****2014 LC English Paper Two 2014 - Higher Level - Before and after discussion****

con8

kevin12345 wrote: »

Wow so both modes had only one question? That hasn't happened in a while has it?

Made a mistake. Take a look again for the edited version

Mr Pseudonym

con8 wrote: »

Made a mistake. Take a look again for the edited version

But, both GV questions were 70 marks, right?

con8

GalwayCovers1 wrote: »

Banking on certain 'predicted' poets is never a good idea, but the majority of students are going to have one that they really hope comes up and have prepared for a lot better that the others on the course. Unfortunately, there is always going to be controversy surrounding this aspect of the English paper.

Our year almost got caught out bad.....

I Remember the time,
For my LC the predicted poet was Bishop,
However a day before there was a little hiccup,
They gave out the wrong paper,
We had to sit the exam a day later,
The year was 2009,

But she came up on the back up paper so t'was grand!

Morale of the story, don't bank on one poet!

I happened to bank on only Dickinson, though I knew a little on Yeats and Plath. :P
This has been the most generous LC English, I could have gotten

Mr Pseudonym

con8 wrote: »

I happened to bank on only Dickinson, though I knew a little on Yeats and Plath. :P
This has been the most generous LC English, I could have gotten

Hang on...you were sitting it? How early did you leave?

con8

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

But, both GV questions were 70 marks, right?

GENERAL VISION
Q1(a) - 30 marks
Q1(b) - 40 marks

OR

Q2 - 70 marks

So yes!

Mr Pseudonym

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

You say that no one expects that they be learnt equally well, but that means that whether one of your best-prepared poets comes up is down to luck. What made you chose those two poets? You predicted that they were the most likely, right? So, even for those who are very studious, like yourself, the format still encourages students to make predictions.

Not engaging with the question because of pre-prepared answers is not discouraged by making students study multiple poets - in fact, I would argue it does the opposite.

I ignored all predictions actually, the poets I knew best were the ones whose poetry I enjoyed the most. I still made sure I was covered with other poets too. It's a 50 mark question, students way overestimate the amount they need to do for it in comparison to the single text and comparative: you don't need to know every poet off by heart like you do your Shakespeare just cover enough that you could answer on a different poet should your favourite not come up.

Why should the SEC feel obliged to put a poet on the paper because they're popular and everyone expects them to come up? Their job is to write an exam paper not ensure everyone gets their favourite question. It's perfectly fair to put Heaney in different parts in the exam, or not on the exam at all.

Mr Pseudonym

con8 wrote: »

GENERAL VISION
Q1(a) - 30 marks
Q1(b) - 40 marks

OR

Q2 - 70 marks

So yes!

Thanks for response, but don't understand: the first GV question you gave doesn't seem to have two parts.

Ofc, when I asked if both are 70 marks, I meant if both only had one part.

Maribs

Hi All, I don't understand any of it but do people think it was a fair paper that prepared students will be happy with ?? Thanks

con8

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

Hang on...you were sitting it? How early did you leave?

4.20

It was the most generous, but that doesn't mean I did extraordinarily well

Vito Corleone

What were the MacBeth questions?

Maribs

Maribs wrote: »

Hi All, I don't understand any of it but do people think it was a fair paper that prepared students will be happy with ?? Thanks

Yes.

Mr Pseudonym

con8 wrote: »

4.20

It was the most generous, but that doesn't mean I did extraordinarily well

I hope you did

Vito Corleone

I knew Yeats would come up.

Mr Pseudonym

Deleted User wrote: »

I ignored all predictions actually, the poets I knew best were the ones whose poetry I enjoyed the most. I still made sure I was covered with other poets too. It's a 50 mark question, students way overestimate the amount they need to do for it in comparison to the single text and comparative: you don't need to know every poet off by heart like you do your Shakespeare just cover enough that you could answer on a different poet should your favourite not come up.

Why should the SEC feel obliged to put a poet on the paper because they're popular and everyone expects them to come up? Their job is to write an exam paper not ensure everyone gets their favourite question. It's perfectly fair to put Heaney in different parts in the exam, or not on the exam at all.

If you'll excuse me, that's an entirely unsensible strategy. What if the two you studied best were very unlikely to come up? They may over-estimate it, but I think you understate the required familiarity with the poets.

I never suggested they are obliged (or that they should feel so). I said that the format of the paper should be such that it doesn't strongly encourage students to gamble.

Nidgeweasel

Vito Corleone wrote: »

I knew Yeats would come up.

You believed he would come up, you didn't know he would come up.

Unless you've seen the paper previously to today. Call the SEC!

con8

MACBETH

(i)"Macbeth's relationships with other characters can be seen primarily as power struggles which prove crucial to outcome of the play?"

Discuss the above statement in relation to at least two of Macbeth's relationships with other characters.

(ii) "Throughout the play, Macbeth, Shakespeare makes effective use of a variety of dramatic techniques that evoke a wide range of responses from the audience"

Discuss... at least two dramatic techniques by Shakespeare

---

CULTURAL CONTEXT

1. "Various social groups, both large and small (such as family, friends, organisations or community) reflect the cultural context in the texts"


2."The cultural context within a text often dictates the crisis or difficulties faced by characters and their responses to these difficulties"

---

GENERAL VISION

1.(a) "The extent to which a reader can relate an aspect of a text to his or her experience of life, helps to shape an understanding of the general vision and viewpoint of that text"

(b) With reference to the text you refered to in 1 (a) above and at least one other text from your comparative course, compare how the two other aspects of the texts (excluding the aspect discussed in 1 (a)) influenced your understanding of the general vision and viewpoint of those texts.

2. "Significant events in texts and the impact they have on the reader often help to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts"

---

POETS

"Yeats uses evocative language to create poetry that includes both personal reflection and public commentary"

---

"The dramatic aspects of Dickinson's poetry can both disturb and delight reader"

---

"Larkin is a perceptive observer of the realities of the ordinary life in poems that are sometimes illuminated by images of lyrical beauty"

---

"Plath makes effective use of language to explore her personal experience of suffering and to provide occasional glimpses of the redemptive power of love"

Mr Pseudonym

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

If you'll excuse me, that's an entirely unsensible strategy. What if the two you studied best were very unlikely to come up? They may over-estimate it, but I think you understate the required familiarity with the poets.

I never suggested they are obliged (or that they should feel so). I said that the format of the paper should be such that it doesn't strongly encourage students to gamble.

My English teacher taught us 5 poets, I trusted him to teach us ones he felt had a good chance but beyond that I didn't pay any attention to predictions. I knew 5 poets well enough to answer a question well should they come up, I had my favourites but everyone does. I don't think the paper encourages gambling at all; apart from poetry you know what you're going to be answering for the rest of the paper. It really isn't that much extra effort to learn more than 1 or 2 poets (I'd be surprise if an English teacher only covered 1 or 2 poets in class, so you should have notes etc), if you really want to do well you won't take that chance, simple as.

con8

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

Thanks for response, but don't understand: the first GV question you gave doesn't seem to have two parts.

Ofc, when I asked if both are 70 marks, I meant if both only had one part.

Typed it all wrong, accidentally placed General Vision part (b) into cultural question

Just check the previous page to see the right version hopefully!

sifnband

What a beautiful paper. Delighted!!!

Mr Pseudonym

Deleted User wrote: »

...simple as.

If that's how you see it...

con8 wrote: »

Typed it all wrong, accidentally placed General Vision part (b) into cultural question

Just check the previous page to see the right version hopefully!

Thanks for doing all that work.

Mr Pseudonym

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

If that's how you see it...

If you want to do well and you only study one poet then you are knowingly taking a risk that they won't come up and you won't be able to answer the question. A student wanting to do well should take steps to reduce that risk. This has happened before and student should be aware that there are no guarantees.

Anyway I'm done arguing with this it was a fair paper that prepared students will have done well in.

peekachoo

I thought the 70mark cultural context question was pretty hard. I did the 30/40 which I have no experience with but it was ok :pac:

Rest of the paper was very generous. Happy.

Daniel2590

PLATH :pac:

Calvin

Last minute study of Dickinson's poem titles proved pivotal in my understanding of her poetry.

Did part a and b of comparative for the first time ever

Managed to write 5 pages about AvR, Kingship and Soliloquoys in Macbeth...decent paper, turned out better than I expected at first glance.

Mr Pseudonym

Deleted User wrote: »

If you want to do well and you only study one poet then you are knowingly taking a risk that they won't come up and you won't be able to answer the question. This has happened before and student should be aware that there are no guarantees.

None of that is in question!

con8

con8 wrote: »

4.20

Blaze it.

b0gg3r

Anyone get screwed without Heaney?

Vito Corleone

MacBeth questions anyone?

Isitthough?

PLATHGATE 2014! xD welp there was a shock
What did you guys do for that macbeth question about relationships being power stuggles?
I mean what do the hell does that mean? I wrote about how LM has power over Macbeth and Macbeth has no power over Ladymacbeth and how Banquo was a treat to Macbeths power?...Something along the lines of that please tell me! It was kinda a wishy washey question

Aspiring

NIMROD. PLATH. YES.

Calvin

aleatorio wrote: »

I'm so heartbroken.
Everything I wanted came up, but I buckled under the pressure and got overwhelmed and forgot everything for GVV, and wrote a rambling piece of ****e for Macbeth

I did the part A and B of Cultural context for the first time ever and rambled about 5 pages for Macbeth's dramatic techniques...welcome to the club! Although don't worry about it, still get a decent grade :P

Lollipop95

Philip Larkin is the man for the job never have I been more relieved to see a poet's name!

Peregrine

Plath

Simple Macbeth relationship question.


Cultural context 30/40 was kinda tough.


Overall, chuffed with that paper

Kyro

That went well enough I suppose. I only knew Macbeth and General Vision and Viewpoint so I was delighted with that.

Knew nothing for Macbeth though. Hadn't studied it and they were tough questions to spoof...

Shaunicus

plath's the way uh huh uh huh i like it

aleatorio

aleatorio wrote: »

I'm so heartbroken.
Everything I wanted came up, but I buckled under the pressure and got overwhelmed and forgot everything for GVV, and wrote a rambling piece of ****e for Macbeth

You'll be fine! I thought my Macbeth essay was a load of crap and didn't flow but I got 47 in it.

LaughingOwl

aleatorio wrote: »

I'm so heartbroken.
Everything I wanted came up, but I buckled under the pressure and got overwhelmed and forgot everything for GVV, and wrote a rambling piece of ****e for Macbeth

I managed to not finish 3 parts of the paper, I feel your pain.

Edit: What's done is done. Be grand shure. Seriously don't let it get you down.

ejayy

aleatorio wrote: »

I'm so heartbroken.
Everything I wanted came up, but I buckled under the pressure and got overwhelmed and forgot everything for GVV, and wrote a rambling piece of ****e for Macbeth

Dot worry about it! U always do better than u think

robynreid

Does anyone know if higher level english paper 1 and paper 2 are corrected by same examiner at same time ?

LoveLamps

Yeatsy baby!!!! #Ilovewillie

yes yes yes

Paper went well overall, I mean I dont think I was A standard or anything but that's fine I just want a B

peekachoo

LoveLamps wrote: »

Yeatsy baby!!!! #Ilovewillie

yes yes yes

Paper went well overall, I mean I dont think I was A standard or anything but that's fine I just want a B

We know. :P

a0ifee

PLATH YA BEAUT


My face when I saw that paper at first I I nearly cried.....but it wasn't that bad. Didn't really like the general vision questions but I thought the cultural context were worse! Also that Heaney poem was really hard? Harder than anyunseen I've done before!

My hands going to fall off I think!

MightyMandarin

Well wha'dya know, Heaney came up after all....

mike123!

Thought it was a rather difficult paper! 30 40 gv & vp never appeared in that format in the last 10 years! Yeats had four parts to the question and macbeth...... power struggle? They were generous with the poets tho....

GillespieRoad

Crap. Oh crap. I stupidly misread Macbeth q and solely focused on his power struggle with Lady Macbeth, bar about three lines on Banquo. How much will I lose for this?

Osmosis Jones

Well that was beautiful.

Wrote 5 pages on Macbeth ( relationships question)
4 on the 70 mark GVV
5 on Dickinson
And 1 on the unseen poetry.

I feel it was written quite well too, confident I did well.

Very cheeky of the SEC to have Heaney in the unseen section:p

Isitthough?

What did people talk about for the Macbeth's relationship are primarily power struggles?

Isitthough?

mike123! wrote: »

Thought it was a rather difficult paper! 30 40 gv & vp never appeared in that format in the last 10 years! Yeats had four parts to the question and macbeth...... power struggle? They were generous with the poets tho....

yeah what was with this power struggle nonsense! what did you write about?

MightyMandarin

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Well that was beautiful.

Wrote 5 pages on Macbeth ( relationships question)
4 on the 70 mark GVV
5 on Dickinson
And 1 on the unseen poetry.

I feel it was written quite well too, confident I did well.

Very cheeky of the SEC to have Heaney in the unseen section:p

Don't mean to criticise or anything but, why would write only 4 pages for gvv but more for Macbeth and Poetry. You do realise that gvv is worth 20 marks more than poetry, and 10 more than macbeth.

Peregrine

I'm still grinning at this.

Plathgate


I did Lady MacB, Banquo and Malcolm for Macbeth's relationships.