Tips on Question Five
Questions 1-4 test your ability to spot features and devices in writing and how they are used
effectively. Question 5 tests your ability to use these devices in your own writing.
The Question is worth 16 marks.
Six marks are allocated for Spelling Punctuation and Grammar in three bands: 1-2 Band 1; 3-4
Band 2; and, 5-6 Band 3.
10 Marks are awarded for content in four bands: 1-2 Band 1; 3-4 Band 2; 5-7 Band 3; and, 8-10
Band 4.
To get a ‘C’ grade on this Question you will probably need 8-10 marks out of 16 with 8 being the
absolute minimum with no guarantees!
There are a number of websites which can help you understand what the examiners are looking
for. A good one is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddxBpnqOsFo which takes you through an
A* answer using an AQA examination paper.
Some Basics
You are asked to describe and explain ONLY (it would be exceptionally rare if you were asked
to argue or persuade as these are covered in Question 6 and there are no examples of this in
previous papers)
Timing and Planning
You only have a maximum of 25mins to write this answer. The maximum planning time is 10 mins
and the minimum writing time is 15 mins so the faster you can plan (provided it is detailed
enough) the more time you have to write. You should aim to complete between 1 – 1 ½ sides of
examination paper at 8-10 words a line.
Answer Format
The Question may ask you to write a blog or an article or a letter but it might not specify a
format!
A Blog
This is a personal journal (like diary and may or may not have dates in it usually not as the
website update tells you when the latest version was). But treat it a bit like a diary; it is personal
reflections on something eg an event. Remember it is for public viewing so limit the very personal
references to all but zero and anonymise names to first names only (make them up).
An Article
The source material in Questions 1-3 are usually articles so follow the rules of putting together an
article. It needs a headline. Grab the reader’s attention with something
imaginative/mysterious/shocking surprising in the first paragraph. Paragraphs of content. A
punchy final paragraph.
A Letter
Two types informal (unlikely but possible) and formal (more likely based on previous papers). It
must be in letter format eg
USE THIS ADDRESS =>
1 Riddy Lane
Luton
Beds LU3 2AH
Attn. of Chair of Governors <=(An example of audience)
13th June 2015
Icknield High School
Riddy Lane
Luton
Beds LU3 2AH
Dear Mr. Jones => USE THIS NAME
End it with:
Yours sincerely
YOUR NAME!!
The opening paragraph tells the reader/audience why you are writing to them – try a few
variations to the boring ‘I am writing to ……….’
The middle paragraphs are the content of your letter and where you will gain most marks.
The last paragraph tells/requests the reader audience what you want as an outcome.
The Letter format dominates past examination papers but you need to do what they ask. DO NOT
write a letter unless asked for in the question!!!
Examiners have a sort of check list which is based on the mark scheme which you can find online
at AQA Past Papers – the marking criteria has not changed for years! – so please look it up.
A Content Check List
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A punchy headline for articles – but don’t waste time trying to think of a brilliant one as in the
end it’s only one line so keep it simple
The opening paragraph – first impressions count and if the examiner has read 400 scripts
beginning eg ‘The most memorable day of my life was……..blah blah blah’ and you are 401
then give them something different! Make the first paragraph, exciting/gripping/mysterious.
You could use a ‘dialogue’ (quoted speech) for example – see SPG Check List for punctuation
layout. Or say the detail of the content then say it was memorable eg ‘ The ringing in my ears
and pounding of my head coupled with spots flickering across my eyes from the flashing
strobe lighting were all I can recall from the best concert I have ever been to!’
The middle paragraphs must be of varying length
A mixture of long and short sentences
Dialogue – speech extracts - NOT a play script and NOT a conversation. DO NOT use only
one dialogue, two is the minimum and three the maximum. Spread them out! Useful to quote
an expert in an article or what a friend said.
Bullet Points and lists – get one of these in. List things you are going to see, do, eat, listen to
etc. only one list/set of bullet points
An indented section – good in articles when quoting references or experts – look at examples
of articles – leaflets and pamphlets do this a lot!
Appeal to the senses! – touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight. You might do these as a
chunk or spread out. Chance to use alliteration, personification, metaphors, onomatopoeia.
Hyperbole – exaggerated language to describe something.
Learn some standard phrases to describe places/people etc – You need to work on
phrases to describe landscape and places and then learn them and use them!!! It’s not original
but it gets you marks. A word of caution - don’t chuck them in for the sake of it eg don’t start
describing the sea if you are in a field miles away from it!!!
Rhetorical questions – Do not use them to persuade the reader but to
empathise/engage with the reader eg ‘We all know what it’s like to be soaked to the skin
so our clothes stick to us like glue, don’t we?’.
Vary your vocabulary ! Attached is a list of words to describe things (adjectives). The list
under each is not exhaustive and if you find more/better ones add them in. Learn a few.
Practice using them in a sentence. Then replicate them in the exam.
Moving the reader through the piece – Paragraphs should not be stand alone in the
middle section and should either set up the next one or act as a contrast to the one before.
For example, you could end with ‘…but that was nothing compared to what came next!’ that
sets up the next paragraph. Or you may begin another paragraph with ‘….. Compared to ‘x’
what came next was quite extraordinary as we entered the next room and found ……..’
In the end what you write is up to you but if you hit this check list, you stand a chance of securing
a good Band 3 for content at least.
A Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Check List
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Capital letters and full stops – the basic of any sentence!
Commas – break up sentences whilst maintaining the flow of the sentence – good for long
descriptions of place/landscape where tension and surprise is not needed.
Exclamation marks – use when making a firm point to emphasise something. Good for
dramatic impact ‘The window slammed shut!’
Ellipses (the little……..dots) – useful for tension and engaging the reader – don’t over use
them, once well done is better than three more ones.
A mixture of long and short sentences is required
Spellings! Ensure you know your weaknesses and look out for them. Words you must get ri ght:
a) Their, (ownership) There (place) and They’re (short for ‘they are’)
b) Should’ve, Would’ve, Could’ve, Might’ve – there is NO such phrase as ‘would of’
c) Disappear / Disappoint(ment) – one ‘s’ only
d) Separate
e) Definite
f) Embarrass (ment)
g) Gauge
h) Whether – as is in ‘whether or not he was right’
i) Weather – sunny, cold etc
Use of the apostrophe – Replace letters ref. c) above. Or indicate ownership - eg the man’s
coat
Direct speech (Dialogue see Content Check List) – get it right (see below)
In direct speech, various punctuation conventions are used to separate the quoted words from the
rest of the text: this allows a reader to follow what is going on. Here are the basic rules:
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The words that are actually spoken should be enclosed in inverted commas:
Eg ‘He’s very clever, you know.’
Eg “He’s very clever, you know.”
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Every time a new speaker says something, you should start a new paragraph:
Eg ‘They think it’s a more respectable job,’ said Jo.
Eg ‘I don’t agree,’ I replied.
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There should be a comma, full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end of a piece
of speech. This is placed inside the closing inverted comma or commas.
Eg ‘Can I come in?’ he asked.
Eg ‘Just a moment!’ she shouted.
Eg ‘You’re right,’ he said.
Eg 'I didn't expect to win.'
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If direct speech comes after the information about who is speaking, you should use a comma
to introduce the piece of speech, placed before the first inverted comma:
Eg Steve replied, ‘No problem.’
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If the direct speech is broken up by information about who is speaking, you need a comma (or
a question mark or exclamation mark) to end the first piece of speech and a full stop or
another comma before the second piece (before the inverted comma or commas):
Eg ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘It feels strange.’
Eg ‘Thinking back,’ she said, ‘he didn’t expect to win.’
Eg ‘No!’ he cried. ‘You can’t leave now!’
REMEMBER - this question is not a play script nor should it be a conversation; just prove you can
do it. I have highlighted good formats to use as dialogue variations in BOLD
Checking Your Work
You will have very little time to do this but try to find time for this question.
1. For spelling start at the end and read it backwards first, looking at each individual word so
you read what is there and not what you want to read.
2. Then check the dialogue punctuation.
3. Then make sure you have paragraphs and indicate any new/forgotten paragraphs using //
4. Finally read it from the start aloud in your head to see if it makes sense using ^ to add
words in and strike out for errors eg weather whether – one line only