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The main assessment focus of the Prose section is:

Assessment Objective 1 (AO1)

Assessment Objective 2 (AO2)

Whichever novel you are studying for GCSE English Literature you will be expected to show the examiner that you can:

• read and understand the novel (AO1)
• respond to the novel with imagination and analysis (AO1)
• select relevant examples and/or quotations from the novel and evaluate them (AO1)
• use these details to illustrate your opinions and interpretations (AO1)
• explain and evaluate how the writer uses narrative devices, language, structure and form to present ideas, themes, characters and settings (AO2)

This is a closed book exam which means you will not have a copy of the novel in the exam with you.

This means examiners will expect you to know and use relevant and succinct quotations to support whatever point you are putting forward about a theme or character.

There is no need to learn long quotations – it is perfectly satisfactory to use well selected words and phrases to make a point.

You will get a choice of two questions.

In both questions you will be given a statement about an aspect of the novel and you will be asked to show ‘how far you agree with’ it.

Read both questions carefully, looking at the key terms used so that you know exactly what you are being asked.

Choose whichever question you feel most confident about and which will allow you to show off all your knowledge about the novel and the writer’s use of narrative devices.

Always remember that your essay should present your opinion on the subject clearly and that you should develop your argument on why you think this throughout.

You must support your argument using quotations and examples from the novel.

You should be using the literary terms you learnt in class to show that you are aware of the writer’s methods.

Look at examples of points in the section on characters and themes to see how you should integrate all of these aspects into paragraphs.