2006 reading paper - the grid€¦ · web viewunderline or circle the key ‘content’ word or...

There are 7 key questions in the 2006 reading paper which students across a range of schools in Hertfordshire

answered incorrectly.

All 7 questions were linked to the same two Assessment Focuses

The intention of this pack is for teachers to give high currency feedback to students based on these 7 tricky

questions

Assessment for Learning suggests that our students would benefit from close work on the skills and understanding

required in order to respond correctly to these Assessment Focuses

The understanding our students gain from these AFs is the same understanding they will need when they embark

upon their GCSE courses

Analyses of different groups of students have shown these AFs to be a weakness for higher and lower ability students as well as both boys and girls – and particularly students

with English as an additional language

Year 9 Lesson ResourcesHigh Currency Feedback

for Year 9 Students using the

2006 English SATs Reading Paper

1. These resources are intended to be used for whole class teaching; small group work; or as part of booster sessions.

2. Resources need to be prepared in advance in the form of OHTs, Handouts and Card Sorts.

3. These resources are also available electronically for use with Interactive Whiteboards at www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/english

4. It is interesting – but perhaps unsurprising - to note that the questions which students found the most tricky (across a range of Hertfordshire schools in 2006) were the questions which address Assessment Focuses 5 and 6:

AF 5 - Commenting on the writers’ uses of languageAF 6 - Identifying and commenting on writers’ purposes and

viewpoints

Reading Text Qs AF No. of Tasks

What is Fame?

4a AF6 7

4b AF6 1

6 AF5 3

Brit School9 AF5 4

10 AF6 3

Ellen Macarthur 11a AF5 1

11b AF5 1

12 AF5 1

14 AF6 2

Top 7 Tricky Questions on the2006 English SATs Paper

Resources to help your students once they have completed this paper

http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/english

2006 Reading Paper Q4 (part a) ‘What is Fame?’:

Task 1: Read Paragraph 5 from ‘What is Fame?’:

The growing number of TV channels, the internet and numerous

magazines and newspapers not only promote celebrity culture but also

depend on it. There are not enough famous people to go round so the

same celebrities appear over and over and over again – making them

more well known. Celebrity status is something our society aspires to –

and nowadays everyone has the opportunity to achieve it. With so-called

reality television programmes, ordinary people have instant fame within

their grasp, simply by being themselves.

Task 2: Now read Q4 (part a)In this extract the writer has a negative attitude towards celebrities and reality television programmes.Explain how the writer shows her negative attitude in this quotation:

‘the same celebrities appear over and over and over again’Task 3: On your desk, you have 4 cards which show four different student’s answers to this question

In pairs, rank order these student answers – from best to worst - which explain how the writer is showing a negative attitude to this quotation from paragraph 5 :

‘the same celebrities appear over and over and over again’

Task 4: Now, with your partner, decide on the 1 correct answer! The other 4 were awarded 0 marks!

The writer repeats ‘over’ so that you can take in what she’s saying

She is saying that celebrities just want more fame

it shows she has had enough of celebrities when it says she sees them over and over and over again;

she is saying over and over and over again because of how many times they’ve been on TV

Task 5: Here are two more examples of correct answers: With your partner, be ready to come out to the board and circle the words and phrases which you think have helped both these students gain full marks.

the repetition of over and over makes her feel like she is actually seeing the same celebrities again and again and is bored of them

when she says the same celebrities it shows she finds it tedious when she keeps seeing the same ones

Task 6: Match up the student answers with the teacher comment:

Student Answer Teacher Comment


This answer is too general and does not explain the negative attitude (0 Marks)

the repetition of over and over makes her feel like she is actually seeing the same celebrities again and again and is bored

of them

This answer explains the technique used by the writer by using an English Specific

word – ‘repetition’ and then goes onto explain that the writer is ‘bored’ and

bored answers the question because it is a negative attitude (1 Mark)


This answer doesn’t explain the negative attitude we should be ‘taking in’ from the words the writer uses. Not enough clear

explanation.( 0 Marks)

it shows she has had enough of celebrities when it says she sees them

over and over and over again;

This answer tries to explain the use of the key words from the quotation but does

not explain the negative attitude

(0 Marks)

when she says the same celebrities it shows she finds it tedious when she

keeps seeing the same ones

This answer explains the negative attitude by explaining how the writer has ‘had

enough’ (1 Mark)

she is saying over and over and over again because of how many times they’ve

been on TV

This answer focuses on one single key word from the quotation and explains the

writer’s negative attitude as being ‘tedious’ (1 Mark)

Match Up Teacher Answers and/or Card Sort Activity


This answer doesn’t explain the negative attitude we should be

‘taking in’ from the words the writer uses. Not enough clear explanation. (0 Marks)

the repetition of over and over makes her feel like she is actually seeing the same celebrities again

and again and is bored of them

This answer explains the technique used by the writer by using an

English Specific word – ‘repetition’ and then goes onto explain that the writer is ‘bored’ and bored answers

the question because it is a negative attitude (1 Mark)


This answer is too general and does not explain the negative

attitude (0 Marks)

it shows she has had enough of celebrities when it says she sees

them over and over and over again;

This answer explains the negative attitude by explaining how the

writer has ‘had enough’ (1 Mark)

when she says the same celebrities it shows she finds it tedious when she keeps seeing the same ones

This answer focuses on one single key word from the quotation and

explains the writer’s negative attitude as being ‘tedious’ (1 Mark)

she is saying over and over and over again because of how many

times they’ve been on TV

This answer tries to explain the use of the key words from the quotation

but does not explain the negative attitude (0 Marks)

2006 Reading PaperQ4 (part a) ‘What is Fame?’:

Task 7: Now that you have looked at these sample student answers, have a go at answering these questions:

1. Look at all the Teacher Explanations for the students who got 0 marks – which ‘action word’ (a word which tells you what you have to do) appears in all 3 teacher comments?

Answer: ‘Explain’ is something which all of these students have not done.

2. Again, look at all the Teacher Explanations for the students who got 0 marks – which phrase appears in all 3 that tells you the content you need to explain?

Answer: ‘Negative Attitude’ (I.e. the student hasn’t explained what the negative attitude of the writer actually is)

3. So, how did the students who got 1 mark know to include this in their answer?

Answer: They had underlined the key words from the main question ‘negative attitude’ and made sure they explained what the negative attitude was in their answer.

4. Look at the answers where the students did get 1 Mark. List the 3 words/phrases which explain the negative attitude:

Answers:

B_ _ _ _ Bored

T_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tedious

H _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ Had Enough

5. Can you think of 3 other synonyms for this writer’s negative attitude? You can use a thesaurus if you like.

6. Now write a sample answer which explains the writer’s negative attitude using your synonym.

Top Tips for Answering Questions on the Reading Paper

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Twice

Action Word

Content Word(s)

Literary Technique

Quotation(s)

Purpose/Effect

Clues

Top Tips for Answering Questions on the Reading Paper

1. Read the question twice

2. Underline or Circle the ‘Action’ word (i.e. the word that describes what you have to do in your answer – EXPLAIN, DESCRIBE etc)

3. Underline or Circle the key ‘Content’ word or phrase (i.e. the word or phrase which tells you what you need to be thinking about in order to explain or describe etc)

4. If you have spotted a Literary Technique used by the writer (e.g. repetition or personification etc) then refer to it and explain it if it is part of the correct content for your answer.

5. Use short quotations – sometimes even just single words – to add more meaning to your answer

6. Remember that everything we read has a purpose and the writer wanted to have an effect on their reader so be prepared to explain what you think the writer wants the reader to think or feel- even if you don’t necessarily agree with them!

2006 Reading PaperQ4 (part b) ‘What is Fame?’:

Explain how the writer is showing a negative attitude to this quotation from paragraph 5 :

‘so-called reality television programmes’

Task 1: Answer the following questions:

What is the key word in the above quotation? Why?

Why might someone choose to use this particular key word in their sentence?

Talk to your partner about how this key word helps you answer the question.

Look at the following student’s answers. Talk to your partner about why these answers are good answers.

Be ready to explain each one:

ANSWER A: so-called reality television programmes means that the writer thinks they shouldn’t be called this because they are not real at all;

ANSWER B: she is being sarcastic when she calls them ‘so-called’ reality television programmes.

2006 Reading PaperQ6 ‘What is Fame?’:

Task 1: Answer he following 3 questions

Explain how the use of language in the whole sentence shows just how interested people are in fame.

Refer to specific words and phrases and comment on them.

1. Using the words ACTION and CONTENT, discuss with your partner why the above words and phrases have been highlighted

2. Now look at the sentence provided with the question. Pick out at least 5 words and phrases which will help you to gain three marks in your answer

Certainly we seem to be addicted to celebrity

culture: people are practically trampled

underfoot in the stampede to be in the spotlight

and zillions have flocked to join endless queues

to take part in shows like Big Brother – just to

appear on TV. (paragraph 6)

3. Can you explain why you have chosen these words?


Task 2: Read this student’s answer to Q6 and answer the questions below:

‘Addicted’ suggests that people can not live without celebrity culture. It has now become a part of their lives. ‘Flocked’ shows that the writer is comparing people to

sheep, in that they are always told what to do. ‘Stampede to be in the spotlight’ shows that there is an enormous

amount of people all trying to go in the same direction. Also, ‘stampede’ is a word used for animals, another

suggestion that he thinks they are animals.

1. This answer did get the full 3 marks in the test but what makes it so good? Discuss what you think makes this a good answer.

2. We know that the key content from the question is to think about what the writer feel about just how interested people are in fame.

3. Pick out 3 phrases from the student’s answer that prove this student understands the writer’s opinions.

4. Be ready to share your 3 phrases and explanations.


Task 3: Now, this student answered this question in a hurry and only got 1 mark out of a possible 3. Look at this answer and offer 3 suggestions to her on how she can improve this answer:

‘Stampede to be in the spotlight’ makes it seem like people are all fighting to be the

centre of attention and ‘we seem to be addicted to celebrity culture’ shows that people are following celebrities all the

time.

Possible answers:1. Could you explain more about the meanings of words and where we

might normally find these words being used?

2. Could you make connections between the similar sorts of words

used?

3. Could you make reference to (write about) the writer’s opinion so we

know you have understood?

4. Could you write about how powerful some of these words are and

how that shows us the writer’s opinion?

2006 Reading PaperQ9 ‘Brit School’:

Task 1: Read this question. Circle key words/phrases. Then annotate using no more than 15 words to jot down your thoughts about each circled word:

In paragraph 4, Nick Williams says: ‘The

music world is becoming just a record

factory’.

(a) Explain what the use of the word

factory in this quotation suggests about the

music world.

(b) Give one word from paragraph 6 which

supports the idea that the music world is

like a record factory.

Task 2: Q9 (a) Look at these annotations and fill in the boxes



music world.



music world.



music world.

formulaic / repetitive / predictable

it creates lots of records that are the

same.

uninspiring / manufactured / synthetic

commercial,

Task 3: Q9 (a) Are your answers better than these?



music world.



music world.



music world.

formulaic / repetitive / predictable

it creates lots of records that are the

same.

uninspiring / manufactured / synthetic

commercial,

the music world does not encourage individual creativity.

it suggests that its real aim is just to sell records.

Task 4: Q9 (b) -

(b) Give one word from paragraph 6 which

supports the idea that the music world is

like a record factory.

producing;

cloned.

Why are either of these words correct

answers?

2006 Reading Paper Q10 (Brit School)

Task 1: Circle the key words and phrases

from this question:

How does this article create the impression that the Brit School is an important and exciting place?

You should comment on:– how the article suggests that the

school is important to the music industry;

– the choice of words, phrases and photographs to make the school seem exciting;

– the effect of comments from students and staff.


Task 2: Read through the student

answers on the cards in front of you and

rank them best to worst.

How is the best answer here better than

the answer you wrote?

Give yourself 3 suggestions for how you

could have improved your answer.

The Brit School is important because it’s a place where around 450 young people aged 14–16 work on their music talent each year. A girl called Ella-Louise said she came here to work on her music and singing talent, not to become famous. It’s an exciting place because the head teacher said pupils are encouraged to explore different musical styles.

The Brit School is an important and exciting place because it is ‘the heart of Britain’s music industry’. There is a very ‘special mood’, everyone is willing and trying to help each other improve their skills. The students work very hard and are focused on developing their careers. The school is exciting because maybe some future celebrities are starting their career there.

It comments that the school focuses on the students’ individual talents so that they can build them up. It makes it sound like the students are in the school because of what they are good at so they would only become famous for what they achieved in the performing arts. The photographs show all different sides of the school like dancing and singing. They make it look exciting and more interesting. The student says that she didn’t come here because she wants to be famous, she came so she could build on what she enjoys doing. The teachers seem to care about what they are doing because they ‘don’t settle for anything less than excellence’ and they sound excited for the students.

The article explains how the Brit School is important and exciting by mentioning the ‘youthful energy’ you get when you arrive. It gets a picture in your head of a colourful scene of laughter. It shows how many activities the school offers which make up what the music industry is today, for example ‘experimenting in film and video’. The writer gets a range of interviews from different people within the school. Each of them explain the ‘special mood here’ and the enjoyment of people ‘singing together’. Even visitors are amazed by the ‘dedication to music’ the students have and the director of music comes forward to say that the variety of abilities is ‘staggering’ and ‘there isn’t a “Brit School type” and that is the key’.

The article suggests that the place is important to the music industry by using phrases such as ‘fast becoming the heart of Britain’s music industry’. It also points out flaws in the music industry – ‘record factory’, ‘producing cloned singers or overnight celebrities’ and shows it doesn’t have them – ‘we’re more than that’. The photographs show people doing creative and fun things, such as singing and dancing, promoting the idea that the Brit School is exciting. Words such as ‘excellence’, ‘encouraged’, ‘explore’ make the place sound more exciting. The comments made by staff and pupils are all positive about the school. These first hand accounts make the reader even more convinced that it is an exciting place, as these people have experienced it.


Task 3: Using the marker’s comments,

write a short list of ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for

answering questions worth 5 marks.

Refers briefly to a few relevant examples from the text, showing recognition of the writer’s purpose, but offers no explanation of how these examples create the impression that the Brit School is an important and exciting place. The second prompt is not addressed.1 mark

This response offers simple comments about a relevant selection of features which show that the school is an important and exciting place. Embedded quotations are used to support ideas but there is only limited explanation of how the article creates the impression that the school is important / exciting.2 marks

The comments about the talents of the students, while general, are also relevant, and demonstrate some understanding of how the article shows that the school is an important and exciting place. There is implicit understanding of the effect of quotations from staff and pupils and a generalised but valid comment on the effect of photographs. All the prompts are dealt with appropriately, if briefly, and the response overall merits 3 marks.3 marks

Some exploration is evident of how the article creates the impression that the Brit School is an important and exciting place. Appropriate references are selected to support comment on a number of techniques used by the writer, e.g. use of language, range of activities offered, effect of interviews with different people. All three prompts are covered in reasonable detail, to merit the award of 4 marks.4 marks

A well-focused response which addresses all three prompts. There is a strong awareness of the range of methods used in the text – specific selection of information; choice of language and its effect; use of photographs and quotations to create a positive impression of the school – and each is explored using detailed comments and well-chosen, concise quotations.5 marks

2006 Reading Paper Q11 (a)(Ellen Macarthur)

What does the choice of language in each of the following quotations from paragraph 1 show about Ellen’s different reactions to what is happening?

a) as though I had dropped into a Hollywood film set

Task 1: Look at the correct responses below. Can you match up the reaction to

the explanation and say why these are good answers?

Reaction Explanationshock / a

sense of displacement

she feels as though everyone is looking at her / very important like a film star in Hollywood.

as though she is centre stage

she seems to have dropped into, landed suddenly, in

another world.

a sense of unreality

she can’t believe what she sees as it’s so unexpected.

2006 Reading Paper Q11 (b)(Ellen Macarthur)

What does the choice of language in each of the following quotations from paragraph 1 show about Ellen’s different reactions to what is happening?

b) searchlights sweeping over me as iflooking for an escaped prisoner

Task 1: Look at the correct responses below. Can you match up the reaction to

the explanation and say why these are good answers?

Reaction Explanation

intimidated / afraid she feels she is the centre of unwanted attention.

as though she is being scrutinised

it’s as though she is trapped / is being hunted down like an

escaped prisoner.as though she is being hounded it seems threatening to her.

–

2006 Reading Paper Q12(Ellen Macarthur)

In paragraph 1 Ellen writes My little world had evaporated.

How does the choice of language in this quotation show that Ellen feels a sense of loss?

Task 1: Imagine that your partner has given the following incorrect answers to this question. Take it in

turns to explain what was wrong with the answer and explain why the alternative answer is correct:

Incorrect answer: Alternative correct answer:

She feels a sense of loss because her dreams have come true

she feels she has lost her own special, private world;

She enjoys sailing her boat and now she is finished and she will miss sailing

this was something belonging to only her and now it has gone.

She will miss her hometown now that she is famous

the choice of language shows that Ellen feels as though the life she enjoyed at sea has completely vanished;

The world that she had just had had evaporated

the world that was Ellen’s has disappeared for ever / absolutely / beyond her control

It was calm and peaceful and then it wasn’t

it gives the impression that her world has gone so quickly that she will never get it back.


Ellen refers to her boat, Kingfisher, by name.From paragraph 6 (As Kingfisher finally approached the dock …), explain one other way in which Ellen shows that Kingfisher is very important to her.Support your answer with a quotation from paragraph 6.

Task 1: Read Paragraph 6 and decide on the best quotation:

As Kingfisher finally approached the dock, I felt like a child awaiting an exam. All I could see in front of me were the hundreds of journalists, their lenses and microphones pointing directly at me. When we touched dock moments later, I felt that I was standing completely alone. How could it be me who was talking to these people? Questions were asked and I remember saying that it all felt ‘too much’. I was passed an enormous bottle of champagne and stood there with my knees shaking. The whole world must be watching … I shook the bottle and the cork exploded out above the heads of the crowd. As champagne sprayed into the air, it sank in: Kingfisher and I had done it. We’d finished second in one of the most demanding sailing races in the world.


Task 2: Answer the following questions

Why are these correct answers (below)?

she treats Kingfisher as a person when she says we;

she says ‘Kingfisher and I had done it’, suggesting that they are a team.

Can you explain?

Question: What is the correct English technical term when an inanimate object (i.e. something which is not alive) is given living characteristics?

Answer: Personification (always use a quotation to explain this further)

2006 reading paper - the grid€¦ · web viewunderline or circle the key ‘content’ word or...

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