Paper 2 response requirements common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Single set-text essay literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Construct a focused argument on the selected core text. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring analysis vs plot summary.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Single set-text essay literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Integrate methods, shared context and different interpretations rather than listing background. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring diachronic study vs synchronic shared-context study.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Single set-text essay literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Use the unannotated text to support precise evidence-led analysis. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring analysis vs plot summary.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Unseen contextual-linking response literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Analyse the supplied prose extract closely before connecting it to the chosen shared context. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring diachronic study vs synchronic shared-context study.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Unseen contextual-linking response literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Use contextual knowledge to illuminate textual detail rather than replace it. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring unseen passage evidence vs prepared set-text material.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Unseen contextual-linking response literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Develop a self-contained interpretation without prepared set-text material. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring unseen passage evidence vs prepared set-text material.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Comparative shared-context essay literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Compare the two selected texts throughout a connected argument. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring diachronic study vs synchronic shared-context study.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Comparative shared-context essay literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Use the shared context to explain significant similarities and differences. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring diachronic study vs synchronic shared-context study.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.

• Comparative shared-context essay literary-analysis mistake 1

  Treating Integrate AO1 to AO5 without treating context, comparison and interpretation as interchangeable. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring diachronic study vs synchronic shared-context study.

  Fix itMake an AO1 claim, use accurate textual evidence, analyse a method for AO2, add relevant AO3 context, connect texts for AO4 and test interpretations for AO5 only where the task requires them.