Time to step up the pace now and let’s get revising several hours a week.

• Start working through your texts one by one. Learn quotations which highlight theme, setting, characterisation and imagery. (Poetry needs you to consider all of the literary techniques we have looked at, including structure.)
• Once you have the quotations memorised what can you say about what they add to your understanding of the text?  Think about how you will word this.
• You should use past papers to consider how you can use what you have learned and apply it to the different questions.
• You should also be preparing for your close reading. Read widely and when you do, think about trying to work out the meaning of words you are unsure of from the context. Look also for various techniques being used and what they add to your understanding. You should also think about reasons you can give to explain why the writing is effective.
• Use past papers to practice. (BBC Bitesize Scotland, Standard Grade English, also gives good close reading advice.)

Anything you do complete in the holidays can be gone over when you return to school before the exams!

Let’s get working!

Even although it is a holiday coming up you should still be looking to put some revision time in. Use the SQA website to allow you to plan your time and to find excellent tips about how to study.

• You can also use the SQA website to practice past papers which your English teacher will be happy to go over on the week you come back.
• Another useful site is Bitesize Scotland – Standard English.
• Even just picking up a newspaper article on the internet or out of a newspaper. Look for words you are unsure of and try to work out their meaning from the context or look them up. Try to identify any structural or literary techniques and be able to say what they add to your understanding.
• Writing a quality essay to time needs practice  - again use past papers. You must choose a question (write the number down) – plan the outline of your essay – write the essay – all in one hour fifteen minutes.

Investing the time NOW will be worth it!

Don’t forget to learn your new words for the spelling test on Friday 9th March!