sequence to interest the viewer?
I'll give you a start:
The scene opens with obscurity: a computer screen shows a baffling code raining down, initially disorentating the viewer. At 41 seconds, a single cursor block appears and, against a black background, the dialogue begins. Again, the initial dialogue is intended to disorientate and add intrigue: 'Is everything in place?' Soon, we learn that someone is being observed by these unknown speakers: 'You like watching him.' Very quickly, we arrive at a key line which gives a sense of the plot to come: 'We're gonna kill him - you understand that?' At this point, sinister sounds are rising in intensity and we seem to zoom into the screen. This initial segment tells the viewer that we're watching a futuristic thriller and gives us clues about who our protagonist will be: the 'one' who is oblivious about being watched.
The next segment thrusts us into the heart of the action promised in the opening dialogue, but the identity of 'the one' is still obscured from us...
Here's some more advice ahead of Paper 1 on Wednesday.
First, a reminder of the questions and suggested timings:
Q3 - Structure
You have 10 minutes to answer this 8-marker.
This is the question that has caused difficulties
for students and English teachers alike; it's different to any task we've had
at GCSE before. You can find plenty of advice on it online. I'll link to some
examples later.
So, what is structure? It is:
- the arrangement of parts within a complex whole
- the organisation/construction of something
For this question, you have to comment on the
whole text, from beginning to end. This question is still about the
analysis of the writer's methods (AO2) so you still need to zoom in on
particular examples (quote) to back up your ideas.
For question 3, you should consider:
- how the text begins (what does the writer focus on first?)
- how the focus of the text changes and develops
- perspective shifts
- the purpose and impact of each section
- the 'journey' of the extract
Other things to consider are:
- the narrative voice and perspective
- the introduction of characters
- zooming in - (e.g. from outside to inside, from wide shot to fine details)
- the juxtaposition of external actions with the character's thoughts (e.g. does a character's behaviour hide their true feelings? If so, that juxtaposition is the writer's method in creating a complex character)
- the positioning of key sentences and key information
- symmetry (e.g. key character, setting, action, setting, key character)
- repetition (e.g. of a motif)
- cyclical structure (always look for this - even if a narrative does not come full circle, very often there will be some link you can make between end and beginning, e.g. contrast, motif, etc.)
More tips:
- Consider the contextual information about the extract. It will tell you if the extract comes from the beginning, middle or end of the novel. This information will be useful to refer to in your answer.
- Structure your answer around BEGINNING, MIDDLE and END.
- Visualise the scene as a movie. Think of how the camera shots would be guiding you around the scene.
- Remember to quote to evidence what you are saying.
- Remember, comment on the effects. How does it interest the reader?
Still not sure? See if you
can get more sense out of these teachers:
These blogs (aimed at teachers) also have a go at explaining this question. The first offers you some sample sentence starters. The second is a recent update with some essential ideas. Both are written by the same teacher (who is also an examiner):
https://thestableoyster.wordpress.com/2017/05/13/less-than-a-month-to-go-question-3-structure-again/
Finally, as I indicate above, a useful way of thinking of this question is to think of it visually. Why not try analysing the structure of this opening sequence from the 1999 sci-fi classic, The Matrix:
How does the director structure this opening sequence to interest the viewer?
I'll give you a start:
The scene opens with obscurity: a computer screen shows a baffling code raining down, initially disorentating the viewer. At 41 seconds, a single cursor block appears and, against a black background, the dialogue begins. Again, the initial dialogue is intended to disorientate and add intrigue: 'Is everything in place?' Soon, we learn that someone is being observed by these unknown speakers: 'You like watching him.' Very quickly, we arrive at a key line which gives a sense of the plot to come: 'We're gonna kill him - you understand that?' At this point, sinister sounds are rising in intensity and we seem to zoom into the screen. This initial segment tells the viewer that we're watching a futuristic thriller and gives us clues about who our protagonist will be: the 'one' who is oblivious about being watched.
The next segment thrusts us into the heart of the action promised in the opening dialogue, but the identity of 'the one' is still obscured from us...
I'll do Q4 tomorrow.
Mr M
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