May 2024 Paper 2: Sample Response 10 (Question 2)
How do we help students who write too much plot and description in a Paper 2? One possible activity is to compare and contrast different essays of varying quality. Sometimes, it clicks for a student when they can read an essay with a bunch of plot and compare and contrast it to an essay that is more analytical in nature.
For that reason, we are publishing our 10th Paper 2 exemplar and the 3rd exemplar that focuses on question 2 from the May 2024 exam cycle. It does not score well in criterion A and B. And that is because it is reliant on description and lacks a discussion of the author’s choices. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a useful exemplar! We have students of varying abilities who need support in moving from plot to analysis.
Use this exemplar (found below) in conjunction with this one and this one. By comparing and contrasting the exemplars – not in terms of language or style (although a worthy activity) – but instead in terms of criterion A and B, students will be better equipped to write an analytical essay rather than an essay heavy on description.
Best,
Tim and David