GCSE English Language Developing key skills at home

GCSE English Language Developing key skills at home. Samantha Oates – Curriculum Area Leader for English soates@saltashcloud. net

Paper 1 Question 1= 4 marks Paper 2 Question 1 = 4 marks

Paper 1 Question 1 = 4 marks 4 minutes

Students can copy from the text or paraphrase.

Paper 2 Question 1 = 4 marks

Warmup over!

English Language - Paper 1 (1 hour and 45 minutes) You are advised to read the text and the questions for the first 15 minutes. Question Skill AO(s) assessed Marks available Timing 1 Reading AO 1 4 4 minutes 2 Reading AO 2 (Language) 8 9 minutes 3 Reading AO 2 (Structure) 8 9 minutes 4 Reading AO 4 20 23 minutes 5 Writing AO 5 &AO 6 40 45 minutes English Language – Paper 2 (1 hour and 45 minutes) You are advised to read the text and the questions for the first 15 minutes. Question Skill AO(s) assessed Marks available Timing 1 Reading AO 1 4 4 minutes 2 Reading AO 1 8 9 minutes 3 Reading AO 2 (Language) 12 14 minutes 4 Reading AO 3 16 18 minutes 5 Writing AO 5 &AO 6 40 45 minutes

Paper 2 Question 1 = 8 marks 9 minutes

How the answer might look: There are similar things to see and do at the two places but they happen in very different ways; music is an example. There are bands at Greenwich, each with three drums, all play ‘different tunes at the same time’ so it sounds like disorganised chaos and just a cacophony adding to the confusion. At Glastonbury, we get a different idea of the bands: including Elvis Costello and The Killers, who ‘perform in tuxedo jackets and glitter’, so this seems like it is more organised, with spectators actually watching. This creates a more refined atmosphere than at Greenwich. Also, couples can get married at the chapel of love and loathing.

Running out of motivation?

English Language - Paper 1 (1 hour and 45 minutes) You are advised to read the text and the questions for the first 15 minutes. Question Skill AO(s) assessed Marks available Timing 1 Reading AO 1 4 4 minutes 2 Reading AO 2 (Language) 8 9 minutes 3 Reading AO 2 (Structure) 8 9 minutes 4 Reading AO 4 20 23 minutes 5 Writing AO 5 &AO 6 40 45 minutes English Language – Paper 2 (1 hour and 45 minutes) You are advised to read the text and the questions for the first 15 minutes. Question Skill AO(s) assessed Marks available Timing 1 Reading AO 1 4 4 minutes 2 Reading AO 1 8 9 minutes 3 Reading AO 2 (Language) 12 14 minutes 4 Reading AO 3 16 18 minutes 5 Writing AO 5 &AO 6 40 45 minutes

Paper 1 Question 5 = 40 marks 45 minutes

From a distance… A rainbow of colours from the different swimwear. The muddy looking sand seems to merge with the water. Top Tip Work in layers. This means that the opening of your description should start with a ‘bird’s eye’ view and then you zoom in on smaller details.

Zooming in… A young boy determinedly digs into the sand, hoping to get to the other side. A mother stands, hands on hips, watching her children swimming. Top Tip Work in layers. This means that the opening of your description should start with a ‘bird’s eye’ view and then you zoom in on smaller details.

How can I coach at home?

Q 1 SKILLS (Selecting short pieces of information from a piece of text) *Print out a range of openings from novels. Ask your son/daughter to read the first page and (depending on the content) ask them to: -List 4 things that they have learnt about the city -List 4 things that they have learnt about the male character -List 4 things that they have learnt about the female character -List 4 things that they have learnt about the crime scene -List 4 things that they have learnt about the aliens

Q 2 skills (Summarising differences) You could: *Print out/cut out the same story from a tabloid and a broadsheet newspaper and ask your son/daughter to summarise the differences in the way that the story was reported. *Print out historical background about areas of society that have changed dramatically over time – education, hospitals, technology and ask your son/daughter to summarise the differences between then and now.

Q 5 skills (Writing) This is probably the easiest one that you can help us with. You just need to provide your son/daughter with an image and ask them to describe what they see. *Use Google Images to find interesting photographs that can act as a stimulus for a piece of writing. *If you have a favourite artist, then you could use a painting as a prompt for writing a description.