ExpertHard20 marksExtended Response
AQA GCSE · Question 04 · Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Focus this part of your answer on the second part of the source, from line 18 to the end.
A student said, "Dick's anger towards Mary is really unfair. The writer makes it clear that Mary is totally powerless in this relationship."
To what extent do you agree?
In your response you could:
- consider whether Dick's anger is unfair
- evaluate how the writer presents Mary and Dick's relationship
- support your response with references to the text.
Focus this part of your answer on the second part of the source, from line 18 to the end.
A student said, "Dick's anger towards Mary is really unfair. The writer makes it clear that Mary is totally powerless in this relationship."
To what extent do you agree?
In your response you could:
- consider whether Dick's anger is unfair
- evaluate how the writer presents Mary and Dick's relationship
- support your response with references to the text.
How to approach this question
1. Start with a clear statement of your position: to what extent do you agree with the student's view?
2. Structure your answer into paragraphs. Dedicate at least one paragraph to the first part of the statement ('Dick's anger is unfair') and another to the second part ('Mary is totally powerless').
3. In each paragraph, make your point and support it with short, relevant quotations from the text (lines 18 to the end).
4. Analyse the writer's methods. How does the writer use dialogue, verbs, imagery, and contrast to present the characters and their relationship in this way?
5. Conclude by summarising your evaluation.
Full Answer
This question assesses AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references. You are being asked to form a judgement based on a given statement. You need to analyse the text to find evidence that supports or challenges the statement, and comment on how the writer's choices in language and characterisation lead you to your conclusion. A top-level answer will offer a critical and perceptive argument.
Common mistakes
A common error is to simply retell the story from line 18 onwards. Instead, you must use the events as evidence to build an argument about whether the anger is unfair and Mary is powerless. Always link your points back to the student's statement.
Practice the full AQA GCSE English Paper 1
5 questions · hints · full answers · grading
More questions from this exam
Q01SOURCE TEXT:
Mary felt the stillness first, a heavy blanket smothering the morning's potential. S...EasyQ02Look in detail at this extract, from lines 7 to 17 of the source:
As time passed, the heat becam...MediumQ03You now need to think about the whole of the source.
This text is taken from the middle of a nov...MediumQ05A magazine has asked for contributions for their creative writing section.
Either
Write a descr...Hard