English Language Paper 1 – Explorations In Creative Reading And Writing
Q5 - Narrative or Descriptive writing – This is worth 50% (1/2) of your marks. (24 + 16 = 40)
1 Write in paragraphs 2 Use varied 3 Use varied sentences 4 Use short sentences for 5 Establish the time of year.
punctuation: ;,.!”-( ) Later that evening,… effect. Tick. Tock. Stop! Copper leaves…
6 Use Todorov 7 Focus on the senses 8 Use a little dialogue 9 Use contemporary 10 2/3 characters (Narrative
“Stop!” shouted mum, references. writing). 5 minutes rather
“don’t you dare!” Sat cosily like Megan and than 5 hours.
Harry, a …
11 3-5 characters 12 No first person 13 Create atmosphere: Time 14 Use precise verbs: 15 Use pathetic fallacy:
(Descriptive Writing) (Descriptive Writing) of day, sounds, weather, Saunter, waddle, loiter, Weather that reflects that
light… gaze – no got or get emotions of the central
character.
16 Use metaphors/similes: 17 Use adjectives /adverbs 18 Use onomatopoeia 19 Use personification 20 Use shades of colour:
The sun is a blazing Marvellous / Silently /alliteration Crunch, Clash, The river roared… Tangerine, copper, teal,
coin /The sun is like a Crack… mustard, fuchsia,
blazing coin magenta, scarlet…
Q4 – Evaluate – This is worth 25% (1/4) of your marks. (20) Q3 – Structure – This is worth 10% of your marks. (8)
1 Refer to the identified 2 Refer to all bullet points 3 Use supporting evidence 1 Refer to the changing focus 2 Comment on interesting 3 Use supporting evidence
section of the whole text. sentence structures. Don’t
just spot a short sentence!
4 Make references to 5 Refer to the author’s 6 Refer to both parts of 4 Ensure you comment on the 5 Refer to the author’s methods 6 Consider contrasts created by
language choices, tone, methods and use the statement beginning and the end. Do and use subject terminology the writer. Imagery,
structure subject terminology they link? dialogue, setting,
characterisation.
Q4, Sentence Starters: Q3, Sentence Starters:
o I completely agree… o At the start of the extract, the writer focusses the reader’s attention on
o I partly agree… o The use of dialogue helps to…
o When I read…it made me feel…therefore… o The contrast between…helps to establish/emphasise…
o The writer’s use of…reinforced… o A flashback to…leads the reader to…
o The fact that… reminded me of…
o By the end of the extract, the writer focusses…
o The (insert linguistic device here) was effective because it made me…
o The end of the text reminds us of the beginning because…
F What does it make me I What does it make me T What does it make me
feel? imagine? think?
Q2 – Language Analysis – This is worth 10% of your marks. (8) Q1 – List Four Facts – This is worth 5% of your marks. (4)
1 Refer to the identified 2 Use supporting 3 Refer to the author’s 1 Refer to the identified 2 Do not copy chunks of 3 Answer in sentences
section evidence. Keep your methods and use section text
quotation short. 1-6 subject terminology
words is ideal.
4 Continually refer back 5 Comment on the 6 Offer alternative 4 Paraphrase or embed 5 Inference is OK, but 6 Keep focussed to the
to the question. effect on the reader. interpretations, where text ensure you are right. end. It is just as easy
Explain how this is appropriate. Are there to get 0 as 4.
created by the any layers of
language/technique. meaning?
Q2, Sentence Starters: Final tips on Paper 1 success:
o The use of the adverb…suggests….because… Complete in reverse order, but do read the extract first; it may well give you some
creative inspiration or remind you of a technique you may want to use.
o The use of the precise verb…implies…because… Plan Q5 and leave yourself time to proof read your response. Even the best writers
o The writer’s repetitive use of the word…leads the reader to… will uncover mistakes or identify areas of improvement.
o Our emotions are stirred by the use of… When answering questions 4, 3 & 2, ensure you repeatedly address the writer. What
have they done? What impact does it have? Why?
o The feels…because of the writer’s use of…
While subject terminology is important you don’t have to use too many terms. Spotting
o The image of…helps to evoke… a technique is one job, the more important work comes from identifying the effect and
Q5 - Narrative or Descriptive writing – This is worth 50% (1/2) of your marks. (24 + 16 = 40)
1 Write in paragraphs 2 Use varied 3 Use varied sentences 4 Use short sentences for 5 Establish the time of year.
punctuation: ;,.!”-( ) Later that evening,… effect. Tick. Tock. Stop! Copper leaves…
6 Use Todorov 7 Focus on the senses 8 Use a little dialogue 9 Use contemporary 10 2/3 characters (Narrative
“Stop!” shouted mum, references. writing). 5 minutes rather
“don’t you dare!” Sat cosily like Megan and than 5 hours.
Harry, a …
11 3-5 characters 12 No first person 13 Create atmosphere: Time 14 Use precise verbs: 15 Use pathetic fallacy:
(Descriptive Writing) (Descriptive Writing) of day, sounds, weather, Saunter, waddle, loiter, Weather that reflects that
light… gaze – no got or get emotions of the central
character.
16 Use metaphors/similes: 17 Use adjectives /adverbs 18 Use onomatopoeia 19 Use personification 20 Use shades of colour:
The sun is a blazing Marvellous / Silently /alliteration Crunch, Clash, The river roared… Tangerine, copper, teal,
coin /The sun is like a Crack… mustard, fuchsia,
blazing coin magenta, scarlet…
Q4 – Evaluate – This is worth 25% (1/4) of your marks. (20) Q3 – Structure – This is worth 10% of your marks. (8)
1 Refer to the identified 2 Refer to all bullet points 3 Use supporting evidence 1 Refer to the changing focus 2 Comment on interesting 3 Use supporting evidence
section of the whole text. sentence structures. Don’t
just spot a short sentence!
4 Make references to 5 Refer to the author’s 6 Refer to both parts of 4 Ensure you comment on the 5 Refer to the author’s methods 6 Consider contrasts created by
language choices, tone, methods and use the statement beginning and the end. Do and use subject terminology the writer. Imagery,
structure subject terminology they link? dialogue, setting,
characterisation.
Q4, Sentence Starters: Q3, Sentence Starters:
o I completely agree… o At the start of the extract, the writer focusses the reader’s attention on
o I partly agree… o The use of dialogue helps to…
o When I read…it made me feel…therefore… o The contrast between…helps to establish/emphasise…
o The writer’s use of…reinforced… o A flashback to…leads the reader to…
o The fact that… reminded me of…
o By the end of the extract, the writer focusses…
o The (insert linguistic device here) was effective because it made me…
o The end of the text reminds us of the beginning because…
F What does it make me I What does it make me T What does it make me
feel? imagine? think?
Q2 – Language Analysis – This is worth 10% of your marks. (8) Q1 – List Four Facts – This is worth 5% of your marks. (4)
1 Refer to the identified 2 Use supporting 3 Refer to the author’s 1 Refer to the identified 2 Do not copy chunks of 3 Answer in sentences
section evidence. Keep your methods and use section text
quotation short. 1-6 subject terminology
words is ideal.
4 Continually refer back 5 Comment on the 6 Offer alternative 4 Paraphrase or embed 5 Inference is OK, but 6 Keep focussed to the
to the question. effect on the reader. interpretations, where text ensure you are right. end. It is just as easy
Explain how this is appropriate. Are there to get 0 as 4.
created by the any layers of
language/technique. meaning?
Q2, Sentence Starters: Final tips on Paper 1 success:
o The use of the adverb…suggests….because… Complete in reverse order, but do read the extract first; it may well give you some
creative inspiration or remind you of a technique you may want to use.
o The use of the precise verb…implies…because… Plan Q5 and leave yourself time to proof read your response. Even the best writers
o The writer’s repetitive use of the word…leads the reader to… will uncover mistakes or identify areas of improvement.
o Our emotions are stirred by the use of… When answering questions 4, 3 & 2, ensure you repeatedly address the writer. What
have they done? What impact does it have? Why?
o The feels…because of the writer’s use of…
While subject terminology is important you don’t have to use too many terms. Spotting
o The image of…helps to evoke… a technique is one job, the more important work comes from identifying the effect and
