What do you learn from Jan Moir’s account about where Bruce Parry has been and what he has been doing?

This question is testing your ability to understand a text. The word ‘learn’ shows that you should refer to important info given in the text and read between the lines. To make sure you have written in enough detail you must discuss where he has been and what he has been doing. Remember to check this.

A brief summary of important info show general understanding. Parry is an expeditionary who has travelled around the world. Moir’s account teaches the reader about Parry’s unique bravery (eating with cannibals) determination and his successes in Africa, Asia and Ethiopia.

I have used key words from the question to keep me on track. I have learned that tribal folk can be more resilient and tolerant of things like pain, fatigue and hunger. For example, when Parry claims, the women laughed at me’ when he had his wrists slashed – this shows that his flinching behaviour was out of the ordinary.

I have used connectives to make links between my points. Whereas the flinch was unusual for the tribe, I have learned that the food was unusual for, the western explorer, Parry. At home, he eats crab ‘lustily’ but he describes Sago as ‘eating chalk’. Chalk is inedible and this tells me that it was not only unusual but uncomfortable for Parry.

Despite, his discomfort and humiliations, I have learned that Parry found this a rewarding and exhilarating experience. He ‘immersed’ himself in the cultures and following this dedication - was respected in return. He explains that ‘they loved it’ which teaches me that the tribes also benefitted from the experience.

I have used PEE to structure my final three points. P: what I have learned E: where I learned it from (integrating the quote if possible) E: showing my understanding. This has reminded me to use the question, back up with a quote and interpret.

How do the headline and whole picture add to the effectiveness of the text?

The keyword here is effective. If something is effective – it works well. This is an article so for it be effective it must inform us well – the question is asking you to show us how the title and picture help the text to inform us.

This is a newspaper article written to inform people about the recent discoveries of new life in the ocean.

The headline is a summary of the findings: ‘new life revealed in rainforests of the deep’ with ‘deep’ referring to the oceans and ‘rainforests’ referring to the mountains which are half a mile high and 15 miles wide. These words are effective as they inform the reader but create interest as rainforests are found above land, not below it.

The picture also creates interest. It includes a large image of deep water coral – alongside other new specimens and a diagram of the newly explored territory. The coral is bright and pretty – it will attract the attention of the reader and create excitement about the new discoveries. The diagrams are particularly effective as they allow us to visualize the information that is written. For example, the diagram shows us where the new species have been discovered (it is highlighted in red) and also uses labels to make the information clearer.

Now read Item 3, Afghan Journey which is an extract from a non-fiction book.

3 What are some of the thoughts and feelings Mansur has during the journey?

Another question looking for understanding. Below is the sample answer given by the exam board. It doesn’t follow PEE exactly but the examiner does comment that it would benefit from the use of more quotes.

In the first part of the extract, Mansur is very happy because he s going on a journey with his friends and his beloved western cassette. The cassette is playing loudly because he has eaten lots of sugary food. Mansure feels free and happy – this could be because he is able to listen western music - and to emphasise this he yells “Here I come!” to the village he has not seen since he was a boy.

Mansur then feels a sense of beauty when he passes a plain against a mountain range in the early morning. However, when they drive past the war torn villages, Mansur is shocked “stares in silence” and can’t think of anything to say.

When Mansur tries to see his mother’s village, he can’t tell because they are all ruined and desolate, and so he feels sadness and grief for the villagers. He remembers the happier times before the wars , when he was just a little boy. He remembers the fields and flowers and comparing them now to mines and weeds he feels disappointed and upset.

When he hears a description of where he is but a few years ago, when it describes happy, bright, fresh, pictures of the place he feels an ironic grief because that is the total opposite of what Afghanistan was like at the time.

Now you need to refer to Item 3, Afghan Journey and either Item 1 or Item 2. You are going to compare two texts, one of which you have chosen.

4  Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some

examples and explain what the effects are.

The keywords in this question are language and effect. You get the most most marks for explaining the effects so focus your detail here.

Language is used effectively in Afghan Journey and item 1.

Firstly in item 1, there is descriptive language which disgusts the reader “he has been splitting rats in half instead and scooping out their innards”.  This very gruesome language interests the reader as it is violent and makes us want to read on.

Comparing this to the language in Afghan journey such as “here bombs from American B52s … remains of twisted tanks” also gives a sense of death and violence. Both articles use harsh realization to engage the reader and keep them focused.

Secondly, in Afghan Journey, Mansur has flashbacks of being at home “he remembers hoe he ran around on the paths and fields”. This displays what his life used to be like, informing the reader what he used to be able to do and now can’t. This makes us sympathise for Mansur and feel pity for him. He informs us what life used to be like before the war.

Comparing this to item 1, we are also given examples of what Parry did: “his skin was slashed with razor blades and thorns” and this makes us pity him for what he had to put himself through as what he has done is very grim and he had to do it to be accepted.

Thirdly, both items have a major thing in common, they are both set in remote places that wouldn’t usually be thought of. In Item 1 Moir gives examples of the places he has been “Arunchal Pradesh region of India” and “Kombaii traibe of West Papua” This suggests how far Parry had travelled and what extent Parr is willing to go to, to secure his findings.

Item 3 also refers to places that are unheard of but by using their names it makes them easier to imagine as we can relate to things that have names.

Overall, the texts use harsh language, names and flashbacks to inform and interest the reader.