AQA English Language Unit One

Understanding and Producing Non-Fiction Texts

QUESTION 2

Main menu: overview of question two active reading strategies active reading example active reading practice question 2 mini-assessment

Overview

Question 2 is essentially the same as question 1b, as the skills that you have to show are the same. The main differences are that you are referring to a different source and you have to write more for an answer.

You are being assessed on understanding and interpreting details.

Key information

question 2 always refers to Source Two

this question is worth a total of 8 marks

you need to score a minimum of 5 marks to gain a C grade

use the same active reading strategies as question 1

spend about 17mins on this question, including reading

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Active Reading Strategies

In order to help you understand the information in each source, it is important that you employ a range of active reading strategies.

These active reading strategies should be used for question 2.

read the question carefully and highlight key words

- make sure you understand what each question is looking for

highlight the topic sentences (see slide 4)

- a topic sentence tells the reader the focus of the paragraph

- it is often (but not always) the first or second paragraph

summarise each paragraph (see slide 4)

- in the margin sum up what you think the paragraph is about

- do this in only a few words e.g. what to do; where to go; costs

- if they are long paragraphs, it might help to summarise sections

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Active Reading Example

The following text is taken from the June 2011 Foundation Level exam.

Look at how the reader has been actively involved by highlighting the topic sentence and summarising the content.

We have adapted perfectly to Liverpool but when it comes to eating we still follow a Spanish timetable. Eating at English times still feels too early so we started arranging barbeques. One Sunday we started eating inthe garden. It was a sunny day with the odd cloud and we didn’t think anything of it.... until the heavens opened and it started snowing. Yes, snowing. Since then the slightest sign of bad weather and we set up in the garage instead.

Eating in the UK

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Active Reading Practice

Activity: read the second paragraph in this source and try to identify the topic sentence and summarise the paragraph focus.

I enjoy shopping too. A friend of mine in Liverpool sometimes opens up his shop for me so that I can go when it’s quiet. I like to stroll around the big department stores. You always find something new for the house or the latest fashions. I don’t suffer the same amount of hassle in England as I did in Spain and I can go about my business much more easily.

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Question 2 exemplar Highlight key words i.e. Torres’s free time

Fernando Torres likes to spend his free time cooking barbeques.

He tells the reader that ‘the slightest sign of bad weather’ forces

Him to cook in the garage. It seems Torres really enjoys eating

with his friends and family despite the bad weather.

1. Make a Point about Torres’s free time (use your notes)

2. Give short quotation as Evidence

3. Infer to show your understanding (you need min. of 3 points)

Activity: Write two more Point Evidence Comment paragraphs that explain how Torres spends his free time.

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Check source

Q2 Skills Checklist

What you need to do:

use active reading strategies

make 3-4 points that answer the question

give 3-4 short quotations as evidence

use 3-4 inferences to show understanding

January 2012Time Allowed 17mins

Now read Source 2, the extract from Humble Pie, the autobiography of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Answer the question below.

2. As a young man, Gordon Ramsay was a talented footballer. What problems did he face following his football training accident? (8 marks)

Remember to: show your understanding by explaining in your own words support your ideas using the text.

Assessment practice

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