Post by missmcgrory on Feb 7, 2014 12:37:42 GMT
ANALYSIS
Look for the ‘A’ in the question and the words ‘show how’. A common error is assuming that if the question asks you to comment on language, this means simply showing you understand the meaning by paraphrasing the lines. This is WRONG. ‘Show how’ and the ‘A’ mean you need to QUOTE and ANALYSE.
Word Choice
Be clear on the difference between connotation and denotation. Comment on the CONNOTATION. Underweight, slim and skinny all have the same denotation, but very different connotations.
Transferring the sultry sensuality of a Latin street dance to Edinburgh on a wet winter’s night would not appear the easiest of tasks. The rain batters the glass roof of the studio, competing in volume with the merengue blaring from the sound system. In the background, the castle, lit up, stares down grandly against the foreboding skies.
Show how the word choice in these lines helps to point up the contrast described here (2A)
Since you are asked for contrast, you will have two look at two examples of word choice: quote and analyse the connotations.
Imagery
This means: simile, metaphor, personification or symbolism.
Too many tourists are so wedded to their camera that they cease to respond directly to the beauty of the places they visit. They are content to take home a dozen rolls of exposed film instead, like a bank full of monopoly money.
Show how the simile used highlights the writer’s disapproval of the behaviour of the tourists
Show how the metaphor used highlights the writer’s disapproval of the tourists.
Sentence structure
Punctuation and lists
Length of sentence
Use of climax or anti-climax
Repetition
Word order
The Scottish race has been variously and plentifully accused of being dour, mean, venal, sly, narrow, slothful, nasty, dirty, drunken, sentimental, hypocritical and a blueprint for disaster when there are eleven of them together on a football field.
Comment on the structure and effect of this sentence.
But then, like the cavalry regrouping, they set off once more, ground their way back up to speed, beat a path through the final verse and ended again, Simon’s final flourish sounding a little more sheepish this time. After that, they were gone. And no encores.
Comment on the structure and effect of this sentence.
Tone
No marks for simply saying what the tone is. You need to give a reason for your choice and an example from the text.
Ireland has managed to attract its young entrepreneurs back. We must try to do likewise. We need immigrants. We cannot grow the necessary skills fast enough to fill the gap sites.
Show how the writer uses tone to demonstrate her strength of feeling in these lines.
Contrast
You need to comment on both sides of the contrast.
The supreme athlete and unique showman once deemed the most instantly recognised human being on the plane, struggled from a settee, tottered across the carpet and embraced me in an enveloping bear hug. Facially bloated, he could only speak in brief, unintelligible gasps.
By referring to these lines, show how the writer uses contrast to convey his shock at meeting Muhammed Ali.
EVALUATION
E questions ask you to comment on the effectiveness of a technique, example, title or conclusion.
You must first analyse (as above) then EVALUATE. You evaluate by including words such as ‘the image is effective in helping to illustrate the writer’s point, because…’
The UK is not a group of nations swamped by a tidal wave of immigration. Relatively speaking, Europe contends with a trickle of refugees compared with countries who border areas of famine, poverty, or violent political upheaval.
Discuss how effective you find the writer’s use of imagery in these lines in making her point clear. (2E)
Look for the ‘A’ in the question and the words ‘show how’. A common error is assuming that if the question asks you to comment on language, this means simply showing you understand the meaning by paraphrasing the lines. This is WRONG. ‘Show how’ and the ‘A’ mean you need to QUOTE and ANALYSE.
Word Choice
Be clear on the difference between connotation and denotation. Comment on the CONNOTATION. Underweight, slim and skinny all have the same denotation, but very different connotations.
Transferring the sultry sensuality of a Latin street dance to Edinburgh on a wet winter’s night would not appear the easiest of tasks. The rain batters the glass roof of the studio, competing in volume with the merengue blaring from the sound system. In the background, the castle, lit up, stares down grandly against the foreboding skies.
Show how the word choice in these lines helps to point up the contrast described here (2A)
Since you are asked for contrast, you will have two look at two examples of word choice: quote and analyse the connotations.
Imagery
This means: simile, metaphor, personification or symbolism.
Too many tourists are so wedded to their camera that they cease to respond directly to the beauty of the places they visit. They are content to take home a dozen rolls of exposed film instead, like a bank full of monopoly money.
Show how the simile used highlights the writer’s disapproval of the behaviour of the tourists
Show how the metaphor used highlights the writer’s disapproval of the tourists.
Sentence structure
Punctuation and lists
Length of sentence
Use of climax or anti-climax
Repetition
Word order
The Scottish race has been variously and plentifully accused of being dour, mean, venal, sly, narrow, slothful, nasty, dirty, drunken, sentimental, hypocritical and a blueprint for disaster when there are eleven of them together on a football field.
Comment on the structure and effect of this sentence.
But then, like the cavalry regrouping, they set off once more, ground their way back up to speed, beat a path through the final verse and ended again, Simon’s final flourish sounding a little more sheepish this time. After that, they were gone. And no encores.
Comment on the structure and effect of this sentence.
Tone
No marks for simply saying what the tone is. You need to give a reason for your choice and an example from the text.
Ireland has managed to attract its young entrepreneurs back. We must try to do likewise. We need immigrants. We cannot grow the necessary skills fast enough to fill the gap sites.
Show how the writer uses tone to demonstrate her strength of feeling in these lines.
Contrast
You need to comment on both sides of the contrast.
The supreme athlete and unique showman once deemed the most instantly recognised human being on the plane, struggled from a settee, tottered across the carpet and embraced me in an enveloping bear hug. Facially bloated, he could only speak in brief, unintelligible gasps.
By referring to these lines, show how the writer uses contrast to convey his shock at meeting Muhammed Ali.
EVALUATION
E questions ask you to comment on the effectiveness of a technique, example, title or conclusion.
You must first analyse (as above) then EVALUATE. You evaluate by including words such as ‘the image is effective in helping to illustrate the writer’s point, because…’
The UK is not a group of nations swamped by a tidal wave of immigration. Relatively speaking, Europe contends with a trickle of refugees compared with countries who border areas of famine, poverty, or violent political upheaval.
Discuss how effective you find the writer’s use of imagery in these lines in making her point clear. (2E)