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Section A Reading fiction
Paper 1 Section A develops close reading of prose fiction from the 20th or 21st century, with attention to narrative voice, character, setting, atmosphere, viewpoint and writer's methods.
24
Objectives
120
Flashcards
120
Questions
90 min
Study time
AQAGCSEEnglish LanguagePaper 1 Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
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Syllabus checklist
What you need to know
24 objective pages available
Understanding fiction sources6 objectives
- AO1: identify explicit information and ideas in a literature fiction extract.
- Select relevant evidence from a fiction source to support a clear response.
- Make inferences about characters, settings, events and relationships in a fiction source.
- Explain how selected details support an interpretation of a fiction extract.
- Distinguish between what the text states directly and what the reader can infer.
- Use short, precise quotations to support answers about fiction reading.
Analysing language in fiction6 objectives
- AO2: identify important words, phrases and language features in a fiction extract.
- Analyse how word choices create meaning and influence the reader's response.
- Explain the effects of imagery, figurative language and descriptive detail in fiction.
- Analyse how sentence forms and punctuation shape pace, tone or emphasis.
- Link language analysis to the writer's purpose and the reader's interpretation.
- Avoid feature-spotting by explaining how language choices work in context.
Analysing structure in fiction6 objectives
- AO2: identify structural features such as openings, shifts in focus, changes in pace and endings.
- Explain how the writer's structural choices guide the reader through a fiction extract.
- Analyse how narrative perspective or point of view affects the reader's understanding.
- Explain how changes in setting, time, mood or focus create interest.
- Link structural analysis to the development of character, atmosphere or tension.
- Use evidence from different parts of the extract to support comments on structure.
Evaluating fiction6 objectives
- AO4: form a clear judgement about a given statement on a fiction extract.
- Select evidence that supports an evaluative response to fiction.
- Explain how writer's methods make a statement convincing, partly convincing or limited.
- Evaluate how successfully a writer presents character, setting, mood or events.
- Balance personal response with close reference to the text.
- Develop an evaluative paragraph that moves beyond summary.
Key terms
fiction focusfiction exam usedistinguish focusdistinguish exam uselanguage focuslanguage exam useword choice focusword choice exam usesentence form focussentence form exam useopening focusopening exam use
Exam tips
- : identify explicit information: use the exact skill: Use the task wording for "AO1: identify explicit information and ideas in a literature fiction extract." before writing. For reading, select brief evidence, make an inference, identify language methods such as word choice or imagery, identify structural methods such as focus, opening, ending, shift, pace or sequence, and explain the effect on the reader. For writing, plan audience, purpose, tone, form, register, viewpoint, argument and paragraph structure. For creative writing, use imagery, viewpoint, structure, vocabulary, sentence control, atmosphere, character and setting. Check grammar and punctuation separately by proofreading sentence accuracy, spelling, vocabulary, commas and full stops.
- Select relevant evidence from: use the exact skill: Use the task wording for "Select relevant evidence from a fiction source to support a clear response." before writing. For reading, select brief evidence, make an inference, identify language methods such as word choice or imagery, identify structural methods such as focus, opening, ending, shift, pace or sequence, and explain the effect on the reader. For writing, plan audience, purpose, tone, form, register, viewpoint, argument and paragraph structure. For creative writing, use imagery, viewpoint, structure, vocabulary, sentence control, atmosphere, character and setting. Check grammar and punctuation separately by proofreading sentence accuracy, spelling, vocabulary, commas and full stops.
Common mistakes
- fiction: summary instead of analysis: Correct this by selecting a brief detail, explaining its effect, and linking the point back to "AO1: identify explicit information and ideas in a literature fiction extract."
- fiction: summary instead of analysis: Correct this by selecting a brief detail, explaining its effect, and linking the point back to "Select relevant evidence from a fiction source to support a clear response."
Practice preview
- For Section A Reading fiction, which option best applies inference from evidence to this objective: AO1: identify explicit information and ideas in a literature fiction extract.
- For Section A Reading fiction, which option best applies language method and reader effect to this objective: AO1: identify explicit information and ideas in a literature fiction extract.
- For Section A Reading fiction, which option best applies structural development to this objective: AO1: identify explicit information and ideas in a literature fiction extract.
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