Effective Strategies for Excelling in English Literature Paper 1: Insights and Tips

English Literature Paper 1 2024: General Advice Fluency of answers was good and understanding of AO and how to approach the specific focus of the question. Continue to use thesis statements to clearly indicate the direction of the answer and is helping students produce good answers. Extract can be used wherever and however students would like and there is no guidance about the quantity that the extract should be used. Extract must be referenced somewhere in the essay, however. Avoid over complicated vocabulary that is misunderstood by the students e.g proto feminist etc. Ensure students are aware of the pitfalls of using social media for revision. They should be careful to ensure that they understand and don t just recycle ideas/use interpretations that they don t get.

English Literature Paper 1 2024: Shakespeare Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet are most widely selected. Much Ado and Merchant have some coverage. Limitation with the context. Students commented on specific moments but this didn t always support their argument (Macbeth) It is clear that A02 is stronger with references to more than just language to communicate how writers create meaning e.g: contrasts, parallels, comparisons of character, matching moments across the play, changing epithets, imperatives and how these change, connecting themes/images. (Macbeth ) A range of responses that used context well to demonstrate understanding of the presentation of character (R&J) Students sympathised with Shylock and used modern day interpretations to comment on his presentation (Merchant) All questions were accessible to all students at all levels and judicious use of specific references and relevant context led to good responses.

English Literature Paper 1 2024: 19thCentury A Christmas Carol is most popular, followed by Jekyll and Hyde. Reading the question is key as responses could lean into recounting the narrative rather than analysis of the key focus. (ACC) Students were successful in discussing the structure of the novella by looking at contrasts. (ACC) The extract was used effectively and in many ways to demonstrate understanding of the character. (ACC) No mention of context, so presumably this was woven into responses well (my opinion ACC) Effective exploration of themes and ideas using the extract to support interpretations. Students need to go beyond how the atmosphere is created and explore why? Stevenson does this. (J&H) Ability to contrast characters was conducive to good responses (TSOF)

English Literature Paper 1 2024: Teaching lessons AO1 Thesis statement and strong personal conclusion draws together the students argument and works brilliantly. Avoid pre prepared thesis statements that don t address the question e.g eponymous Avoid tight PEE style rigid structures as for most this is counterproductive. Choose references carefully from: quotations, moments, extract to whole text, character idea or event. Avoid shoehorning pre learned examples if they don t fit the question. Allow students to develop their written style covering the focus on the question with strong thesis and conclusion. AO2 Consider methods used by the writer as a broader focus. Exploring subject terminology through: how writers use setting, characters, events, imagery, motifs relationships, symbolism, structure and contrasts. The word/image are used more readily and make fluency better in essays. Don t overdo terminology and instead explore wider methods used by writers to explore what, how and why the writer has created meaning through these. AO3 Selecting contextual information to support your idea using the evidence is much better than lengthy descriptions of external contextual information. Being specific to the argument you are providing works well without making sweeping generalisations instead commenting on how these areas of context linked to character/events focused on. Teach students how to embed context more holistically and specific to the evidence they provide.

English Literature Paper 1 2024: Student Advice Focus specifically on the focus of the question and offer your own ideas and interpretations for that question without using pre prepared paragraphs. Use the extract to support your answer to the question. Use social media revision sites with a health warning - don t just use ideas unless you really understand them and they are relevant to your answer. Use vocabulary carefully and use your own words rather than trying to impress with complex words that you might not fully understand. Talk about moments with short sharp references to the text not lengthy chunks of text (not a memory test) it is about how well you can answer the question using references to the text. Think carefully about how the extract links to the rest of the text. Methods used by the writer are not just language focus: includes character, theme, event, structure, motifs, contrasts, imagery and symbolism. It isn t a history essay. Concentrate on the focus of the question and use this to focus on big ideas around people and society.