Exam-style question
Try this first
Which answer best distinguishes AO4 from AO5 in Death of a Salesman? Focus: AO1 argument, terminology and expression.
- A.Use AO4 to connect texts directly and AO5 to explore different evidence-supported interpretations of the literary text.
- B.Use AO4 for spelling and AO5 for personal preference about the characters.
- C.Write about each text separately for AO4 and add an unsupported opinion for AO5.
- D.Treat context, comparison and criticism as interchangeable evidence.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The correct answer is Use AO4 to connect texts directly and AO5 to explore different evidence-supported interpretations of the literary text.
Explanation
Why this works
For A-Level 7717, AO4 is connection across texts and AO5 is engagement with different interpretations. It supports the approved objective "Identify Death of a Salesman as an official drama option for Aspects of tragedy." while avoiding invented quotations, plot summary, option mixing and unsupported interpretation.
Common mistake
Death of a Salesman literary-analysis mistake 1
Treating Identify Death of a Salesman as an official drama option for Aspects of tragedy. as plot summary, unsupported opinion or a place to invent quotations, while blurring genre pattern vs fixed feature checklist.
Make 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.