the hemingway question ocr gcse
DESCRIPTION
An exam preparation slideshow for year 11 students preparing to answer a question on Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea'.TRANSCRIPT
The Hemingway Question
The Last Piece of the Puzzle
Choice of 2 Questions
Passage basedor
Whole text
Type of task
Open textClean copy35 minutes
Both questions are ‘HOW’ focused
They require an understanding of:
CharactersRelationships
ThemesHemingway’s writing style
Passage based question
200-300 word extract
Requires close study of Hemingway’s content and language
You must also connect the passage to the rest of the novella
‘How does Hemingway reveal ( ) here and in
the rest of the novel?’
‘How does Hemingway portray ( ) here and
in the rest of the novel?’
‘In what ways does Hemingway’s writing here add
to your understanding of ( )?’
‘How does the ( ) in this passage confirm what you have
learned earlier in the novel?’
June 2006
The relationship between Santiago & Manolin
January 2006The determination of the old man
June 2005
The struggle to get the fish to shore
January 2008
Manolin
June 2007Powers of endurance
January 2007
Santiago
June 2009
Respect for the sea
January 2009How effective as an ending?
June 2008
Role of the fisherman
Whole text question
Requires you to draw connections between 3 or more sections of the novel that
address the topic given
Use brief, embedded quotation to support your ideas
June 2006
What Santiago has learned from the sea & its creatures
January 2006Effects of a hard life on the old man
June 2005
Relationship between the old man and the boy
January 2008
Santiago’s solitary life at sea
June 2007The importance of Santiago’s tricks
January 2007
The sea as ‘giving great favours’
June 2009
How Manolin supports Santiago during the novel
January 2009Santiago’s thoughts and feelings about the marlin
June 2008
The past/memories & dreams help us understand characters
Characters Relationships Themes
Santiago Santiago & Manolin Endurance
Manolin Santiago & the Marlin The struggle of life
The Marlin Loneliness
The role of the fisherman
Respect for the sea
Past/memories/dreams
Santiago’s tricks
The sea and its creatures
Pitfall to avoid
Time wasted by flicking through the text to find relevant sections
Solution
Know the text better!
Use specific illustrative example from memory as well as quotation –
it’s quicker
Pitfalls to avoid
Failure to answer the question set and slip into retelling rather than
analysing the text
Solution
Annotate the question
Plan your answer briefly and stick to the plan
Remember that the examiner knows the text as well as you do or better so you
don’t need to explain the plot!
Pitfalls to avoid
Inability to offer a full answer in the limited time available
Solution
It is unlikely that you WILL be able to offer a full answer – and because
it’s the 1st of 3 questions on the paper, you are in danger of eating
into time you don’t have so use a 5 paragraph plan -
The 5 Paragraph Plan – Passage
P1 – Thesis that directly addresses the topic
P2/3 – commentary that support your thesis, illustrated by close textual reference to the language and content of the passageP4 – Commentary from other sections of the novel that also support your topic-based thesis
P5 – Conclusion that revisits the thesis and acknowledges its significance to Hemingway’s themes and interests
The 5 Paragraph Plan – Whole text
P1 – Thesis that directly addresses the topic
P2/3/4 – 3 points that support your thesis, illustrated by close textual reference from different sections of the novel
P5 – Conclusion that revisits the thesis and acknowledges its significance to Hemingway’s themes and interests
Other Preparation Strategies
Multi pass readingReview all notes
Visit Study Guide sitesQuestion prediction
Plan under timed conditions