IGCSE exam paper practice piece.
Students were asked to answer the following question:
Re-read Background Material by Tony Harrison.Explore the ways in which Harrison makes looking at the photographs of his parents asignificant and moving experience.
Here are a couple of the best:
background_material_01
background_material_02
Reminders:
Look at the title first – extrapolate.
Very few people remember to do this (and thus fail to gain a genuine insight). In the case of this poem, while several people spotted the literal and figurative applications of “background” in the text, only two or three thought to state that the term often refers to the research that an author does prior to writing – thus, the implication is that Harrison’s parents (at least in this poem) have been reduced to mere data to serve his own storytelling. Again, one may wish to extrapolate on this.
State the author’s name.
It is often buried in the copywriter information.
Avoid slang and colloquial expressions.
A disappointingly large number of people used the terms “mum” and “dad.” This is formal work and demands a formal register.
This is a poem – not prose.
Show the examiner that you know the difference. Comment on what the poetic devices do (but remember that you also need to do this when writing about prose).
“Both are different” – this is impossible!
Avoid litotes.
Several people wrote expressions along the lines of “not many people” instead of ‘few people’ or “did not have much significance” instead or ‘had little significance.’
An idea, a notion or a belief?
An idea is an inspiration for action – it is not the same as a notion or a belief. “John had a great idea – he would build an automatic nail clipper.”
Do not scribble out.
Why draw the examiner’s attention to what you’ve done wrong?! Draw his/her attention to what you’ve done well.
