NO ET MOI – A LEVEL FRENCH
Writing about a film
Dans ce film, il s’agit de…
Mon analyse s’appuie sur…
… nous permet de comprendre la manière dont…
Une manière dont le réalisateur …, c’ est ...
L’action se déroule à …
Il est un des fondateurs de (la nouvelle vague)
C’est avec … que le réalisateur a fait sa marque
Les effets spéciaux sont / Le dialogue est …
Comme ces exemples l’indiquent…
Comme je l’ai démontré,…
le réalisateur a voulu montrer que.../ dénoncer
CRITICAL RESPONSE
Principal Examiner Top Tip
“The introduction of the essay should be short and relevant to the question set.
Indeed, the core of the candidate’s argument might be stated in a single sentence.
A preamble giving background information about the film is not necessary.
Candidates, who write long introductions giving information, for example about
the cast, the director, the author, the historical context (unless relevant), or the date
the film was released are merely wasting both time and words. Candidates should
,also resist the urge to use a pre-learnt paragraph for their introduction. A good
approach for candidates to take whilst writing their essay during the examination
(and when writing essays in class or for homework) would be to regularly refer
back to their introduction to check that what they are writing in their essay is
exactly what they have said they would do in their introduction.”
Advice to students
• Read the question carefully. Highlight the key words and ensure you deal with all aspects required by
the title.
• Make sure you leave sufficient time to plan and, equally importantly, to check your essay through at
the end.
• Don’t waste time summarising the text or film: get straight to the point.
• Don’t tell the story of what happens. The best essays are those which demonstrate an excellent
critical evaluation and analysis of the text.
• Back up your points with concise yet detailed references to the book or film.
• Write the number of the essay you are answering in the space provided.
• Don’t quote unless you are sure you can quote accurately.
• Bear in mind that it is not essential to write an introduction, especially one that tells the examiner
who wrote the text or directed the film and when/where it was set. It is perfectly acceptable to go
straight into your first point.
Extracts from an Examiners Reports:
1. This text was a very popular choice. Candidates engaged well with both questions. The
answers were generally of a good standard, the most common failing being excessive
description, especially in relation to homelessness in France.”
2. This novel was a very popular choice. Students engaged well with the themes and
responded to the topicality of the issues involved. Very few candidates chose question 1,
l’importance de la scolarité, but those who did performed well on the whole. The best
answers dealt with Lou, Lucas and No whereas the weaker ones concentrated on Lou only.
, The second question on Lou’s relationship with her parents was the more popular. The
answers were generally of a good standard, the most common failing being excessive
description, especially with regard to Anouk’s depression. Some candidates dwelt too much
on Lou’s late sister.
Dans No et moi, une adolescente surdouée solitaire se lie
d’amitié avec une jeune SDF, à la faveur d’une rencontre
fortuite. Lou Bertignac a 13 ans, un QI de 160 et des questions
plein la tête. Les yeux grand ouverts, elle observe les gens,
collectionne les mots, se livre à des expériences domestiques et
dévore les encyclopédies. Enfant unique d’une famille en
déséquilibre, entre une mère brisée et un père champion de la
bonne humeur feinte, dans l’obscurité d’un appartement dont
les rideaux restent tirés, Lou invente des théories pour
apprivoiser le monde. A la gare d’Austerlitz, elle rencontre No,
une jeune fille SDF à peine plus âgée qu’elle. Leur histoire
commune improbable influencera radicalement leur histoire
personnelle.
No et moi est l'histoire d'une adolescente de treize ans Lou, surdouée et
de No une jeune femme de 18 ans, sans domicile fixe. Lou est en classe de
seconde, c'est une adolescente réservée qui aime observer les gens et déteste
parler en public. Intellectuellement précoce, Lou est une adolescente curieuse et
ouverte d’esprit. Elle lit énormément et expérimente le monde afin de mieux le
comprendre. . Malgré ses 11 ans, elle est donc très mature mais reste
attachante car elle a une vision du monde complètement différente de
la nôtre et des gens qui l’entoure.
Writing about a film
Dans ce film, il s’agit de…
Mon analyse s’appuie sur…
… nous permet de comprendre la manière dont…
Une manière dont le réalisateur …, c’ est ...
L’action se déroule à …
Il est un des fondateurs de (la nouvelle vague)
C’est avec … que le réalisateur a fait sa marque
Les effets spéciaux sont / Le dialogue est …
Comme ces exemples l’indiquent…
Comme je l’ai démontré,…
le réalisateur a voulu montrer que.../ dénoncer
CRITICAL RESPONSE
Principal Examiner Top Tip
“The introduction of the essay should be short and relevant to the question set.
Indeed, the core of the candidate’s argument might be stated in a single sentence.
A preamble giving background information about the film is not necessary.
Candidates, who write long introductions giving information, for example about
the cast, the director, the author, the historical context (unless relevant), or the date
the film was released are merely wasting both time and words. Candidates should
,also resist the urge to use a pre-learnt paragraph for their introduction. A good
approach for candidates to take whilst writing their essay during the examination
(and when writing essays in class or for homework) would be to regularly refer
back to their introduction to check that what they are writing in their essay is
exactly what they have said they would do in their introduction.”
Advice to students
• Read the question carefully. Highlight the key words and ensure you deal with all aspects required by
the title.
• Make sure you leave sufficient time to plan and, equally importantly, to check your essay through at
the end.
• Don’t waste time summarising the text or film: get straight to the point.
• Don’t tell the story of what happens. The best essays are those which demonstrate an excellent
critical evaluation and analysis of the text.
• Back up your points with concise yet detailed references to the book or film.
• Write the number of the essay you are answering in the space provided.
• Don’t quote unless you are sure you can quote accurately.
• Bear in mind that it is not essential to write an introduction, especially one that tells the examiner
who wrote the text or directed the film and when/where it was set. It is perfectly acceptable to go
straight into your first point.
Extracts from an Examiners Reports:
1. This text was a very popular choice. Candidates engaged well with both questions. The
answers were generally of a good standard, the most common failing being excessive
description, especially in relation to homelessness in France.”
2. This novel was a very popular choice. Students engaged well with the themes and
responded to the topicality of the issues involved. Very few candidates chose question 1,
l’importance de la scolarité, but those who did performed well on the whole. The best
answers dealt with Lou, Lucas and No whereas the weaker ones concentrated on Lou only.
, The second question on Lou’s relationship with her parents was the more popular. The
answers were generally of a good standard, the most common failing being excessive
description, especially with regard to Anouk’s depression. Some candidates dwelt too much
on Lou’s late sister.
Dans No et moi, une adolescente surdouée solitaire se lie
d’amitié avec une jeune SDF, à la faveur d’une rencontre
fortuite. Lou Bertignac a 13 ans, un QI de 160 et des questions
plein la tête. Les yeux grand ouverts, elle observe les gens,
collectionne les mots, se livre à des expériences domestiques et
dévore les encyclopédies. Enfant unique d’une famille en
déséquilibre, entre une mère brisée et un père champion de la
bonne humeur feinte, dans l’obscurité d’un appartement dont
les rideaux restent tirés, Lou invente des théories pour
apprivoiser le monde. A la gare d’Austerlitz, elle rencontre No,
une jeune fille SDF à peine plus âgée qu’elle. Leur histoire
commune improbable influencera radicalement leur histoire
personnelle.
No et moi est l'histoire d'une adolescente de treize ans Lou, surdouée et
de No une jeune femme de 18 ans, sans domicile fixe. Lou est en classe de
seconde, c'est une adolescente réservée qui aime observer les gens et déteste
parler en public. Intellectuellement précoce, Lou est une adolescente curieuse et
ouverte d’esprit. Elle lit énormément et expérimente le monde afin de mieux le
comprendre. . Malgré ses 11 ans, elle est donc très mature mais reste
attachante car elle a une vision du monde complètement différente de
la nôtre et des gens qui l’entoure.
