Task 1: Re-creative Writing: Model Answer (OCR A Level English Literature)

Revision Note

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Task 1: Re-creative Writing: Model Answer

The best way to improve any essay is to know how you are assessed, and what skills you are being assessed on. This page has been created to give you a sense of what examiners are looking for in a full-mark response. It contains:

Overview

Task 1: Re-creative Writing will require you to produce a piece of writing that imitates the style and concerns of the author of a published text, along with a commentary analysing both your written piece and the original work.

Mark scheme

The mark scheme in English Literature is quite broad and can seem difficult to understand. This is because there is no “correct answer” for any essay: the exam board does not provide points that need to be included in any essay, and instead, examiners have to use the mark scheme to place an answer into a level. For Task 1: Re-creative Writing, AO2 is the dominant assessment objective. The weightings for the assessment objectives in this task are:

AO2 - 67%

AO1 - 33%

In simple terms, to achieve the highest marks (Level 6 = 13–15 marks), this means:

AO2

Write a recreated piece that emulates the main features, style, form, structure and language of the original author
Write a well-developed and detailed discussion of the ways in which language, form and structure in the selected passage or poem shape meanings
Use focused and precise analytical methods
Effectively and consistently use quotations and references to both your recreated piece and the original work, and blend these into your discussion

AO1

Demonstrate excellent understanding of the selected text or poem
Write fluently and accurately in an appropriate tone and using appropriate register
Use critical concepts and terminology accurately
Develop a well-structured and coherent discussion and exploration

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Although there are two specific assessment objectives assessed in this task, it is not the case that a certain number of marks are awarded for any one objective. Instead, the examiners are looking for a well-constructed and coherent essay that seamlessly combines a close analysis of the ways in which your recreated piece links to the original work.

Example task

The following task is an example of one submitted and approved by OCR for Task 1: Re-creative Writing. The text chosen is Saturday by Ian McEwan.

Imagine that Perowne has to take the tube train home from work on Friday evening before the “Saturday” that the book takes its title from. Imitate McEwan’s style and the character’s thoughts, concerns and feelings.

Model answer and commentary

Below you will find a part of a Level 5 candidate exemplar taken from OCR’s English Literature Non Exam Assessment Guide Version 2 for the above task, which can be accessed here [insert link]. The guide contains the full model answer, along with other, lower-marked examples.