Non-Fiction and Media Paper Advice

Non-Fiction and Media Paper
1 hour 45 minutes

3 questions (=35 mins per question)

Question 1: putting aspects of a text into your own words

1. Read the question and underline the aspects they’re asking you to focus on (e.g. pleasant aspects, unpleasant aspects)
2. Number these aspects (1= pleasant aspects, 2=unpleasant aspects)
3. Read the passage and underline relevant parts and put a number in the margin saying which of the aspects it’s relevant to
4. Start writing. Go through all the 1s then all the 2s etc.
5. DO NOT QUOTE; USE YOUR OWN WORDS; LINK RELATED POINTS

Question 2: analysing a text

1. Read the question and underline the key aspects they’re asking you to focus on (e.g. language, detail and humour).
2. Number these aspects (1=language, 2=detail, 3=humour)
6. Read the passage and underline relevant parts and put a number in the margin saying which of the aspects it’s relevant to
3. Start writing. Go through all the 1s then all the 2s etc.
4. Use POINT-QUOTE-COMMENT e.g. The writer uses language to give a negative impression of other people who ‘patronised’ him [point]. He refers to one as a ‘crone’ [quote], which contrasts with his earlier description of her as ‘a well-meaning soul’ and is a result of this ‘crone’ appearing frightening to Susie [analysis].

Question 3: writing to inform, explain, describe

1. Read the question carefully. What is the purpose and who is the audience?
2. Plan your answer carefully: what are your main points, what examples are you going to use, what order are you going to put these points, how are you going to start, how are you going to finish.
3. Start writing very carefully. Remember the following:
Paragraphs
Sentence variety (a mixture of simple, compound, complex)
Imaginative vocabulary
A range of punctuation (including semi-colons)
4. Watch your time. Allow enough time at the end to finish and check through your work for mistakes. It’s better to correct what you’ve written than to write more.