Exam Buster
Study Tip
Writing Strategies
• Before you write you should always spend some time thinking about what you are going to write and how you are going to organise it. A good way to do this is by making a mind map. Mind maps are also great for revision!
Complete
1
Jody has to write a short essay, ‘My Favourite Book’. Put the missing words on the correct branches of the mind map.
Characters Details Plot Setting Themes Why my favourite book
2 .............................
1
Title > To Kill a Mockingbird
Author > Harper Lee > American
Published > 1960
Pulitzer Prize > 1961
3 .............................
Where > Alabama – south USA
When > Great Depression – 1930s
5 .............................
Prejudice > racism
Scout Finch > young white girl > narrator
Atticus > Scout’s father > lawyer
Tom Robinson > black man
Boo Radley > outsider
My Favourite Book
Outsiders – Courage – Innocence
Study Tip
4
Tom accused of raping white girl
Atticus defends
Scout attacked
Boo saves Scout
6 .............................
About growing up Powerful
• Use connectors to make your writing flow and easy to read. Here are some examples. First / secondly / then / next / however / although / also / but / because / so / for example / like / such as…
Fill the gaps
2 Read Jody’s finished text. Complete the gaps using the correct connectors.
My favourite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. The story is set in a small town in Alabama in southern USA during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The main characters are Scout Finch, who is a young white girl, her father Atticus who is a lawyer, a reclusive outsider called Boo Radley and Tom Robinson who is a poor black man.
Tom is accused of raping a white girl, (1) .............. Atticus, a good man, agrees to defend him. (2) .............. he is innocent, the white jury finds him guilty. Tom decides to try and escape from prison (3) he is shot and killed. (4) .............. , one night, Scout and her brother are attacked (5) .............. their father defended Tom. (6) .............. , Boo Radley is near and saves them. The novel has many themes (7) prejudice, racism and classism. Innocence and courage are (8) .............. important themes.
I had to read this book last year for school. I usually read vampire stories and science fiction (9) this book really moved me. It’s about growing up and fighting for what you think is right, which is very important.
Writing
3 Make a mind map for your favourite book / film / music group / TV programme / actor etc. Use this mind map, with connectors, to write a short essay.