GCSE English Language- use of asterisk

[TA0912]

Help!
Does anyone know if it’s acceptable to use an asterisk in a pupil’s answers in the GCSE English Language paper?

Thank you for any advice :-)

[GCAcademic]

I’m not sure this board will be much help, it’s for academic staff who work in universities. You could ask MNHQ to move your post to the Secondary Education board.

[Musmerian]

English teacher here. What do you mean? Do you mean the student adding an extra point and signalling it with an asterisk? If so then it’s fine , although obviously if they do it too many times the writing will become a bit fragmented and lose coherence.

[BanjoVio]

@Musmerian

English teacher here. What do you mean? Do you mean the student adding an extra point and signalling it with an asterisk? If so then it’s fine , although obviously if they do it too many times the writing will become a bit fragmented and lose coherence.

English teacher #2 over here agreeing. It's fine to add information using an asterisk. It's also fine to use one in place of a letter in a word that may cause offence, e.g. when quoting from 'Of Mice and Men' for the Lit paper.

[TA0912]

Hi. Thank you for confirming and greatly your help. Yes it is primarily for adding in an additional information.
English teacher too - different key stage though and no clear advice on AQA! Once again many thanks.

[TA0912]

Hi. Thank you for reply and for also confirming. Greatly appreciate your help. Yes it is primarily for adding in additional information.
English teacher too - different key stage though and unable to find this in the mark scheme on AQA! Once again many thanks.

[Musmerian]

@BanjoVio - I actually don’t agree with the asterisk for words though. Either quote or don’t - it’s mimsy to use asterisks.

[BanjoVio]

@Musmerian

@BanjoVio - I actually don’t agree with the asterisk for words though. Either quote or don’t - it’s mimsy to use asterisks.

We have a number of students who feel uncomfortable writing or articulating the derogatory term used for Crooks in 'Of Mice and Men' and could give you a very articulate reason why. They either use an asterisk or the n followed by a straight line. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.