In Section B you will be constructing a discussion based on a theme, character, attitude or idea that is present in the novel. Crucially you will also be expected to respond to a supplementary question that guides you to write about context.
Context is the setting and time period something is set against and you are expected to discuss how the novel responds to this, linking it with the opening question.
This year students were asked to comment on the portrayal of Curly's wife (part a). They were given a section of text to reflect on, but you are expected to widen your discussion beyond the selected text. Students were then asked to reflect and discuss the attitudes towards women (part b).
As you know I am an examiner for AQA, the board we are using, and many students who answered this question were very knowledgeable regarding the Great Depression, Sexism in the 1920s and 1930s, Racism, Migration and other contextual points, however when they discussed these points they FAILED to tie these in with the novel; many more or less presented something that would have done quite well as a history essay rather than a literature essay.
You must link context to the novel by quoting characters, or discussing the view of the author and supporting this by quoting.
Recognise a theme establishing?
You MUST quote to support your view.
In one instance a candidate wrote a fantastic answer to part a and b, but none of the points made in part b were evidenced using quotation, so for that part they were unable to attain marks: I read through two pages and awarded him NOTHING. I couldn't.
It's the differnce between an E and an A*, quite literally. If he had linked his points using evidence he would have achieved 28 out of 30, easily. Instead he was awarded 20/30, a good mark but no cigar.
Context is the setting and time period something is set against and you are expected to discuss how the novel responds to this, linking it with the opening question.
This year students were asked to comment on the portrayal of Curly's wife (part a). They were given a section of text to reflect on, but you are expected to widen your discussion beyond the selected text. Students were then asked to reflect and discuss the attitudes towards women (part b).
As you know I am an examiner for AQA, the board we are using, and many students who answered this question were very knowledgeable regarding the Great Depression, Sexism in the 1920s and 1930s, Racism, Migration and other contextual points, however when they discussed these points they FAILED to tie these in with the novel; many more or less presented something that would have done quite well as a history essay rather than a literature essay.
You must link context to the novel by quoting characters, or discussing the view of the author and supporting this by quoting.
Recognise a theme establishing?
You MUST quote to support your view.
In one instance a candidate wrote a fantastic answer to part a and b, but none of the points made in part b were evidenced using quotation, so for that part they were unable to attain marks: I read through two pages and awarded him NOTHING. I couldn't.
It's the differnce between an E and an A*, quite literally. If he had linked his points using evidence he would have achieved 28 out of 30, easily. Instead he was awarded 20/30, a good mark but no cigar.
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