Task 2: What The Question Is Asking (OCR A Level English Literature)

Task 2: What The Question Is Asking

The non-exam assessment (NEA) is a compulsory component of the A Level English Literature qualification. It is worth 40 marks and counts as 20% of the total A Level. The NEA comprises two pieces of work, totalling approximately 3000 words, and you are required to study three literary texts: one prose text, one poetry text and one drama text. The texts must have been first published or performed in 1900 or later, and one literary text must have been first published or performed after the year 2000. The choice of texts must be different to any of the core set texts for this specification.

In Task 2, you are required to write an essay considering two texts, exploring contrasts and comparisons between them, informed by different interpretations and an understanding of contexts.

The guide below will enable you to approach Task 2 (the comparative essay) with confidence. This is divided into:

• Overview

• Breaking down the task

• Top tips

Overview

For the comparative essay task, you are required to make connections between the writing and concerns of two texts. The task should ask you to compare or contrast between the texts, and focus the comparison or contrast on a literary aspect of the texts (such as the presentation of a key theme). The recommended word count for this task is 2000 words, excluding quotations, task title, footnotes and bibliography. 

The task is worth 25 marks and you are assessed on:

• AO1: articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and coherent, accurate written expression

• AO2: analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts

• AO3: demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received

• AO4: explore connections across literary texts

• AO5: explore literary texts informed by different interpretations

The most successful responses blend exploration of the different Assessment Objectives throughout the essay, so that they depend on each other and are seamlessly integrated.

Candidates should:

• Focus clearly on a comparison of the writers’ methods

• Show clear awareness of the difference in genre between the two texts and compare the different methods and effects

• Always focus on how characters and ideas are presented, narratively, dramatically or poetically, rather than on the characters and ideas themselves

Breaking down the task

Your centre can choose for you to set your own task, or choose from a list of pre-approved tasks using OCR’s Text and Task Tool. Equally, you can set your own task for this component of the NEA. Whichever method you select, it’s important that the wording of the task enables you to reference both authors within the task title in order to keep an appropriate focus on the writer’s craft. It’s also a good idea to include the word “compare”, “comparison” or “contrast” within the task title. The task must be based on two literary texts.

Therefore tasks should:

• Explicitly require comparison or contrast between the texts

• Focus the comparison or contrast on a literary aspect of the texts (for example, the presentation of a key theme)

For example:

Top tips

• While you will not be specifically penalised for exceeding the suggested word length, any response that significantly differs from the word count is likely to be self-penalising by either not demonstrating the AOs to the required level or through lacking coherence and concision:

  • Therefore, try your best to stick to the word count! If your essay is too long, it may lack a focused argument, clear purpose or precision

• If quotations from secondary sources are used, these must be acknowledged by the use of footnotes (these do not form part of the word count)

• All work must be accompanied by a complete bibliography – again, this does not form part of the word count

• Candidates who do well in this task:

  • Begin their essay with an initial overview of the texts related directly to the task, indicating the reasons for comparison, sometimes with a brief reference to relevant contexts:

    • Their arguments then develop in a clear sequence

  • Demonstrate their understanding of the texts through the careful selection of key references and quotations

  • Demonstrate an understanding and familiarity with the requirements of the task

  • Are able to explore and pursue their own interests in terms of tasks and/or texts, producing lively, engaging and thoroughly researched essays

  • Complete research to understand context, with consideration being given to socio-political, gender, cultural, scientific, philosophical and literary contexts

  • Balance their paragraphs between the two texts

  • Challenge different views of the texts, or balance different readings against each other, in order to explore implications

  • Take time to carefully proofread and refine their work

• Candidates who do less well in this task:

  • Just compare content or characters, with little consideration of how the writers’ choices present these things to the reader or audience

  • Focus just on historical context, which may not be well-researched, leading to sweeping statements about social attitudes at different points in the 20th century, for example

  • Write overly long paragraphs trying to cover the texts together, losing direction and focus

  • Insert quotations from critics without exploring the critic’s underlying argument