Prelim Preparation

Prelim Preparation

We are learning to: • Plan our revision for the upcoming prelim. • Select questions appropriate for our texts.

Preparation this week: • Thursday: Timed Critical Essay Writing (2 Essays) *Pupils not in the poetry rotation going to Mrs. Lane for poetry lessons. *Textual Analysis Re-assessment tomorrow Period 6 Friday: Timed Close Reading (P&N Paper) Prelim style

What is expected of you during the Prelim? • You will have to complete 2 Critical Essays (1 Prose and 1 Poetry) • You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes = 45 minutes per essay • You will have 1 hour to complete a Close Reading

What texts will I have to choose from? • Prose: Story of an Hour & The Wave • Poetry: Shooting Stars & Revelation *We will be doing our Drama text after the Prelim.

Critical Essay Advice • Select your questions first. • Highlight the key words / phrases • Score out irrelevant information • Bullet point what you will discuss (Take no longer than 3-5 minutes)

Studying • You should have a study plan in place. • Revise a text each night • Write out important quotes with analysis onto cards / post it notes • Have a parent / friend test you • Write timed CEL in the house – I will mark if you wish!

resources • The wiki – all our lessons / handouts / revision tools are on there! • BBC Bitesize website – lots of useful info on there • SQA website – lots of past papers for you to attempt • Supported study – 3 nights a week!

Questions • We are now going to analyse different types of questions to see which would suit the texts we have studied. • We will begin with prose (Story of an Hour and The Wave)

Choose a novel or a short story where there is an incident which is a turning point crucial to the fate of the main character. • Choose a novel or a short story in which setting in place and/or time is an important feature. • Choose a novel or a short story or a non-fiction text or group of texts which deals with an important human issue (such as the abuse of power, conflict between good and evil, loss of freedom or hatred between individuals or groups). • Choose a novel or a short story in which you feel there is an incident of great importance to the story as a whole. • Choose a novel or a short story which has a character who affects you emotionally. • Choose a prose work (fiction or non-fiction) in which the writer uses a memorable style/voice/narrative technique.

Choose a novel or a short story which gives you an insight into an aspect of human nature or behaviour. • Choose a novel or a short story with an ending which you find satisfactory. • Choose a prose work (fiction or non-fiction) in which the setting is an important feature. • Choose a novel or a short story in which a character is in conflict with his or her friends or relatives or society. • Choose a novel or a short story which deals with the effects of evil or war or deceit or a breakdown in society or a breakdown in relationship(s). • Choose a non-fiction text or group of texts which interests you because of its detailed and vivid description of scenes, events, people. • Choose a novel or a short story which has a turning point or moment of realisation for at least one of the characters.

Choose a novel or a short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to face. Choose a non-fiction text or group of texts which uses setting, or humour, or description to make clear to you an interesting aspect of society. Choose a novel or a short story in which two of the main characters have a disagreement which is important to the outcome of the novel or short story. Choose a prose text (fiction or non-fiction) in which a society or a person or a culture or a setting is effectively portrayed. Choose a novel or a short story which has a striking opening. Choose a novel or a short story which deals with an important human issue: for example, poverty, war, family conflict, injustice, or any other issue you regard as important. Choose a novel or short story in which the main character makes an important decision.

Poetry questions

Choose a poem which describes a person’s experience. • Choose a poem which arouses strong emotion in you. • Choose a poem in which the poet creates a particular mood or atmosphere. • Choose a poem which deals with an important issue such as war, crime, poverty, or racism. • Choose a poem which describes an animal or a place or an event in an effective way. • Choose a poem written in a specific form such as ballad, sonnet, elegy, monologue, ode…

Choose a poem which could be considered as having a powerful message. • Choose a poem in which the poet creates a particular mood or atmosphere. • Choose a poem which portrays an interesting character. • Choose a poem which deals with childhood, adolescence, family life or old age. • Choose a poem which deals with a particular time of year or a particular place.

Choose a poem which has as one of its central concerns a personal, social or religious issue • Choose a poem which creates an atmosphere of sadness, pity, or loss. • Choose a poem about a strong relationship- for example, between two people, or between a person and a place. • Choose a poem which reflects on an aspect of human behaviour in such a way as to deepen your understanding of human nature. • Choose a poem which seems to be about an ordinary everyday experience but which actually makes a deeper comment about life. • Choose a poem which creates pity or sympathy in you.

Prelim Preparation