Task 2: How To Get Full Marks (OCR A Level English Literature)

Task 2: How To Get Full Marks

Regardless of which texts you choose, the type of question set for the comparative essay task should always prompt you to compare or contrast how the writers present a key concern in their texts.

It is tempting to jump straight in and start writing immediately. However, following this guide will ensure you answer the question in the way the examiners are looking for.

Below you will find sections on:

• What skills are required

• Steps for success

What skills are required

This task for the NEA is unusual as there is no dominant Assessment Objective. All five objectives are assessed and are equally weighted. For a detailed exploration of the skills required for AO1 (presenting a response) and AO2 (critical analysis), please see our notes on How To Get Full Marks in Task 1.

The following sections explore the other skills you will need to demonstrate mastery of in more detail:

• Incorporating context (AO3)

• Making comparisons (AO4)

• Exploring interpretations (AO5)

Incorporating context (AO3)

It is important to remember that incorporating context does not mean memorising large chunks of historical material and reproducing this in your answer. Instead, contextual exploration must be woven into your comparative analysis in an integrated manner, and must always be linked to both the texts and the focus of the question. “Context” can be understood in a variety of ways.

Literary context

Depending on your chosen texts, you may wish to consider conventions “typical” to that type of text, but again with the caveat that concentrating on a pre-prepared list of “features” typical to the genre will not gain extra credit unless you remain specifically focused on the question.

For example, here are some typical genre features and contextual considerations for the following forms of text. This list is by no means exhaustive:

Epic Poem (poetry)

Tragedy (drama)

Comedic play (drama)

Epistolary novel (prose)

Social, political and historical contexts

When considering the social, political and historical context of a text you might consider:

• The political context in which it was produced

• The social context in which it was produced

• The ways in which the text would have been transmitted, performed or read

• The biographical circumstances of the writer

• Attitudes of readers or audiences at the time of first production

AO3 asks you to consider and explore the contexts in which literary texts are written and understood. You might therefore find the following questions useful to consider:

Context also applies to criticism. As you read criticism of your texts, you need to understand the context of criticism, since each critic is from their own era and is influenced by assumptions and attitudes of that era. Each of these critics has to be viewed as being influenced by a range of contexts, changing philosophical/intellectual attitudes, and changing methods of transmission (such as conventions of theatrical performance, or ways of writing/printing or producing texts).

Making comparisons (AO4)

AO4 requires an integrated comparative analysis of the relationships between texts. This means that you are required to explore contrasts, connections and comparisons between your different literary texts, including the ways in which the texts relate both to one another and to literary traditions, movements and genres. The best responses pick up on the prompt words within the task and then select material accordingly. In this way, by sustaining a coherent, question-focused argument throughout, comparison becomes a technique through which the texts can be used to shed light on each other, both in terms of similarities and differences.

The example below shows how you might begin to approach comparing A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, based on the following task:

Interpretations (AO5)

An exploration of different interpretations should always be woven into your comparison, never set apart from it or added as an after-thought. Different interpretations could include:

• Reference to recognised critics

• Different theatrical interpretations of drama (in which you discuss different directors’ presentations or different actors’ portrayals)

• Exploring a text in relation to concepts of the genre (such as tragedy)

• Developing a theoretical approach to the study of the text (feminist, Marxist, etc.)

• Different interpretations of texts produced through rewriting or television/film adaptations

You can also develop your argument by linking your points:

• Think of a point of comparison between your texts

• Next, come up with a personal and creative response to the comparison

• Then inform or support your response with different interpretations (AO5)

Steps for success

To do well in this task, you need to be extremely familiar and confident with both of the texts, and have done your research thoroughly in preparation for your essay. Completing the steps below first will ensure you complete this task in the way that examiners are looking for:

• Do your research:

  • OCR have an online Text and Task tool that students are able to use in the research stage of the NEA

  • It can be useful to see what other candidates have written about in order to help you formulate your own work

  • Your teacher is able to make amendments or additions to any text or task submission until the deadline of 31st January (in the year of examination)

• Decide on which two texts you are going to compare and collaborate with your teacher on the wording of the task:

  • This may be dictated by your centre, although the exam board do encourage independence and creativity in your choice of text

  • The task should be kept simple, but should clearly set out what is expected, focusing on the “writing” of the texts

• Plan and draft your response:

  • Give yourself plenty of time for this

  • Do not leave this until the last minute and without any time for amendments or improvements

  • Begin your essay with an initial overview of the texts related directly to the task, indicating the reasons for comparison

  • Include a brief reference to relevant contexts

  • Note down the relevant points of comparison you will be making and the different interpretations you will be exploring – these should become your paragraph topic sentences

  • Demonstrate your understanding of the texts through the careful selection of key references and quotations

  • Balance your paragraphs between the two texts

  • Challenge different views of the texts, or balance different readings against each other, in order to explore implications

  • Take time to carefully proofread and refine your work

• Re-read, refine and improve:

  • Use feedback to make changes and improve the strength of your response

• Re-read and check your work for overall sense and accuracy before final submission (AO1)