Here are the Close Reading materials used in class. They may help you with your revision.
Let me know if I’ve missed anything.
Close Reading
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Category Archives: 4A1
4A1 – Sailmaker Quotations
I’ve uploaded your amazing theme mind maps to help you revise for the Final 8-mark question in the Scottish Set Text exam.
These themes are not the ONLY ones that can come up but it is a good starting point for your revision.
Remember:
- 2 marks for commonality
- 2 marks for quote + comment from extract
- 2 marks for quote + comment from another point in the play
- 2 marks for quote + commend from another part of the play
Top Tip:
If you have time left at the end of the exam and you can think of ANOTHER quotation that is relevant to the final question then add it in. It’s good to have a backup in case one of your quotations or analysis isn’t quite right.
4A1 Performance (Talking and Listening)
Just a reminder that you should be prepared for your group discussion on a section of ‘Sailmaker’ on Thursday 31st August 2017. I will try to listen to as many groups as I can on this date but any left over will have the opportunity to talk on Monday 4th September 2017.
There will be further opportunities for assessment later in the year for those who are absent or do not achieve outcomes on the first attempt.
Discursive Writing Folio
There are three types of essay that you can write for this folio:
- Informative
- Discursive/Argumentative
- Persuasive
The most common type is #2. Candidates pick a topic that has two sides, researches both and form at least 3 strong arguments for both. These arguments are backed up with evidence from external sources and is referenced at the end of the essay.
However, you may like to consider the challenge of writing a persuasive essay. A persuasive essay can be researched or alternatively it can be an opinion piece that relies on sophisticated persuasive language and humour to get your point across.
Some common topics that have been written about often are: euthanasia, animal testing, abortion, death penalty, footballer’s wages, legalising cannabis…
If you REALLY want to do one of those topics then I can’t stop you but I strongly urge you to be a bit more inventive.
The list of possible topics is endless but here are a few to get you thinking.
- TV talent shows are ruining the music industry.
- Should the burka be banned?
- Are politicians undervalued in modern day society ?
- Are we slaves to technology?
- Do online retailers spell the end of the high street shop?
- Are community campuses the way forward in education?
- Does on-demand spell the end for television?
- Gambling: should it be legal?
- Fake News
- Social Media
- Brexit
- Politicians should be held accountable
- Donald Trump
- Has political correctness gone too far?
- The school leaving age should be raised/lowered.
- Exams should be abolished.
- P.E. should be every day.
- The teaching of Gaelic should be compulsory in Scottish schools.
- Voting should be compulsory.
- The monarchy should be abolished.
- Ban factory farming.
- Eliminate food waste.
- Recycling should be a legal requirement.
- We should holiday in the UK.
- Make tobacco a class A drug.
- Organ donation should be an opt-out system.
- Treat people who look after their health before those who have abused theirs.
- Ban reality TV.
- Ban Valentines Day.
- Ban beauty contests.
- Ban boxing.
- Introduce video refereeing into sport.
- Bring back national service.
- The internet is ruining community spirit.
- More needs to be done to combat the dwindling bee population.
Sailmaker – Context and Understanding
Some short and helpful clips to help with your understanding of ‘Sailmaker’.
YouTube Myetutor Links
Sailmaker – Sectarianism Part 1
Sailmaker – Sectarianism Part 2
Sailmaker – Glasgow’s Football Rivalry
Sailmaker – Glasgow’s Growth and Decline
Sailmaker – Glasgow’s Working Class
BBC Bitesize
Sailmaker – Characters
Sailmaker – Plot
Sailmaker – Themes
Close Reading Tip
At National 5 level the Close Reading exam makes up 20% of your final grade.
A good way to improve your close reading skills is to read some non-fiction. The easiest way to do this through online newspaper articles.
Newspapers that often have articles used as exam texts:
“Opinion” pieces are a good place to start as the writer usually has some strong opinions and views to share.
To help you prepare for the Close Reading exam paper you could:
- Pick out the writer’s main points
- Work out the tone used
- Use context clues to work out difficult words
- Comment on effective punctuation
- Identify linking sentences
- Look for imagery and comment on its effectiveness
- Put Key points into your own words.
If you find a good article with lots of close reading potential you can even share it in the comments.
