1. Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation

How to Answer the RUAE Questions

Overview

How to Approach the RUAE Questions

RUAE Skills: Comprehension

RUAE Skills: Selecting and Using Textual Evidence

RUAE Skills: Analysing Language and Techniques

RUAE Skills: Evaluation

How to Get Full Marks on the RUAE Questions

2. Critical Reading Section 1: Scottish Texts

How to Answer the Scottish Texts Questions

Overview

How to Approach the Scottish Texts Questions

How to Get Full Marks on the Scottish Texts Questions

Scottish Texts Mark Scheme and Model Answer

Norman MacCaig

'Aunt Julia'

'Hotel Room, 12th Floor'

'Basking Shark'

'On Lachie's croft'

'Landscape and I'

'Old Highland Woman'

Tally's Blood

Tally's Blood: Plot Summary

Tally's Blood: Themes

Tally's Blood: Characters

Tally's Blood: Context

Tally's Blood: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Tally's Blood: Key Quotations

Tally's Blood: Key Character Quotations

Carol Ann Duffy

Originally

Mrs Midas

In Mrs Tilscher’s Class

Medusa

Havisham

Before You Were Mine

Sailmaker

Sailmaker: Plot Summary

Sailmaker: Themes

Sailmaker: Characters

Sailmaker: Context

Sailmaker: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Sailmaker: Key Quotations

Sailmaker: Key Character Quotations

Jackie Kay

Maw Broon Visits a Therapist

Whilst Leila Sleeps

Keeping Orchids

Grandpa’s Soup

Gap Year

Darling

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Plot Summary

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Themes

Key Theme: Duality

Key Theme: Good and Evil

Key Theme: Secrecy and Reputation

Key Theme: Science and Religion

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Characters

Dr Henry Jekyll Character Analysis

Mr Gabriel John Utterson Character Analysis

Dr Hastie Lanyon Character Analysis

Mr Richard Enfield Character Analysis

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Context

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Key Quotations

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Character Quotations

3. Critical Reading Section 2: Critical Essay

How to Answer the Critical Essay Question

Overview

How to Approach the Critical Essay Question

How to Get Full Marks on the Critical Essay Question

Poetry

Dulce et Decorum Est

The Chimney Sweeper

Disabled

Ozymandias

Funeral Blues

Still I Rise

Macbeth

Macbeth: Plot Summary

Macbeth: Themes

Macbeth Key Theme: Ambition

Key Theme: The Supernatural

Key Theme: Appearance versus Reality

Key Theme: Corruption of Nature

Macbeth: Characters

Characters: Macbeth

Macbeth Key Character Profile: Lady Macbeth

Characters: Banquo

Characters: Duncan

Characters: Macduff

Macbeth: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Macbeth Context

Macbeth: Key Quotations

Macbeth: Character Quotations

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet: Plot Summary

Romeo & Juliet: Themes

Key Theme: Love

Key Theme: Conflict

Key Theme: Honour

Key Theme: Fate

Romeo & Juliet: Characters

Characters: Romeo

Characters: Juliet

Characters: The Nurse

Characters: Tybalt

Romeo & Juliet: Context

Romeo & Juliet: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Romeo & Juliet: Key Quotations

Romeo & Juliet: Character Quotations

An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls: Plot Summary

An Inspector Calls: Themes

Key Theme: Generational Divide

Key Theme: Responsibility and Guilt

Key Theme: Capitalism vs Socialism

Key Theme: Class

Key Theme: Gender

An Inspector Calls: Characters

Characters: Inspector Goole

Characters: Arthur Birling

Characters: Eric Birling

Characters: Sheila

Gerald Croft Character Analysis

Sybil Birling Character Analysis

Eva Smith Character Analysis

An Inspector Calls: Context

An Inspector Calls: Writer's Methods and Techniques

An Inspector Calls: Key Quotations

An Inspector Calls: Character Quotations

A View From the Bridge

A View from the Bridge: Plot Summary

A View from the Bridge: Themes

A View from the Bridge: Characters

A View from the Bridge: Writer's Methods and Techniques

A View from the Bridge: Key Text Quotations

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men: Plot Summary

Of Mice and Men: Themes

Of Mice and Men: Characters

Of Mice and Men: Context

Of Mice and Men: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Of Mice and Men: Key Text Quotations

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies: Plot Summary

Lord of the Flies: Themes

Key Theme: Civilisation versus Savagery

Key Theme: Good versus Evil

Key Theme: Religion

Key Theme: Power and Leadership

Lord of the Flies: Characters

Ralph Character Analysis

Piggy Character Analysis

Simon Character Analysis

Jack Character Analysis

Roger Character Analysis

Lord of the Flies: Context

Lord of the Flies: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Lord of the Flies: Key Quotations

Lord of the Flies: Character Quotations

Animal Farm

Animal Farm: Plot Summary

Animal Farm: Themes

Key Themes: Propaganda

Key Themes: Education

Key Themes: Equality

Key Themes: Leadership

Animal Farm: Characters

Old Major Character Analysis

Napoleon Character Analysis

Snowball Character Analysis

Squealer Character Analysis

Boxer Character Analysis

Animal Farm: Context

Animal Farm: Writer's Methods and Techniques

Animal Farm: Key Quotations

Animal Farm: Character Quotations

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird: Plot Summary

To Kill a Mockingbird:Themes

To Kill a Mockingbird: Characters

To Kill a Mockingbird: Context

To Kill a Mockingbird: Writer's Methods and Techniques

To Kill a Mockingbird: Key Text Quotations

4. Portfolio Writing

How to Approach the Writing Portfolio

Overview

How to Approach the Writing Portfolio

Creative Writing

How to Plan Your Creative Writing

How to Structure Creative Writing

How to Engage the Reader in a Creative Writing Opening

How to Create Setting in Creative Writing

How to Write Dialogue in Creative Writing

Discursive Writing

How to Plan Your Discursive Writing

How to Structure Persuasive Writing

How to Write a Review

How to Write a Speech

Writing Exam Skills

Mastering Sentences

Mastering Word Classes

Mastering Punctuation

Mastering Spelling

5. Performance Spoken Language

How to Approach Performance Spoken Language

Understanding Performance Spoken Language

Performance Spoken Language Skills

Performance Spoken Language: Individual Presentation

Performance Spoken Language: Writing your Presentation

Study tools

• SQA National 5 English · Past Papers

Related links

• National 5 English · Revision Notes
• National 5 English · Past Papers
• SQA National 5 English · Exam specification