Paper 2 Question 3: Model Answer (AQA GCSE English Language)
Revision Note
Written by: Nick Redgrove
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
Paper 2 Question 3: Model Answer
In Question 3, you will be asked to refer to a very short extract (approx. 6-10 lines) from either Source A or Source B. The question provides you with the opportunity to develop an in-depth analysis on a very short passage from the text. While it is only a very short extract, it is possible to say quite a lot about a short piece of writing.
Below you will find detailed model answers to an example of Question 3.
The examples below are all based on the following AQA GCSE English Language June 2019 past exam question:
Choosing what to analyse in the language question
When you first consider the writer’s use of language, you should look for patterns of words or phrases that create similar or contrasting ideas, situations, thoughts or feelings. You should also explore the text by considering a range of possible meanings, readings, interpretations and responses. You can then explore how individual vocabulary choices contribute to the impact of these patterns on the text and on the reader.
Remember, choosing what to analyse in the extract requires careful consideration of the question. By following this step-by-step guide and selecting relevant and significant quotes, you'll be able to focus your analysis and provide a well-supported response in the exam.
You should re-read the extract thoroughly several times, paying close attention to its use of language
Highlight your initial observations and any significant language details that stand out to you
Identify particular words, phrases and any language techniques that the writer has used:
You can consider sentence forms as well, though only if you have something relevant to say about them
Choose 3-4 quotes that illustrate the writer’s effective use of language to convey meaning or which create a specific effect:
For example, you could choose one word or phrase that you feel is particularly rich in meaning
Then note down at least two different ideas or connotations that your chosen word or phrase suggests to you
Prioritise elements that are most relevant and significant to the question:
Choose aspects that best support your argument or analysis and which provide the most substantial insights
Create an outline by organising your ideas, evidence and supporting examples which allows for a logical and coherent flow of analysis
Structuring your analysis of language
Annotating an unseen text can be difficult, but bringing your ideas together to form a coherent answer can also be hard. Every point you make in your response should be supported with evidence from the text and have an analytical comment. However, following a rigid structure, such as writing in point-evidence-explanation (PEE) paragraphs, can limit the range and depth of your analysis, so it is always best to avoid using this type of writing frame to structure your response. You should always consider which of your ideas would allow you to write the most developed analysis.
You should aim to structure your answer in the following way:
Develop a thesis statement:
Based on your analysis, develop a clear thesis statement that captures your main argument or interpretation of the text (with a focus on the question)
This will serve as the guiding focus for your analysis
Provide evidence and analysis:
Support your analysis with specific evidence from the text
Explain how these quotes support your thesis and contribute to your overall interpretation of the text
Consider alternative viewpoints:
Acknowledge and address alternative possible viewpoints or interpretations of the text
Engage with counterarguments and provide a well-reasoned response to strengthen your analysis
Revise and refine your analysis:
Review your analysis, ensuring clarity, coherence and logical progression of ideas
Revise and refine your arguments so that it gives a cohesive and insightful analysis of the text
You should aim to write around 3-4 paragraphs for this answer with a different topic sentence in each paragraph making a different point.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Keep referring to what the writer is doing. This will help you to stay focused on analysis and avoid describing or retelling the narrative. Focus on analysing why the writer made certain choices and how those choices contribute to the text's overall impact and meaning. Always try to maintain a critical lens that examines the writer's craft.
Developing your analysis of language
Remember, developing your analysis of a non-fiction text takes time, careful reading and critical thinking. To produce an effective analysis, you should aim to make your comments as detailed and specific as you can.
Here are some examples of how you might begin to write these ideas into a response. Unlike Question 2 on Paper 1, there are no bullet points provided in this question to guide your answer. However, it is useful to be mindful of the bullet points used on Paper 1, Question 2 as they can also help to form your focus on Question 3. Therefore your focus in this question should also be on words and phrases, language features and techniques and sentence forms. We will first explore the writer’s use of words and phrases.
Words and phrases
Analysing words and phrases for Question 3 requires an informed understanding of their connotations, denotations and inferences (see Paper 1 Question 2 Skills: Language Analysis for an explanation of these terms). Here's a step-by-step guide to help you analyse words and phrases effectively:
Identify key words and phrases:
Begin by identifying the key words and phrases in the text
These may include nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and any other significant vocabulary that stands out
Determine denotation and connotation:
Analyse the denotations (literal meanings) and connotations (associations or implied meanings) of the words and phrases
Consider the context and how the words contribute to the overall tone and message of the text
Consider register and tone:
Evaluate the register (formal, informal, colloquial, etc.) and tone (serious, humorous, sarcastic, etc.) of the words and phrases
Note how the chosen language contributes to the overall style and intended reader response
Note word choice for effect:
Examine the specific words chosen by the writer and consider their impact
Look for words with strong connotations, technical terms, or words that evoke specific emotions or reactions
Analyse how the chosen words shape the reader's understanding and interpretation of the text
Connect to the broader context:
Consider the broader context of the text, such as the writer’s purpose and the audience
Provide evidence and analysis:
Support your analysis with specific examples from the text
Quote relevant words or phrases and explain their significance within the given context
Clearly articulate the effects and implications of the chosen language
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Students tend to lose marks because they focus on the identification of language terminology at the expense of any real engagement with how or why the writer has selected that particular feature. Remember, there is nothing inherently wrong with the use of complex language terminology – indeed, where these terms are well-used and understood they will significantly enhance the quality and sophistication of your response overall. However, where they are seen as an end in themselves, they will simply distract you from the substance of the task, which is commenting on the effects.
Below you will find one point which could be made about words or phrases in the text. Some brief ideas which consider their intended effect have also been mapped out:
Key point | The writer uses different words and phrases to depict the overwhelming power of the sea. | |
|---|---|---|
Language features and techniques | words and phrases | “vast wave”, “towering over our tiny boat” and “wall of white water” |
Next, we will explore how you might write these ideas into a paragraph:
Level 4 Response (10-12 marks) |
|---|
The use of the adjective “vast” to describe the wave immediately conveys a sense of enormity to the reader. This word choice serves to illustrate the sheer size of the wave, suggesting it is a colossal force of nature. This word underscores its overwhelming presence and the magnitude of the sea's power. Furthermore, the phrase “towering over our tiny boat” also conveys the wave's imposing and dominating nature in relation to the boat's small size. The use of the word “tiny” to descrіbe the boat sharply contrasts with the word “towering” and underscores the vulnerability of the boat against the immense power of the sea. Also, the phrase “wall of white water” employs vivid imagery to create a powerful depiction of the wave's strength and impact. The word “wall” implies solidity and strength and paints an imposing image of the wave as an unyielding barrier and highlights its formidable might. |
Language features and techniques
Analysing language features and techniques for Question 3 involves examining the stylistic choices made by the writer and their impact on the reader. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you analyse language features and techniques effectively:
Identify narrative voice and point of view:
Determine the narrative voice (first person, third person, etc.) and the point of view (omniscient, first-person, etc.)
Analyse how these choices affect the reader's perspective and understanding of the text
Evaluate dialogue:
Pay attention to the use of dialogue or direct quotes in the text
Analyse what the dialogue reveals and why it might have been used
Identify sensory language:
Look for words and phrases that engage the reader's senses
Pay attention to descriptions that appeal to sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell
Examine vivid imagery:
Analyse the use of vivid imagery in the text and look for descriptive words and phrases that create evocative images
Consider how the imagery enhances the reader's understanding and immersion in the text
Explore figurative language:
Look for any figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, etc.
Examine how these devices create vivid imagery, enhance meaning or evoke emotions
Analyse rhetorical devices:
Pay attention to rhetorical devices, such as alliteration, repetition, parallelism or contrast
Analyse how these devices impact the rhythm, emphasis or description within the text
Evaluate descriptive adjectives and adverbs:
Pay attention to the descriptive adjectives and adverbs used to provide detailed and specific information
Analyse how these modifiers enhance the reader's understanding of the characters or scene being described
Consider the use of sound devices:
Note any sound devices used in the descriptive language, such as onomatopoeia or rhythm
Analyse how these devices enhance the reader's engagement with the text
Provide evidence and analysis:
Support your analysis with specific examples from the text
Quote relevant language features and explain their significance within the given context
Clearly articulate the effects of the chosen techniques
Below you will find several points which could be made about language features and techniques. Several language techniques have been identified and some brief ideas have been mapped out which consider their intended effect:
Key point | The writer uses personification in the phrase “sucked into the belly of the wave” in order to convey the primal and predatory force of the sea. | |
|---|---|---|
Language features and techniques | personification | “sucked into the belly of the wave” |
Next, we will explore how you might write these ideas into a paragraph:
Level 4 Response (10-12 marks) |
|---|
The writer uses personification in the phrase “sucked into the belly of the wave” in order to convey the primal and predatory force of the sea. This comparison evokes a sense of helplessness and exemplifies the overwhelming dominance of the sea. The use of the verb “sucked” also conveys a sense of immediacy as it depicts the wave's ability to pull the boat into its core, which further adds to the sense of imminent danger. This word also implies a lack of control on the part of the boat's occupants which helps to convey their vulnerability and the overwhelming nature of the sea's power. This helps to evoke empathy from the reader and also adds tension and suspense to the passage. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The best Level 4 responses include perceptive comments which take a conceptualised approach to the language chosen by the writer and discuss those choices within a framework of ‘big ideas’. For example, using the phrase above, you could show your understanding of the writer being sucked into the belly of the wave in terms of the endless battle between man and nature, concluding that man is only ever at a disadvantage because of the imbalance of power. These ‘big ideas’ are a feature of quality non-fiction texts and you should identify and explore them in as wide a range of texts as possible.
Here is another example of a language feature and technique:
Key point | The writer uses a wide range of verbs to create energy within the passage. This underscores the relentless nature of the sea and further adds to the sense of danger and chaos of the situation. | |
|---|---|---|
Language features and techniques | verbs | “soaring”, “crashed”, “propel”, “enveloped” and “tumbled” |
Next, we will explore how you might write these ideas into a paragraph:
Level 4 Response (10-12 marks) |
|---|
The writer uses a wide range of verbs, for example, “soaring,” “propel,” “sucked,” “enveloped” and “crashed” which infuses the passage with energy. These action verbs convey the sea's continuous motion and also depicts the forceful collision between the boat and the wave. It also helps to underscore the relentless power of the sea. For example, the verb “enveloped” conjures an image of the sea surrounding and enclosing the boat which helps to convey the overwhelming nature of the wave, portraying it as something all-encompassing and inescapable. Further, the verb “crashed” evokes violence and helps to amplify the danger and chaos of the situation. Similarly, the use of the verb “soaring” portrays the wave as an imposing force rising above the boat and illustrates the danger that it poses. |
Sentence forms
Analysing sentence forms can be tricky, but it simply involves examining the sentence choices made by the writer and why the writer has made these choices.
Below you will find one point which could be made in the above example about sentence forms:
Key point | The writer's use of varied sentence structure in the passage conveys the dynamic and tumultuous nature of the sea's power. | |
|---|---|---|
Language features and techniques | varied sentence forms, increasingly short, simple sentences | “My mind went blank.” |
Next, we will explore how you might write these ideas into a paragraph:
Level 4 Response (10-12 marks) |
|---|
The writer's use of varied sentence structures in the passage conveys the dynamic and tumultuous nature of the sea's power. The initial use of a complex sentence, “I watched as a vast wave gathered behind the boat, soaring above the cabin, a wall of white water towering over our tiny boat” could be used to mirror the gradual ascent of the wave, which creates a sense of anticipation for the reader. However, as the passage continues, the writer increasingly uses short, simple sentences, for example, “I felt it lift” and “My mind went blank”, which adds to the urgency and chaos of the scene. Furthermore, these simple sentences increase the pace of the narrative, mirroring the rapidity of the wave's assault and conveying the suddenness and unpredictability of the sea. |
Question 3: Level 4 Model Answer
Below is an example of a full Level 4 model answer.
Level 4 Response (12/12 marks) |
|---|
The writer uses a range of language and techniques to describe the power of the sea. Firstly, the use of the adjective “vast” to describe the wave immediately conveys a sense of enormity to the reader. This word choice serves to illustrate the sheer size of the wave, suggesting it is a colossal force of nature. This word underscores its overwhelming presence and the magnitude of the sea's power. Further the phrase “towering over our tiny boat” also conveys the wave's imposing and dominating nature in relation to the boat's small size. The use of the word “tiny” to descrіbe the boat sharply contrasts with the word “towering” and underscores the vulnerability of the boat against the immense power of the sea. Also, the phrase “wall of white water” employs vivid imagery to create a powerful depiction of the wave's strength and impact. The word “wall” implies solidity and strength and paints an imposing image of the wave as an unyielding barrier and its unformidable might.
In addition, the writer uses personification in the phrase “sucked into the belly of the wave” in order to convey the primal and predatory force of the sea. This comparison evokes a sense of helplessness and exemplifies the overwhelming dominance of the seа. The use of the verb “sucked” also conveys a sense of immediacy as it depicts the wave's ability to pull the boat into its core, which further adds to the sense of imminent danger. This word also implies a lack of control on the part of the boat's occupants which helps to convey their vulnerability and the overwhelming nature of the sea's power. This helps to evoke empathy from the reаder and also adds tension and suspense to the passage. Next, the writer uses a wide range of verbs, for example, “soaring,” “propel,” “sucked,” “enveloped” and “crashed” which infuses the passage with energy. These action verbs convey the sea's continuous motion and also depicts the forceful collision between the boat and the wave. It also helps to underscore the relentless power of the sea. For example, the verb “enveloped” conjures an image of the sea surrounding and enclosing the boat which helps to convey the overwhelming nature of the wave, portraying it as something all-encompassing and inescapable. Furthermore, the verb “crashed” evokes violence and helps to amplify the danger and chaos of the situation. Similarly, the use of the verb “soaring” portrays the wave as an imposing force rising above the boat and illustrates the danger that it poses.
Finally, the writer's use of varied sentences structure in the passage conveys the dynamic and tumultuous nature of the sea's power. The initial use of a complex sentence, “I watched as a vast wave gathered behind the boat, soaring above the cabin, a wall of white water towering over our tiny boat” could be used to mirror the gradual ascent of the wave, which creates a sense of anticipation for the reader. However, as the passage continues, the writer increasingly uses short, simple sentences, for example, “I felt it lift,” and “My mind went blank,” which adds to the urgency and chaos of the scene. Further, these simple sentences increase the pace of the narrative, mirroring the rapidity of the wave's assault and conveying the suddenness and unpredictability of the sea. |
Why would this answer get 12/12 marks?
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Key points to remember for Question 3
To get the highest marks, do not get distracted by technical terms or spotting language features that the writer may have used:
This is called “feature spotting” and will not get you marks, unless you are able to demonstrate your understanding of why the writer may have used something and what the effect of its use is
Make sure that your selection of quotes is precise and directly relevant to the focus of the question:
Deconstruct the quotations you choose, analysing each one in detail
You can include word-level analysis, exploring the effect of single words, but you also need to think about how elements combine to create meaning
Focus on the effects of the writer’s choices, thinking about what the writer is doing and why
If you identify a language feature, always explain its intended effect:
For example, “The writer personifies the sea by describing it as ‘towering over’ the tiny boat, implying its superior size and power.”
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