TIMING SCHEME Leaving Cert English Paper 1 Each

TIMING SCHEME Leaving Cert English

Paper 1 Each section (Comprehension and Composition) is worth 100 marks so you should give your time fairly evenly over both sections. Time Breakdown • Reading and choosing questions – 20 minutes • Question A in Section 1 (Comprehension) – 35 minutes • Question B in Section 1 (Composing) - 35 minutes • Composition question in Section 2 – 80 minutes

Tips on Approaching Paper 1 General • The first paper relates to a particular theme, make sure you note what this theme is. All of your questions will be related to this theme. • When reading through the paper mark questions that you think you could tackle. • You can use ideas and get inspiration from styles of writing from the texts in Section 1 so it makes sense to do your composition question last.

Section 1 – Question A • Always bear in mind the context of each text – the audience it was intended for and the purpose for which it was written. • There are never straight-forward questions on the text. You are expected to be able to read, to question and to make judgements in this question. • Make sure you answer the question you are asked. Triplecheck what the question is asking you to do, to avoid any mistakes. • Highlight the key words in the questions – explain, describe, in your opinion etc.

Section 1 – Question A • Reread the comprehension underlining or highlighting anything that will help you answer the questions. • When answering the questions, always use the question to start your answer. • Use full clear sentences. • Always try to give your opinion, reasons for it and examples from the comprehension to back up your point.

Section 1 – Question B • Read the instructions carefully and make sure you are answering the question asked. • Always consider: * Who is your audience? * The context of what you are writing (is it a public talk, a letter, a diary etc. ) – what instructions are you given in the question? * The register of your piece – what tone of voice will it be written in? This will depend on the audience you are writing for. • You do not have to write a long answer, rather this question asks you to show your awareness of language and how to use it in different settings and situations.

Section II: Composing • Various question formats crop up every year – a short story, a talk, a speech, a newspaper article, a magazine article, a personal essay, a descriptive essay. With this in mind, it is important that you know your strengths and weaknesses. But also that you be prepared for every eventuality. You never know what you might to decide to answer on the day!

Section II: Composing What is the essay format you feel most comfortable with? What can you do to practise and develop your skill in this area? For example, how many essays have you written in this style? If you don’t have the time to write a number of full essays it is a good idea to plan out a few different essays. Use your exam papers to make a list of 3 or 4 questions in this style and brainstorm/plan out the structure or the paragraph topics for each title. This way you have a number of planned ideas in your head in case you have a mental block on the day.

What essay format do you feel least comfortable with? Try to pinpoint what exactly you find difficult about the format. Have you written any essays in this style? Try to at least plan out a couple of essays in this style as well. If you plan to limit yourself to only particular questions you’re putting yourself under even more pressure facing into the exam. Try to take the fear out of your hated questions by putting a little bit of planning into them, this way you’re never relying on one question coming up!

Section 2 – Composing • Each composition will be related to the texts and theme of the paper. • For each composition there will be a title or a quote and then an instruction. The instruction gives your task so pay close detail to it. • The instruction will be in bold to highlight the question you are being asked.

Section 2 – Composing Underline any key words that are mentioned in the instruction. These might refer to: * The audience or context – ‘school magazine’, ‘serious newspaper’, ‘popular magazine’ etc. * Form – ‘short story’, ‘personal essay’, ‘article’, ‘speech’ etc. • Purpose – ‘persuade’, ‘outline your views’, ‘encourage readers’ etc. * Register – ‘serious’, ‘humorous’ etc.

Section 2 – Composing • The purpose of the composition question is to show you can write intelligently, fluently and with a clear sense of purpose and control. • The majority of Leaving Cert students answer on the short story, but many ignore the form of the short story. If you write a short story you must include its key elements – a character in a situation, a conflict or problem and a resolution. You must create a credible setting and atmosphere. •

Section 2 – Composing • Most convincing short stories are based on a single incident. Do not overload a short story with plotlines. • The personal essay is the next most popular question to answer on. Bear in mind, this is an essay question, not a speech or a talk or a short story. As it is a personal essay, be sure to write in the first person

Paper 2 Time Breakdown 200 marks in total Read the paper – 15 minutes • The Single Text (Hamlet) question) – 55 minutes (60 marks) • The Comparative Study – 65 minutes (70 marks) • Unseen Poetry – 15 minutes (20 marks) • Prescribed Poetry – 50 minutes (50 marks) Approaching the Paper The order you answer the questions on Paper 2 is entirely up to yourself and what approach suits you best. However, whatever order you follow, do not go over the allotted time for each question. Be strict with yourself.

The Single Text • You must know your single text inside and out. You need to understand the characters, their relationships and their motivations, as well as the central themes of the play. • Never waste time writing lengthy and irrelevant summaries of large parts of the story. • Express your opinion on the topic with honesty, conviction and logic. • A series of short quotations worked into your answer, is far better than one or two lengthy quotations. • Read the question very carefully and be careful to stay with your point.

Shakespeare Question • Have you practiced any Hamlet questions and what were their titles? • Have you scheduled time to redo any corrected essays according to those corrections before the mocks? • There is no point learning off an average essay, particularly when you can spend another hour reworking it and going into the exam with a very good answer. When making adjustments to your work focus on any corrections or comments made and also look closely at your use of quotes in the essay. Is it adequate? Is there room or opportunity for you to include more quotes?

3. Make a list of all the Hamlet questions that have come up on past Leaving Cert papers (use studyclix. ie) Ask yourself honestly, could you answer this question in the exam based on the amount of work you have done on Hamlet up to now? If you could not, what study needs to be done in order for you to be able to answer this question? • The important thing is to plan your essay so you know what you’re going to argue in each paragraph. Structure is key!

• Planning also gives you time to make connections between the topics you have covered in Hamlet and what you are being asked to answer on. • It is a good idea to at least plan out an answer for each of the Hamlet questions that have come up in previous years and get down on paper what paragraph topics you would actually use. • It is easy to glance at a question, decide you have enough material to answer it and then move on. It’s usually only when you go to actually write a whole essay on the topic you realise it’s harder than it looks. Spending some time planning essays now will save you a lot of hassle in the exam!

The Comparative Study You do not need to know your texts in the same detail as your single text. However, you must be able to use the modes of comparison to make comparisons and contrasts between the 3 texts. (General Vision and Viewpoint and Theme/Issue) The more linking phrases you use in your answer, the more marks you will get.

Comparative Question (Section 2) 1. • • • The three texts you have studied are: The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey The King’s Speech by Tom Hooper 1894 by George Orwell 2. There are three modes of comparison for this section. You have studied two modes: • General Vision and Viewpoint • Theme/Issue 3. On the exam two out of the three modes will come up and you will have to answer on one of them. 4. Whichever mode you pick you will have a choice between two questions. 5. Read all of the questions very carefully before you decide which to answer on.

6. Once you have selected your question do a quick rough plan for how you plan to answer the question – what point will you make in each paragraph. 7. Be careful to avoid summarising the text and make clear points to develop your answer. 8. When you are comparing your texts be sure to use as many linking phrases as you can.

Comparing 'In all three texts. . ' ”I notice in both X and Y…” ”Both authors use…” ”Similarly” 'Both. . ' 'This compares well with' 'In exactly the same way' ”Again in. . . ' 'this differs from. . . ' 'However' 'On the other hand' ”The situation in X is very like…” ”A similar event occurs…” ”The two texts are linked by…” ” Somewhat like…/echoes…/ links…. ” Contrast (differences only) 'Unlike' 'However' 'On the other hand' 'Whereas' 'this differs from. . . ' ”The situation in X is very different from …” ”in contrast with …” ”X is… but Y is …. ” ”the situation is very different in…/handled differently in…”

Poetry Question (Unseen Poem) 1. You will have to answer on an Unseen Poem, a poem you have never studied or read before. 2. You will not be expected to give the same amount of detail that you will give for the Prescribed Poetry section but you will be expected to discuss your thoughts and opinions on the poem. 3. Read the poem carefully and try to make sense of it. Your interpretation does not have to be the same as everybody else’s so don’t worry if you don’t feel certain that you ‘get it’. Decide what you think the poem is dealing with and be confident in your answer. 4. When answering do not just waffle. Try to discuss Theme, Tone and Technique and explain how these elements added to your enjoyment of the poem.

Poetry Question (Unseen Poem) • THEME – The message of the poem, what is it about, what is the poet trying to tell us about the subject? • TONE – The mood of the poem, how does the poet feel, how does the poem make you the reader feel? E. g. Sad, joyful, bitter, angry, happy, regretful etc. • TECHNIQUE – See if you can identify any poetic techniques in the poem such as: imagery, similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, rhyme, onomatopoeia etc. If there any in the poem show off that you know what they are. Example: ‘I really enjoy the poet’s use of imagery, the picture he paints of the ……………. in the second stanza meant I could vividly imagine the ……………… etc.

Unseen Poem The questions often ask you to consider: • The various patterns in a poem. • The imagery and its effect. • The feelings that the poem conveys • Your response to the poem. Make use of your knowledge of poetic techniques in your answer Express your ideas clearly and support them with references and quotations from the poem.

Prescribed Poetry • In the prescribed poetry section there will be 4 questions. You will have to choose one question to answer. • Each question will deal with a different poet. There are 8 possible poets who could come up and there will be at least one poet that you have studied. • If more than one poet you have studied comes up, read both questions very carefully. Don’t just glance at the poet’s name and make a decision – check what specifically the question is asking you to do before you decide. • Each question will make a specific statement about the poet which will give you the key phrases you should be discussing throughout your answer.

Prescribed Poetry The question will address topics such as: • The poet’s themes and concerns • The world or setting of the poem • The poet’s life and times • The poet’s style or use of language Use quotations throughout your essay to support your answer and your point of view. In no other area of the English paper is personal response so important. Keep the ‘I’ at the heart of all you write and express what you found engaging/appealing/interesting/moving/beautiful/sad etc.

Good luck!