Question 1 and 2: True/False and Summary

Question 1: True or False (4 marks)

Question 1 of English Language Paper 2 is a straightforward true or false question based on specific lines from the given texts. This question tests the student's ability to quickly identify and extract explicit information.

Highlight: Students should spend no more than 4 minutes on this question.

Question 2: Summary (8 marks)

Question 2 requires students to summarize information from both sources provided in the exam. This question tests the ability to synthesize information and make comparisons.

Key strategies for Question 2:

1. Compare relevant information using comparative connectives
2. Synthesize information using terms like "more," "less," "while," and "whereas"
3. Infer meaning by selecting relevant quotations and commenting on their implied significance

Example: A good comparative point might be: "While Source A emphasizes the positive aspects of the topic, Source B focuses more on the challenges."

What to avoid:

• Listing irrelevant information
• Not writing comparative points
• Analyzing language features (save this for Question 3)

Highlight: Use 2-3 quotes from BOTH sources to support your summary points.

Effective paragraphs for Question 2 should follow a POINT-EVIDENCE-INFER structure, ensuring that each point is supported by textual evidence and followed by an inference about its meaning or significance.

Question 5: Transactional Writing

Question 5 of English Language Paper 2 is the extended writing task, worth 40 marks (24 for content and organization, 16 for technical accuracy). This question assesses the student's ability to produce a piece of transactional writing for a specific purpose and audience.

Key aspects of Question 5:

1. Identify the type of writing required (letter, speech, article, etc.)
2. Recognize the intended audience (classmates, politicians, news editors, etc.)
3. Understand the purpose (inform, persuade, entertain)
4. Respond to a given quote, either agreeing or disagreeing

Highlight: Planning is crucial for this question. Use the MESI framework: Money, Environment, Social, Individual.

Structure for your response:

1. Introduction
2. Three main paragraphs (using MESI as a guide)
3. Conclusion

Writing techniques to incorporate:

• Facts and statistics
• Rhetorical questions
• Anecdotes
• Varied punctuation
• Ambitious and sophisticated language
• Varied sentence lengths

Example: In a speech about environmental conservation, you might start with a rhetorical question: "How many of us truly understand the impact our daily choices have on the planet?"

Structuring your P2Q5 response:

1. Describe: Create a clear image of the problem or issue
2. Position: Consider personal, national, and global perspectives
3. Relevance: Apply the MESI framework
4. Now: Encourage your reader to reevaluate their choices

Vocabulary: Transactional writing - non-fiction writing that serves a specific purpose, such as to inform, explain, describe, persuade, or advise.

Assessment Objectives:

• AO5 (24 marks): Content and organization
• AO6 (16 marks): Technical accuracy

By following these guidelines and incorporating a range of persuasive techniques, students can craft a compelling piece of transactional writing that demonstrates their ability to communicate effectively for different purposes and audiences in English Language Paper 2.