Language Paper Two

Question 1

When crafting your response, you should abide by the acronym:

C
R
A
P
F

What does it stand for?

Answer 1

Content - What you have to write about it.

Register - Who you have to write as (i.e narrative voice) What style will be appropriate.

Audience - Who do you need to write for?

Purpose - Why are you writing? To advise? To persuade? To describe?

Form - Type of writing. E.G speech/presentation, article, interview.

Question 2

What is language paper two about?

Answer 2

Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives.

Question 3

What sources will you be given? What time period will they be from and what form will they be?

Answer 3

Two non-fiction texts linked by topic - one from the 21st century and one from the 19th century. The non-fiction could be articles, essays, travel writing, biographies, letters, diary entries etc.
21st century text may include a picture; 19th century may be broken up into two pieces.

Question 4

What kind of issues is the exam likely to focus on?

Answer 4

One’s which have changed over time - such as the role of women, child labor and education.

Question 5

How should you break down your exam time? (1hr 45 mins)

Answer 5

Around 15 minutes reading and considering the text and then around a mark a minute.

For the record:

Q1=4 Marks
Q2=8 Marks
Q3=12 Marks
Q4=16 Marks

Question 6

What are you being asked to do in Q1?

Answer 6

You are given 8 statements about Source A and must decide which 4 are true.

Question 7

What are you being asked to do in Q2?

Answer 7

Write about both sources and SUMMARISE the similarities and differences.

Question 8

What are you being asked to do in Q3?

Answer 8

Focusing on one source (usually source B) you will need to discuss how the writer has used language for effect.

Question 9

What are you being asked to do in Q4?

Answer 9

You will need to compare both sources and evaluate critically in depth. This can include looking at the attitudes presented in each text and viewpoints of the writer. You also need to identify the literary methods used.

Question 10

Quick Tip

Answer 10

There is little in the way of context in Language paper two.

Question 11

What does it mean to ‘explain’?

Answer 11

Explaining involves illustrating a point and assigning a meaning to something. Think of ‘why?’ when explaining a point.

Question 12

What does it mean to ‘analyse’

Answer 12

Analysing is more concerned with the specifics of a text (e.g structure and language) and involves breaking text down into parts and critically evaluating the features and implications of it.

Question 13

What does it mean to ‘comment’?

Answer 13

To offer your own opinion on something, taking into account the text your studying and how other people (the writer perhaps) think of it.

Question 14

What are the four types of sentences?

Answer 14

Statements/ Declaratives
Questions/ Interrogatives
Commands/ Imperatives
Exclamations/ Exclamatory Sentences.

Question 15

Some Tips:

Answer 15

• Always summarise
• Be concise
• Focus on ideas and beliefs expressed - remember that these are clearly linked to the purpose of the text and also it’s audience.
• Use comparative connectives
• Support ideas with quotes.

Question 16

Which source is which?

Answer 16

SOURCE A = 21ST CENTURY TEXT

SOURCE B = 19TH CENTURY TEXT

BOTH NON-FICTION.