The Exam
Planning a Character Question Response
You must be able to: understand what an exam question is asking you and prepare your response.
How might an exam question on character be phrased? A typical character question will read like this: From now on, he would be her guardian and protector. In what ways is Meshak important in the novel? You must refer to the context of the novel in your answer. [40 marks] (includes 8 marks for the range of appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures, and accurate use of spelling and punctuation)
How do I work out what to do? The focus of this question is clear: Meshak and his importance in the novel. ‘Ways’, ‘important’ and ‘context’ are the key elements of this question. For AO1, these words show that you need to display a clear understanding of what Meshak is like and how this relates to the themes of the novel and Gavin’s intentions. For AO3, you need to link your interpretations to the novel’s social, historical or literary context. You also need to remember to write in an accurate and sophisticated way to achieve your 8 AO4 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and expression.
How can I plan my essay? You have approximately 50 minutes to write your essay. This isn’t long but you should spend the first five or ten minutes writing a quick plan. This will help you to focus your thoughts and produce a well-structured essay. Try to come up with four or five ideas. Each of these ideas can then be written up as a paragraph. You can plan in whatever way you find most useful. Some students like to just make a quick list of points and then re-number them in a logical order. Spider diagrams are particularly popular; look at the example on the opposite page. Note that this is much fuller than you would have time for in your five-minute plan.
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The Exam
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