NATIONAL 5 HIGHER CLOSE READING RUAE IN YOUR

NATIONAL 5/ HIGHER CLOSE READING (RUAE)

IN YOUR OWN WORDS Own Words: (showing understanding) 1. Find how many points the question is worth 2. Find the answer in the text 3. Reword the sentence or phrase using your own words

PUT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS INTO YOUR OWN WORDS… 1. I wish the school week was shorter. 2. I am always tired first thing in the morning. 3. The aim of this class is to help me prepare for the exam coming up soon.

EXAMPLE 1 People think that the written language seen on mobile phone screens is new and alien, but all the popular beliefs about texting are wrong. Its distinctiveness is not a new phenomenon, nor is its use restricted to the young. There is increasing evidence that it helps rather than hinders literacy. Texting has added a new dimension to language use, but its long-term impact is negligible. It is not a disaster. Question The writer tells us that “all the popular beliefs about texting are wrong”. Look at the remainder of the paragraph, and then explain in your own words what two of these popular beliefs are. 2

EXAMPLE 2 The BBC has become too much of a self-seeking institution, too preoccupied with its ratings at the expense of good broadcasting, and unwisely over-extended financially. Question What are three reasons for causing alarm to friends of the BBC? Use your own words as far as possible. 3

STARTER TASK- 17/9/18 • Put the following sentences in your own words 1. Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram are so popular that they are ruling young peoples’ lives. 2. I can’t believe that in this day and age people are homeless.

EXAMPLE 3 • Rowling is loved for her stories, but also for her story. A contemporary Cinderella, she endured the cold flat and life on single-parent benefit. Then Harry happened and she went to the ball. Neil Murray, her husband, might be abashed to find himself cast as Prince Charming, but her life has changed as much as any scullery-maid turned princess. Question Look at lines 15– 18. In your own words, explain what comparisons the writer draws between JK Rowling and Cinderella. 2

Green tea is exceptionally good for you. It helps to boost your immune system, improves your complexion and it is suggested to have stress-busting properties. In your own words, explain why the author suggests green tea is good for you. 3

ANSWERS • The author suggests that green tea is good for you because: 1. It helps prevent illness. 2. It helps your skin remain clear. 3. It is relaxing.

I had a brilliant summer: swam in the ocean, ate exotic food, saw beautiful monuments, danced the night away and, of course, got an excellent tan. In your own words explain what the author did during her summer holiday. (5)

ANSWERS During her summer holidays she: 1. Went swimming in the sea. 2. Ate unusual foreign food. 3. Went sightseeing. 4. Went dancing at night. 5. Came back with a dark sun tan.

The start to our summer holiday was a disaster. Firstly, we misplaced our passports right before the flight and had to scurry around trying to locate them and then we became embroiled in a lengthy traffic jam and wondered whether we’d arrive at the airport in time. When we actually arrived at the airport, the flight was delayed, Finally – to top it all off – when we arrived in Spain we were informed that our baggage had been damaged. Never again! Explain in your own words why the beginning of the author’s summer holiday was unpleasant. (4)

ANSWERS 1. we misplaced our passports right before the flight They lost their passports 2. we became embroiled in a lengthy traffic jam They were caught in a traffic jam that threatened to make them late 3. the flight was delayed The flight itself was postponed 4. our baggage had been damaged The airline company had broken their luggage.

Exams are very stressful times for students, but they often don’t consider how nerve-wracking it can be for teachers too. We spend countless hours trying to ensure they are prepared and are in a position to do their best and we therefore feel their success or failure as strongly as they do. Their performance is also personally important to us as we see it as a reflection on our teaching ability. However, unlike the students, we have no control over how they perform in the final exam and so the wait is an agonising one in which we can do nothing more productive than worry. Explain in your own words why exams are stressful for teachers. (3)

ANSWERS 1. We spend countless hours trying to ensure they are prepared and are in a position to do their best They spend a lot of time working with their students to prepare them for exams. 2. Their performance is also personally important to us as we see it as a reflection on our teaching ability. They see the students results as a demonstration of their competency as teachers. 3. we have no control over how they perform in the final exam Teachers cannot change the students’ performance in the final exam.

3. IN YOUR OWN WORDS EXPLAIN WHY THE WRITER CHOOSES SUSAN BOYLE AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO IS AN “ENDURING FIGURE”. (2) • Context: In this passage, the writer explores some of the reasons for the popularity of reality TV shows such as “The X Factor. • Most reality TV contestants almost always have a back story of personal triumph over adversity which enables us to feel that we are helping them to succeed, that we are giving them a break when no-one else will. And perhaps this is why Susan Boyle, who grew up in a council house and was bullied as a child for her learning difficulties, has proved such an enduring figure.

1. WHAT THREE MAIN CRITICISMS DOES THE WRITER MAKE OF THE WAY THE MEDIA TREAT CELEBRITIES TODAY? (3) • Context: This is an extract from an article in the Scotsman about Elizabeth Taylor, a famous actress in the 50 s and 60 s. • Of course, those born in the 1970 s may find celebrity on the Taylor scale hard to understand. The whole concept of celebrity has been degraded, over the last two centuries by an avalanche of media coverage which makes no pretence of interest in the actual work that well-known people do, but instead focuses entirely and insidiously on the personal lives, and most particularly the personal appearance, of anyone who has ever been in the public eye for anything, from behaving like an idiot on reality TV, to having sex with a premiership footballer.

CONTEXT Context: (showing understanding) 1. State what the word means 2. Select a part or quote from the text that helps your understand this 3. Explain what it means in the context.

Passage It appears to me undeniable that a people has its individual character, its peculiar capacity for trust and suspicion, kindness or cruelty, energy or lassitude. Question How does the context in which it is used help you to understand the meaning of ‘lassitude’? 2 Answer • ‘Lassitude’ means tiredness or exhaustion • The words ‘trust and suspicion’ help me understand this because they are opposites, so lassitude must be the opposite of energy

EXAMPLE 1 For two days the general vacillated. Should he give the order to advance, or should he allow his men to cling to their sturdy line of defence? This hesitation was to prove fateful. Question Give the meaning of the term ‘vacillated’ and explain how the context helps the reader to arrive at the meaning. 2 EXAMPLE 2

WORD CHOICE ON YOUR NEW FLASHCARD, WRITE DOWN THE FORMULA Word Choice • 1. Identify the word or phrase. • 2. Note the connotations. • 3. Explain the effect of the word. Explain what the writer is trying to tell us.

THE MCCANNS NOW LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF POLICE SUSPICION. • Question: How does the word choice illustrate what the Mc. Canns’ lives are like now? (2) • Strategy: – Quote the key word – Give the connotations – Explain what the writer is trying to say in the passage. • Answer: – “shadow” – The connotations of the word ‘shadow’ are nightmare and sneaky. – This suggests their lives are miserable, fearful and gloomy because of the constant pressure that they are under from the police.

EXAMPLE • Example • At the beginning of this month I was in a hellish but beautiful place. • Question • What is surprising about the author’s word choice in this line? 2 • Answer • “hellish yet beautiful” • The connotations of “hellish” are evil and hot. The connotations of “beautiful” are gorgeous and lovely. • These words are contradictory, which makes the expression surprising because the place was negative but also positive.

PRACTICE 1 PRACTICE 2 I only began to grasp this a few months ago when I travelled to Xi’an to visit the First Emperor’s mind-boggling tomb, home to his Terracotta Army. “This is one of the people who changed the world, ” said Neil Mac. Gregor, director of the British Museum. “There are terribly few historical figures whose achievements lasted like that. This is really one of the great, great figures in human history. ” The missing part of the Cinderella story is what happens when she puts on the glass slipper and disappears into the palace. Rowling filled in the blanks, describing to Jeremy Paxman how she has to cope with begging letters, journalists rifling through her bins, photographers lurking on the beach, and strangers accosting her in the supermarket. Question Show any one feature of Neil Mac. Gregor’s word choice makes it clear that he thinks of First Emperor as Question Explain how the writer’s word choice in lines 19– 22 helps to show the negative effects of fame. 4

IMAGERY- ON YOUR FLASHCARD, WRITE DOWN THE FORMULA. Imagery • 1. Quote the image in sentence/paragraph “________” • 2. Say what is being compared to what using “just as ____ so too ______”. • 3. Say what the image therefore shows. “This therefore shows…”

TIPS FOR IMAGERY QUESTIONS • Always analyse the literal thing first (the real thing that the other thing is being compared to) • Examples: • The world is a playground Figurativ e Literal • America is a melting pot Figurativ e Literal • The baby was an octopus Figurativ e Literal

THE WORLD IS A PLAYGROUND • “The world is a playground” • Just as a playground is an environment in which children can socialise, grow and learn, so too the world offers us an endless opportunity to develop and grow. • Therefore, the world can allow us to. World be successful in Playground learn the future. Fun Climbing Grow as people Learning Do something with life

AMERICA IS A MELTING POT • “America is a melting pot” • Just as a melting pot is a container into which a variety of things are mixed together, so too America can be seen to be a country of various people who all join together to make one. • Therefore, America can be considered a melting pot because of the mixing of different people. Melting Pot America Mixing/Baking A country Different ingredients Various people/different nationalities Fusing together to make something Wealthy

THE LAKE WAS LIKE A MIRROR Mirror Lake Reflective Looks like crystals Smooth reflective Silver silver Shiny still 1. “The lake was like a mirror” 2. Just as a mirror is shiny, silver and reflective, so too is the water in the lake when it is still. 3. This therefore shows that in the lake a perfect reflection of the surrounding scenery could be seen.

“ THIS ENGLISH LESSON IS A COMPLETE AND UTTER RIOT!” Bad English Lesson • What is the author suggesting about the lesson? Riot 1. “This English lesson is a complete and utter riot!” 2. Just as a riot is noisy, violent and crowed, so too was the chaotic English lesson. 3. This therefore shows that the English lesson was not calm and productive. It shows that the students might have been going crazy like you would see in

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

LINKING QUESTION- ON YOUR FLASHCARD, WRITE THE FORMULA 1. “Quote from linking sentence” 2. Say how it refers back in the passage. 3. “Quote from linking sentence” 4. Say how it refers forward in the passage. **You can come after school on Tuesdays for help regarding folio, close reading, poetry or essays. (3: 30 pm 4: 30 pm)

HOW DOES THE UNDERLINED SENTENCE ACT AS A SUCCESSFUL LINK TO THE PASSAGE? Passage: Shiny and bright red. The car was as striking as a fire. Outside the car is equally as impressive inside. Black leather seats, heated in the winter, set off the sleek design. The CD player is a work of art, sunk into the smooth dashboard. . . (2) “outside the car is as equally” links back to the previous information about the outside of the car. (1) “Inside” links forward to the description of the interior. (1)

Read the following paragraph and explain how the underlined sentence acts as a link. Step-by-step Answer: 1. Quote the part of the link paragraph/sentence that refers back. 2. Summarise what it refers back to. 3. Quote the part of the link paragraph/sentence that refers forward. 4. Summarise what it refers forward to.

HOW DOES THE UNDERLINED SENTENCE ACT AS A SUCCESSFUL LINK TO THE PASSAGE? In 1975 ‘Jaws’ set the hearts of its viewers thumping in time to theme tune. A Great White enjoyed a feeding frenzy on unsuspecting tourists. Now, however, scientists have discovered facts that suggest the film makers’ facts are false. In actual fact the Great White is a fussy eater. . .

HOW DOES THE UNDERLINED SENTENCE ACT AS A SUCCESSFUL LINK TO THE PASSAGE? • Around the world William Shakespeare is one of the best loved of all playwrights. Most people can name at least one of his plays, and lines from his works are ingrained into our psyche and language. Yet despite all the knowledge of his work, little is known of the life of Shakespeare. We know nothing of his life in London. . . • Mary Queen of Scots was indeed a beautiful woman. Fine featured with perfect skin, she matched the beauty found in her portraits. Small and petite, she fitted perfectly into how women of the period ‘should look’. Not only her appearance, but her character too , made her perfect queen material. She was extremely well educated, charming and inspired many writers.

TONE QUESTION- ON YOUR FLASHCARD, WRITE THE FORMULA 1. Identify the tone employed by the author 2. Quote a word or phrase that shows this tone 3. Explain how the tone is shown and how it is effective. (This word/phrase shows the ____ tone because ______. )

TYPES OF TONE • • • Humorous Conversational/chatty Persuasive Dismissive Ironic Serious/Formal Sarcastic Angry Frightened **In order to identify the tone you must look at the context of the statement to understand what is going on.

READ THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS AND FOR EACH DECIDE WHAT TONE IS BEING USED, LISTING THE WORDS/PHRASES WHICH HELPED YOU. 1. He walked into the immense cathedral, looked down the length of his nose and simply sniffed, proclaiming a tiny ‘humph’, before just glancing around. The golden coloured alter, with intricate brass carving he dismissed as ‘brass and stuff’. The flowers he shrugged at, before turning on his heels, unimpressed and bored.

READ THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS AND FOR EACH DECIDE WHAT TONE IS BEING USED, LISTING THE WORDS/PHRASES WHICH HELPED YOU. 2. Gosh, you won’t believe what I’ve done now. How could anyone have been so stupid? After the last time you’d have thought I’d have known better, wouldn’t you?

READ THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS AND FOR EACH DECIDE WHAT TONE IS BEING USED, LISTING THE WORDS/PHRASES WHICH HELPED YOU. 3. I just couldn’t believe the nerve of the man, and my face reddens whenever I think of it. How dare he speak to me like that, with such a condescending tone of voice. Who gave him the right to treat anyone like that? He really made my blood boil. 4. The Great Hall suddenly transformed into a feast. The four long house tables were laden tureens of porridge, plates of kippers, mountains of toast and dishes of egg and bacon. . .

SENTENCE STRUCTURE- ON YOUR FLASHCARD, WRITE THE FORMULA 1. 2. 3. Write down which technique is being used. Explain what this technique does. Explain why it is effective in this sentence/phrase.

EXAMPLE 1 QUESTION: USING THE SENTENCE BELOW, HOW DOES THE WRITER TELL THE READER THAT SARAH WAS BUSY YESTERDAY? (2) WHEN SARAH ARRIVED HOME FROM SCHOOL YESTERDAY SHE THOUGHT BACK TO ALL THE CLASSES SHE HAD: MATHS, ENGLISH, SPANISH, P. E. AND GEOGRAPHY. 1) A colon is used 2) to introduce a list. 3) This tells us that she was very busy all day because the author lists her classes.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE QUESTION: PUNCTUATION To be successful in this type of question you have to be able to identify and explain: Colon : used to introduce a list or an explanation Semi-colon ; separate items in a complex list or introduces a balancing point Dash add information/explanation – ( ) Parenthesis , , - Exclamation mark ! Add additional information (an aside which is not necessary for the sentence to make sense) Effects the tone of a sentence Inverted commas “ ” show a title or may question the truthfulness of opinion

EXAMPLE 1 In 45 minutes, I will lead a walking safari through the African bush – with only five days training under my belt. That’s right, dear reader: six days ago I knew about as much about the fauna and flora of South Africa as I did about the contents of your fridge. Explain how the writer uses sentence structure to convey how worried and unprepared the writer feels. (2 marks)

EXAMPLE 2 He watched her counting her coins from a small black purse. The transaction seemed to fluster her, as if she might not have enough money to pay for the few things she’d bought. A tin of lentil soup. An individual chicken pie. One solitary tomato. Explain how the writer uses sentence structure to emphasise that the woman had bought “few things”. (2 marks)

Explain how the writer uses sentence structure to demonstrate his need to climb mountains. (2 marks) EXAMPLE 3 From whence comes this compulsion to climb mountains? My neighbours seem to be able to enjoy lives of quiet contentment without ever having to leave the horizontal plane. Why do I have this compulsion to get to the top of every insignificant bump on the landscape? Why, no matter how breathless, bruised, battered and bedraggled I become while hillwalking, do I return with a grin on my face and a desire to go out and do it again?

EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION/CONCLUSION 1. Does it sum up or introduce the main points? Quote + explain 2. Does it restate the writer’s point of view? Quote + explain 3. Does it link to somewhere in the passage? Quote + explain 4. Is there any word choice/imagery? Quote + explain

TEENAGE BEDROOM IN THIS PASSAGE, THE WRITER EXPLORES THE REASONS BEHIND TEENAGE UNTIDINESS. **Introduces main points ** Links to the emotions that the other felt. The untrained eye might just see some discarded clothes and mugs – but teenage mess is an emotional issue. The other morning, I found myself on my knees in my son’s bedroom, sobbing into a rather iffy smelling sock. All around me was the detritus of 16 -year-old male life: piles of discarded clothes of indeterminate cleanliness, BB gun pellets, shards of glass from the mirror shattered by said BB gun. I counted five towels, all damp and heaped on the floor. One smelt as if it might have started sprouting its own fungal life form. On the plus side, there were also plenty of books, mostly school textbooks, which had been put to ingenious uses: a handy breakfast tray (with bowl and spoon virtually welded to the front cover), a prop to jam open the window. At first I’d been cautiously optimistic to see that the dirty washing basket actually contained some items of clothing. I was considerably less thrilled to find it filled mostly with the clean laundry that had gone up, freshly folded, to his room earlier in the week. Clearly the effort required to put it away in drawers was too great when it could just as easily be recycled straight into the wash basket, thus cutting out the middle man. Underneath the bed, on top of the mantelpiece and balancing precariously on the mattress, were 13 (count ‘em) mugs featuring dregs of tea in various stages of decay. The bedding had mostly come off the bed and was

EXAMPLE ANSWER HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE INTRODUCTION? (2) • The introduction is effective because: – “discarded clothes and mugs” introduces the main idea of the passage. The writer then follows this up by listing the items discarded on the son’s bedroom floor. This is effective because right from the beginning the reader knows what the subject of the passage is. (1) – “Emotional issue” links to the next paragraph where it further specifies the emotions that the mother feels. This is effective because it highlights that not only do teenagers feel the pressure but the parents do too. (1)