Revise
AQA: Paper 1 Question 2
AQA: Paper 1 Question 2 Revision
AQA: Paper 1 Question 2
This page will provide some top tips and analysis to ensure that you get as many marks as possible for Question 2.
Here you will find out:
- The format of the question
- How to approach answering the question
- The Assessment Objective (AO) of the question
There will even be an extract from a model answer to guide you in the right direction!
Assessment Objective (AO)
Question 2 is covered by AO2.
For AO2, you are required to:
- Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views.
This may sound complicated now but don’t worry, by the end of this page it will all become clear!
Question Format
For Question 2, you have to analyse the writer’s use of language from a particular extract of the source.
You will be given the source extract on the question paper!
On the right is an example question in the same format that you will find in your exam!
Key Words in the Question
The words in bold here are the key words that you need to focus on when answering the question.
How:
The way the writer portrays the information – what language features or words do they use in their writing to describe something?
Language:
Be careful here! The question asks for content relating to language – don’t look for any structural features!
Sea:
Make sure that you are only making points on what the question is asking you for!
Here, the question asks you to focus on the sea – however you might be asked in other papers to focus on ‘a forest’, for example!
Timings
As it states on the front of the question paper, you are advised to spend 15 minutes in total reading the sources and the questions.
As the question is only worth 8 marks, you are only expected to spend approximately 10 minutes writing your answer to this question.
Do not spend more time than this on this question as this means you will have less time to answer the higher mark questions at the end of the paper!
Nevertheless, this does not mean that you should completely ignore this question.
Next up, how to ace this question!
How to Approach
Scan the extract for language features….
Language features are used by writers to shape the meaning of their text, in order to create an effect on the reader!
For example, are there any:
- Metaphors
- Similes
- Personification?
This will help to ensure that your answer is focused on the question.
Once you have identified some language features, think about how they enhance the description (of the sea in our example above)…
PEEL Paragraphs
A good way to ensure that your answer has structure is to use PEEL paragraphs.
PEEL paragraphs show the examiner that you are answering the question analytically.
Well, what are PEEL paragraphs?
PEEL = Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link
Let’s have a closer look…
Point – Make your Point – What effect has the writer created through language?
Evidence – Support your answer with Evidence (quotes) from the text.
Explanation – Explain how the quote you have chosen supports the point you have made.
Link – Summarise why the paragraph is relevant to the question.
Example: Extract from a Model Answer
Please note: the following is just a small extract from an answer – your answer will have to include more points than this!
Why is this a good answer?
- The answer identifies relevant language techniques.
- The answer includes a Point, Evidence from the text, an Explanation of the Point and a Link back to the question.
- The quotes selected are short and concise, which means the sentences flow better.
- The answer contains subject terminology.
- The writer has accurately identified the effects of the language used.
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