Have any Eng teachers got a How to answer an Eng Lang question sheet?

[Du2tbunny]

If so could you share it. Want a condensed list of instructions iykwim so my dc can ensure they’re constructing their questions correctly.

Tia

[Cat0115]

Can you be more specific? It's very complex. All the questions demand something different.

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Get yourself onto twitter and throw this question out to @team_english

[PurpleCrowbar]

Totally depends on the board, & how the questions are framed for each paper.

You're basically asking for a 'how to cook dinner' sheet without specifying whether you want lasagne, chicken korma, or roast lamb! Sorry.

If you can check the board, for a start, someone can probably recommend some good revision resources.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

He should be being taught this in English lessons at school.
Does he not have any info sheets in his exercise book?

[Du2stbunny]

Nope. Got a really good one for literature but not Lang, not got a lot for Lang full stop. Could he use the literature one?

Exam Edexcel

Sorry for appearing so dim.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

The Lit one won't help the Lang exam. Just like guidance on how to answer History questions won't help much with geography ones.

Try searching 'Mr Bruff English GCSE'

[Du2stbunny]

But there is some crossover between Lang lit surely.

Kind of wanted a step by step sheet to work through as guidance on how to answer a typical Lang question. In time it would get embedded.

[LolaSmiles]

It will depend on which exam board and which questions.

If he's doing AQA then if you want to PM me I can give you all the guidance I give my students.

Be aware though that there's some mixed guidance out there. For example, I've seen teaching groups where people are giving out 5-10 marks more than our department over a series of questions and I've also seen some worrying advice suggesting that students don't really need subject terms. Those people were back on forums/ groups on results day complaining that they felt their higher ability students grades were down this year.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Only generic cross over. Like read the question. make sure your answer stays relevant etc.

This is out of date / made up (not an English teacher and not that confident in even helping my DDs), but to give you the gist.

Lit: How does Shakespeare use motifs of light and dark in Macbeth?

• answer strategy: pick out main references to light and dark, use quotes, explain what they mean, summarise.
  

Lit: Compare the printed poem to any other you have studied

• answer strategy: talk about the themes, structure, language etc using quotes from both, comparing and contrasting as you go
  

Lang: What are the authors thoughts and feelings in text B.

• answer strategy: go through text to look at the emotive language being used, explain how the specific words link to feelings (eg waves crashing = scared, waves lapping = peaceful), refer to language techniques (such as metaphor, assonance etc) in answer.
  

Lang: Write a descriptive piece based on the picture

• answer strategy: look at the picture, don't just describe it, but build a short narrative with the picture as a start/end. Use as many language techniques as you can whilst making it look effortless, not shoehorned in or cliched.

[Blueemeraldagain]

If he’s taking the AQA exams then I second Mr Bruff on YouTube. He pretty much does a step by step for each question. The four reading questions per paper (8 in total) and one writing question (2 in total) are very different.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

AQA specifically say that they don't want lots of complicated subject terminology.

OP - very hard to offer any advice without knowing the board.

[Du2stbunny]

It’s edexcel

[LolaSmiles]

Remus
True in they don't need lots of complicated terminology, but seeing secondary English teachers whine about basic terms that are taught in primary is frankly ridiculous.

I've seen and heard (on and offline) staff argue there's no need for their GCSE students to use knowledge taught in year 2/3 because it's "overly complicated". If you have an English degree then KS1/2 English shouldn't be beyond you, regardless if whether you're a literature specialist.

The fact that there are so called English specialists who don't understand the basics of primary English is bad enough, but for them to adopt such an anti-intellectual approach to language is awful in my opinion.

[seaweedandmarchingbands]

It’s not a recipe. There is no condensed list of instructions. Could you buy a revision guide? The CGP ones are pretty straightforward.

[Du2stbunny]

We’ve got one for Lit which is useful showing you how to look at the question and pull it together into answer step by step, not sure why there wouldn’t be one for Lang but if there isn’t there isn’t.confused]

Have looked at the CPG book but it looked a bit general although better than the Pearson one which is a tad dry.Looking through his books he has hardly anything for Lang but loads for Lit.Odd as lang is the one needed more. Will get the CPG if that is the best there is.

[seaweedandmarchingbands]

The exam board specific ones can be good as well. But again, it isn’t a checklist. You can’t pass the Language exam without the fundamental skills.

[Du2stbunny]

I know that but one of the skills is surely pulling everything together and unlocking how to answer the question. Have another dc who after unlocking such skill with lit flew. He’ll pass but trying to ensure he gets a good grade. Wanted the info for the reading bit, not the writing.I know what I mean but I’m probably not articulating it well.

[seaweedandmarchingbands]

For me, if you focus on the underlying skills - reading and expressing evidenced opinions about what you read - you can’t go far wrong. You can go pretty far wrong focusing on the questions.

[PurpleCrowbar]

Hmmm, I've taught edexcel & the Lang was quite formulaic, but I'm teaching Cambridge now & not sure if edexcel have changed spec since - wouldn't want to steer you completely wrong.

Talk to his teachers. I always do a 'question 1 is asking you to...' crib sheet, so can see what you're asking for, but you need someone who is up to date to advise you.

[Comefromaway]

Dd's teacher gave her this. Dd did Edexel but she adapted the powerpoint for her brother who is doing AQA.

Dd got a Grade 9 for Language and an A for Literature and there was 100% Grade 4 and above pass rate for Language (non academically selective school) so the teacher was doing something right.

onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=AF6919422E58DE65!10104&ithint=file%2cppt&authkey=!AGsTiHJGcI2rn6A

[Comefromaway]

I forgot to say that dd is autistic and when she entered the school was underachieving in English.