English Answers!

glitzandbits

Hi everyone
I got 83 in higher English in the mocks... My first B since first year. I was a bit disappointed because English is one of my best subjects. I think that my real problem was not having enough time to write long enough answers in studied drama/poetry sections. Does anyone have any good techniques for timing? How long should a 30 mark question be? Hope ye can help!

MmmPancakes

15 marks at least 3/4 of a page, work from that. 30 marks = Around 1.5 pages, 10 marks = half a page etc etc

glitzandbits

MmmPancakes wrote: »

15 marks at least 3/4 of a page, work from that. 30 marks = Around 1.5 pages, 10 marks = half a page etc etc

That's what I've always thought but then my teacher says 2.5 for 30 marks? There's honestly no time in the exam for that

spurious

The main thing is to answer the question - the length of the answer is secondary.

DublinArnie

For every 5 marks, you write one paragraph. If you want an A in English, you must write at least one extra paragraph for every question. For example, someone might write 6 paragraphs for 30marks, while someone eles will write 7 or 8 for 30marks, it's easy to say who'll get an A. But it's quality over quanity. You can write 10 paragraphs and still fail . Keep practing your timing, sit down, open a paper, get a stopwatch, and answer a question against the time. Try write 6 paragraphs in 20mins, that should be minimum, but remember to re-read and follow the PEQ format .

positivealf

DublinArnie wrote: »

For every 5 marks, you write one paragraph. If you want an A in English, you must write at least one extra paragraph for every question. For example, someone might write 6 paragraphs for 30marks, while someone eles will write 7 or 8 for 30marks, it's easy to say who'll get an A. But it's quality over quanity. You can write 10 paragraphs and still fail . Keep practing your timing, sit down, open a paper, get a stopwatch, and answer a question against the time. Try write 6 paragraphs in 20mins, that should be minimum, but remember to re-read and follow the PEQ format .

I always time myself and practice in class but i dont seem to be getting any better, In my mocks i learned that my answers had to become more longer and be able to maintain the quality. I really need a way to keep to the time

DublinArnie

positivealf wrote: »

I always time myself and practice in class but i dont seem to be getting any better, In my mocks i learned that my answers had to become more longer and be able to maintain the quality. I really need a way to keep to the time

Maybe your answers are not structered properly. PM me the opening for a answer or whatever and i'll have a look . I have one of the best English teachers in the country(He works in the Institute of Education), so yea, if all teachers were like him, getting all A's will take no effort. I'll help you if you need it . I got a B on the mocks.

positivealf

DublinArnie wrote: »

For every 5 marks, you write one paragraph. If you want an A in English, you must write at least one extra paragraph for every question. For example, someone might write 6 paragraphs for 30marks, while someone eles will write 7 or 8 for 30marks, it's easy to say who'll get an A. But it's quality over quanity. You can write 10 paragraphs and still fail . Keep practing your timing, sit down, open a paper, get a stopwatch, and answer a question against the time. Try write 6 paragraphs in 20mins, that should be minimum, but remember to re-read and follow the PEQ format .

So for every 5 marks write a paragraph and then write an extra one? makes sense. What about Personal writing? how long are your short stories? I find it hard to come up with a short story as i always end up exhausting myself writing up to 9 pages and the stories are never finished. Is there some sort of short story that i could easily flex and use for the real thing? Also do you use plans for personal writing?

DublinArnie

positivealf wrote: »

So for every 5 marks write a paragraph and then write an extra one? makes sense. What about Personal writing? how long are your short stories? I find it hard to come up with a short story as i always end up exhausting myself writing up to 9 pages and the stories are never finished. Is there some sort of short story that i could easily flex and use for the real thing? Also do you use plans for personal writing?

I have a short story of 2 1/2 pages, I can write it in 40mins. I've learnt it word for word basically, I can abdapt it to EVERY PERSONAL WRITING YEAR FROM 2012-2002, so I have a full proof essay. Write between 2-3 pages, and make sure you make it good, you have one hour to re-read and write it, don't plan during the exam, you should be looking at topics and planning 2-3 essays and having a rough idea on what to do, that's what I did on my mocks to "experiment" and I got 58/70 on the essay. I got a B on the mocks .. but I was playing around as I clearly screwed up on Paper one and I didn't add extra paragraphs. So yea, it's easy if you know the exam inside out. If you need help, pm me .

MmmPancakes

You really won't have time in the exam to do an extra paragraph in the exam, as Spurious said make sure you answer the question, I wrote the required amount (First reply, Marking scheme backs it up) and did fine, 79%. I was under pressure for time, If I wrote 6 paragraphs instead of 5 for the studied fiction, drama and poetry I would have no time left. The examiner wants to see quality over quantity, get your points across in the opening and reinforce them in their own paragraphs.

''I have studied ''Of Mice and Men'' by John Steinbeck. I would not like to be George, the reasons for this are as follows: The parenting role George has over Lennie, the harsh world of 1930s California and finally the people of the ranch.''

Then go on and PQE each point, so....

George has a parenting role over Lennie, this can be seen in ''blah blah.'' Lennie prevents George from settling down and finding a girl etc etc, and give a good bit of explanation for the point and give a PERSONAL response, no personal response = 0. The question asks why you would not like to be this character, not for a description of the setting, you have to give personal reactions in your points.

Then do this for the other two points, and with a conclusion that = 5 paragraphs of quality, rather than someone waffling on about what the setting is for 7 paragraphs and not doing what the question asks, try to be concise.

Hope this helps!

marko747

Yeah it's quality over quantity. If you write a good answer but then try to write a extra paragraph on a weak point and it's waffley you will lose marks that you would have had. And also refer back to question. And opening and conclusion also very important (from my English teacher who was a jc marker )