F661The Poetry Question

The Examination

1 Question to be written in 1 hour

10 mins. Reading & Planning45 mins. Writing 5 mins. Checking

The Assessment Objectives

AO1 – Communication & presentation

AO2 – Analysis & understanding

AO4 – Knowledge & understanding of context

Question structure 1

“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”

Consider ways in which Owen presents (topic focus) in (named poem). Make close reference to language, imagery and verse form.Does Owen present (topic focus) more or less effectively than in other poems in the collection?

Question structure

“ …a sad land, weak with sweats of dearth”

Consider ways in which Owen presents the landscape of war in ‘The Show’. Make close reference to language, imagery and verse form.Does Owen present trench experience more or less effectively than in other poems in the collection?

Question structure 2

“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”

Bearing in mind Owen’s presentation of (topic focus) in (named poem), consider ways in which the poem relates to the methods and concerns of other poems in the selection.

Question structure 2

“ …a sad land, weak with sweats of dearth”

Bearing in mind Owen’s presentation of the landscape of war in ‘The Show’, consider ways in which the poem relates to the methods and concerns of other poems in the selection.

Whichever question structure you get, notice that the Assessment Objectives are ‘triggered’ in the wording used.

You must make sure you plan and write in a way that ensures you respond to them.

(note that AO1 is implicit)

Question structure 1

“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”

Consider ways in which Owen presents (topic focus) in (named poem). Make close reference to language, imagery and verse form.Does Owen present (topic focus) more or less effectively than in other poems in the collection?

AO2

AO4

Question structure 2

“ (brief quotation from selected poem)”

Bearing in mind Owen’s presentation of (topic focus) in (named poem), consider ways in which the poem relates to the methods and concerns of other poems in the selection.

AO2

AO4

In both cases you are being asked to show that you can construct a focused argument that reflects your understanding of:

•HOW Owen’s poems operate•The COMMON FEATURES of his work•The INFLUENCES that shape his poetry

Now that you are familiar with the assessment criteria, you can begin to plan the best approach to revision and exam preparation –

Remember that the examination process is like a game with very specific rules – it doesn’t matter how much ‘athletic potential’ you have – if you don’t play the game, you won’t win!

1. Identify the likely topics that might come up

Exam preparation

2. Annotate the poems to identify those in the collection that best reflect these topics (colour code them for ease of revision)

Exam preparation

3. Make consolidation notes on the similarities and differences between Owen’s treatment of the topics across the poems in the collection and if you can make connections with other war poets you have studied (CONCERNS – AO4)

Exam preparation

4. Make consolidation notes on the ways in which Owen explores those topics through his choice of language, structure, form

Remember – it is not enough to simply identify his methods, you must comment on the EFFECT his choices have on the poems and on their intended audience (METHODS – AO2)

Exam preparation

• In the exam you will not have your poems with you – apart from the reprinted named text, all of your close referencing must be from memory. With this in mind:

• Use post it notes or cue cards to help you learn ‘gobbits’ for embedded quotations

• Display the poems in your room and scan 5 of them daily in rotation

• Devise a strategy – for each topics that could come up, which 3-5 poems will you confidently discuss?

Exam preparation

• Now, using the exam question format, construct a question and then plan your answer

• During the early stages of your revision process, it’s ok to do this with the poems in front of you but as soon as you can, aim to do this ‘blind’ and under timed conditions – you will only have 10 minutes to do this on the day!

Exam preparation

• Finally, set a stopwatch and write the essay – give yourself no more that 45 minutes of writing time or you’ll be unprepared for the specific challenge of the actual exam.

• Remember to check your work for technical accuracy and sense in the remaining 5 minutes

• After a break, either mark your work against the AO’s or you could swap yours with a class mate and peer assess.

Exam preparation

• Have I written a well constructed answer?

• Does my answer directly respond to ALL the

terms in the question?

• Have I selected and used illustrative material

from 3 or more poems?

• Have I used a range of appropriate

terminology confidently?

AO1 Checklist

• Have I presented a confident analysis of the

topic?

• Have I given several specific examples from

the named poem that show how Owen has

used language, form and structure AND

commented on the EFFECT of these

methods?

• Have I also done this with at least 2 other

poems?

AO2 Checklist

• Have I placed the named poem in context

with others in the collection?

• Have I commented on how other poems

tackle the topic in similar and different

ways?

• Have I taken the opportunity to reflect my

appreciation of the historical, social and

political context which has shaped these

poems and other examples of war poetry?

AO4 Checklist

• The horror of war

• The experience of trench life

• Visions & bearing witness

• The role & function of the war poet

• Empathy / pity for the plight of the Tommy

• The landscape of war / man & Nature

• Neurasthenia and shell shock

• Treatment & representation of the enemy

• Protest

Possible Topics

• The influence of literary allusion

• Wounding & disability

• Religion

• Class divisions

Possible Topics