ENGLISH SATS 2004

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ENGLISH SATS 2004
Tretherras
TOP TIPS!
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WHY ARE SATS IMPORTANT?

• They test what you know so teachers can help
  you.
• They prepare you for GCSE studies.
• They secure your reading and writing skills.
• They give you practice in taking exams.

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WORKING ON THE THREE TEST PAPERS

• Reading 1 hr 15 minutes.
• Writing - 45 minutes.
• Writing and Shakespeare 1 hr 15 minutes
• TOTAL 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES

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THE READING PAPER

• 15 MINUTES READING TIME.
• 60 MINUTES WRITING TIME.

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WHAT DO I DO DURING THE READING TIME?

• Identify the theme.
• Scan the texts.
• Highlight the topic sentences.
• Annotate.
• Understand.

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READING THE TEXT
Overview What is it about? Purpose Why did
the writer write it? Audience Who is it
for? Structure How is it written? Presentation
How is it presented? - headlines -
sub-headings - pictures - font sizes
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WHAT DO I DO DURING THE WRITING TIME?
Highlight the key words
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HOW DO I ANSWER THE QUESTIONS?

• Find the relevant part of the text.
• THINK!
• Find the evidence.
• THINK!
• Write your answer.
• THINK! CHECK IT.
• If you cant answer a question, move on !

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THE WRITING PAPER

• 15 MINUTES PLANNING TIME
• 30 MINUTES WRITING TIME

WHY IS PLANNING IMPORTANT?

• It helps you to note what you know about the
  subject.
• It helps you to identify the audience, purpose,
  and tone.
• It helps you to organise your thoughts into
  paragraphs.

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LOOKING AT THE TASK
Annotate the task. Think of purpose, audience,
viewpoint and tone Use the planning format.
Think of a good opening and conclusion to your
writing.
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Fun for All the Family

• Are you a teenager with a talent for
  presenting information in a persuasive way? We
  are looking for a brand new leaflet to promote
  our Leisure Centre to families with children.
  Write the text for our new leaflet,
  giving information about the range of
  facilities available and persuading
  families to try them out. You could win an
  exciting prize!
• 
  Chris Denford
• Upperley Leisure Centre Manager

Write the text for the new information leaflet
for Upperley Leisure Centre.
30 marks
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USE SUBORDINATED SENTENCES.

• The man was tired because he had been up all
  night.
• Although he was tired he was still full of
  energy.
• Excited by the day ahead, he put on his smartest
  clothes.
• Walking into the office, he smiled at everybody
  in a friendly way.

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Vary your sentences

• Think about verb choice and noun choice
• The man went down the road
• The thief hurried down the alleyway
• You could add a clause or a phrase to provide
  more information
• While the house was burning, the thief hurried
  down the alleyway

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• Avoid starting each sentence with the same words.
• The thief hurried down the alleyway carefully
  with the jewels in his hands
• With the jewels in his hand, the thief carefully
  hurried down the alleyway
• Down the alleyway, the thief hurried, carefully,
  with the jewels in his hands
• Carefully, with the jewels in his hands, the
  thief hurried down the alleyway

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Vary your sentences

• Use short sentences for effect.
• The thief ran.
• Remember that all text genres benefit from the
  use of imagery, alliteration and vivid
  vocabulary.
• What effect are you trying to create for the
  reader?

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WRITE IN PARAGRAPHS

• All the sentences in a paragraph should be
  linked to its main or topic sentence.
• Example
• It was very hot. The sun shone down like liquid
  honey, bathing the holiday makers. Stunned by the
  heat, people fanned themselves with newspapers
  and magazines. At 9.30 a.m. when George looked
  at the thermometer, it was already 35ºC.

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TEXT COHESION

• Does it have an interesting beginning?
• Does the text move from one logical point to the
  next? (Think about a glue stick do your ideas
  stick together?)
• Have you provided enough information for the
  reader in each paragraph?
• Does the whole piece of writing make sense?
• Does it have a good conclusion which links in
  some way with the beginning?

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THE SHAKESPEARE PAPER AND
SHORTER WRITING TASK

• The shorter writing task comes first. It is
  worth 20 marks.
• Plan an answer quickly (5 minutes maximum)
• You have 30 minutes only to complete this.
• Aim for 4 to 5 well-developed, well-expressed
  paragraphs.
• You are tested on spelling in this part only, but
  using precise, well-chosen vocabulary is as
  important as spelling correctly.

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THE SHAKESPEARE TASK
You have 45 minutes to answer this question.

• Conscience. What is conscience?
• How have Macbeth and Banquo changed?
• Why have they changed?
• What evidence have you for your point of view?
• How do we feel about them?
• How does Shakespeare make us feel this way?

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Enjoy the Challenge

• Think of this as a chance to show off your
  skills.
• In the reading paper PEE those longer answers!
• In the writing tasks, think about crafting your
  ideas to meet the purpose of the task and to
  reach your audience. Organise your work into
  paragraphs. Vary your sentences.
• (Revise a little in the Easter holidays.)

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Strange but true!

• It helps to
• Imagine yourself in the exam feeling calm and
  confident
• Imagine the piece of writing you will produce
  see the paragraphs and the interesting sentences
• Think in the present tense (do this and say this
  to yourself NOW)
• I am a good writer
• I read well and answer questions effectively
• I am good at English

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You can do it!