CIE LANGUAGE

PAPER 1 PASSAGES

You will be taught a range of texts styles drawn from a variety of English language sources such as advertisements, brochures, leaflets, editorials, news stories, articles, reviews, blogs, investigative journalism, letters, podcasts, (auto) biographies, diaries, essays, scripted speech (e.g. a speech by a politician) and narrative/descriptive writing.

Each question is in two parts:

(a)          commentary on the use of language in the passage(s). [15 marks]

(b)          directed writing task based on the passage(s). [10 marks]

I will provide you with expert guidance on how to

• identify distinguishing features of the texts, relate them to the function and context of the writing, and organise information in their answers
• comment on aspects such as vocabulary, figurative language (e.g. use of metaphor and simile), word ordering and sentence structure, formality/informality of tone, and the communication of attitudes, bias or prejudice, structure
• write for a specific purpose and/or audience using appropriate vocabulary, tone, and style.

PAPER 2 WRITING

The paper contains two sections: Section A and Section B. There are three questions in each section.

Section A: Imaginative writing (i.e. imaginative/descriptive)

I will help you write an original, structured and crafted narrative or descriptive piece of continuous writing of 600–900 words (or two shorter linked pieces of 300–450 words).

Special focus will be devoted to ensuring that you can write imaginatively, using language to create deliberate effects, e.g. in conveying a mood, setting, idea or describing a character.

Section B: Writing for an audience (i.e. discursive/argumentative)

Questions require a piece of continuous writing of 600–900 words (or two shorter linked pieces of 300–450 words). In each question, a specified form for the writing will be given (e.g. a magazine feature, article, review, letter to a newspaper, scripted speech, voiceover) for a specified audience.

I will help you present a view clearly, construct an argument carefully, and write coherently and persuasively.

PAPER 3 Text ANALYSIS

• The paper contains two questions, both compulsory and of equal marks.

Question 1 is in two parts

(a) directed writing task relating to the text, involving writing 120–150 words in a specific form and for a specified purpose/audience, using appropriate vocabulary, tone, and style. [10 marks]

(b) comparison of the style and language of the candidate’s writing in (a) with that of the original text. [15 marks]

Question 2 is based on two longer texts (300–400 words each). The texts will have some thematic connection, but will be from different types of source/ form. Candidates are required to compare style and language of the texts. [25 marks]

I will help you:

• quickly and expertly analyse a range of texts viz transcription of speech/spoken material/scripted speech, advertisements, brochures, leaflets, editorials, news stories, articles, reviews, blogs, investigative journalism, letters, podcasts, (auto) biographies, diaries, essays, and narrative/descriptive writing.

• identify and analyse distinguishing features of written and spoken language in the text(s), such as appropriate vocabulary, tone, and style, purpose/audience,  word order and the structure of sentences/ utterances, figurative language (e.g. use of metaphor and simile), formality/informality of tone, and the communication of attitudes, bias or prejudice., using vocabulary,
• relate these features to the function and context of the text(s)
• organise information coherently in their answers.
• structure and present an organised, insightful and persuasive response to the question, after having analysed it.

PAPER 4 LANGUAGE TOPICS

• The paper contains three questions, of which two must be answered.

Topic A: Spoken language and social groups

I will develop/ help you with the following areas of study:

• specific features of spoken language which are influenced by context
• the use of language to include and exclude
• group identity, power and status
• slang, jargon and other non-standard features
• idiolect/sociolect/dialect
• speech sounds and accents
• theories and studies of social variation in language, for example variations according to gender, age, occupation, social class.

Topic B: English as a global language

I will develop/ help you with the following areas of study:

• issues arising from differing ideas of ‘world’/’global’/‘international’ English
• Kachru’s Three Circles: inner circle, outer circle, expanding circle
• the local status of English – as an ‘official’ (second) language
• ‘Englishes’ – standard and non-standard varieties
• cultural effects – especially from, for example, British v. American English
• national government attitudes: language planning policies
• language death.

Topic C: Language acquisition by children and teenagers

I will develop/ help you with the following areas of study:

• the main stages of early development, for example, the holophrastic, telegraphic and post-telegraphic stages
• the different functions of young people’s language, for example:

–– instrumental function: language used to fulfil a need – obtaining food, drink and comfort

–– regulatory function: asking, commanding, requesting

–– interactional function: language that develops social relationships

–– personal function: language that expresses personal opinions

–– representational function: relaying or requesting information

–– heuristic function: language that is used to explore the world and to learn and discover

–– imaginative function: using language to tell stories and create imaginary worlds

• knowledge of some of the theories of how children acquire language, such as imitation and reinforcement (Skinner), the language acquisition device (Chomsky), cognitive development (Piaget) and child-directed (or ‘caretaker’) speech.