I got an A* at English A level by making quotation maps and just generally analysing the text. You DONT need to memorise more than 10 quotations per text just find some quotations that apply to multiple themes and you will be fine.
That's a really good point actually and something which I forgot to mention in the video! For each of my core texts, I will learn around 12-15 key moments and quotes which can be applied to a range of different essay titles and themes. You don't want to learn an excessive number of quotes because, when you have a relatively small number to choose from, your analysis of these points can become really strong. Thanks for bringing this up :)
For my board, I don’t know about your one, there’s not really any point in remembering quotes from the text. None of the questions that don’t have a passage give any credit for language analysis. We are memorising critical quotes, and then using them to gain interpretation marks.
I mean most English essays anywhere you will need textual references to support a point you make. You can't make a point about something without evidence, that's just common sense
If you're writing a GCSE essay, sure. If I'm writing at any sort of level above that, it's worthless to use precise quotes unless I am making a point about the use of language, form or structure, or it is necessary to a bigger contextual point on the text. Why would I quote 'He spat. He spat full into my litso,' when I could just say, PR Deltoid spat into Alex's face? The only reason I would remember the quote is to analyse the language or form of it. Which is a worthless exercise, considering I don't get marks for it. Now remembering words here and there is worthwhile, I make no mistake of that, my knowledge of Nadsat and the Biblical language of The Handmaids tale is not worthless. But these words are only worthwhile when linked into a bigger point, and are not worth revising because you remember stand out words after a read or two. On my board I'm better off talking nebulously with critics, rather than precisely with quotes, when it comes to non-passage questions.
I was just exercising, your video came up haha. 18 day's left till my GCSE's woo... Honestly, what I'm doing right now for English revision is the best way for me but still haha. I love your videos!
I am quite done with schools, but the reason why i subscribed your channel is that you’re unbearably adorable and giving me so much motivation on everything i try to do. Your videos just calm me so down. Thank you Ruby!
Could you make a video about education system in UK? That would be interesting for people from other countries, I think. Actually I really want to get to know something about it, because it looks different than in my country. :D
I´d love that! It´s so much different here in Czech Republic. I always get confused when my friends from UK or youtubers like Ruby talk about CGCE and this stuff. It would be nice if this video would be also about what is mandatory, which job you can do with these levels etc., what is most common etc. In return, we can write Ruby in comments how it is in ouŕ countries :).
Ruby, thank you so much this is so helpful; I’m in year ten right now so I need this a lot!! You are such a lovely girl and I wish I could meet you in real life!! It’s also lovely to know that I’m not the only one who finds English essays daunting haha x
THANK YOU SO MUCH RUBY! I absolutely love your content and I can’t express how much you help me in school. Next year I will be going to grade 8 and I’m quite scared, but you make me feel motivated and excited! Also NOTIFICATION SQUAD UNITE! :3
I really needed this! My GCSEs exams are just around the corner and I'm really scared but I'm trying to calm myself down and not freak out too much or else I'll do bad. This is useful thanks ruby ☺️
Thank you so much! My English Literature exam is May 9th and I’ve been doing a lot of the tips you gave already in my revisions but you gave me even more ideas!
I needed this so bad😊Thnx Ruby💞💞💕Could you maybe do a video on how to deal with stress and depression from school. You seem like a very confident girl and you might have some tips❤
This is so helpful!!! Next year I will be taking an english literature class in high school. But the thing is, english is not my first nor second language. So sometimes is quite hard to understand the very complex language that some of the most important authors use. So this was really really helpful!!!
I am so glad I found this video! I was feeling very daunted about my final year of highschool because I have to write my most challenging diplomas (i don't know if you have these where you are but they are government issued final exams for 30 level courses) - Social Studies and English. Thank you so much for these tips!
I love this video and hopefully it will be very useful to me! Congratulations on your grades - well deserved! One question. . . what are you timed english paragraphs about? How do you from questions to do them? Im just like you when it comes to writing under pressure so i think I'm going to try writing a paragraph per day!
Hi Ruby, we're running a GCSE English Lit Q&A in the run up to this year's exams. We have some 'grade booster' videos too that people have found really helpful. It would be fantastic if you could take quick look - they're designed with visual learning in mind and for students aiming for Grade 5 and higher.
I really like the idea of writing a timed paragraph each morning! I was just wondering: how do you decide what to write one on every day? Do you use literary works and example questions? Or do you use something else? Love from the Netherlands 💛
i don't live in the uk and oh man just watching these vids is like... so confusing in a way? like we literally never had to write essays or anything like this in our literature class, i actually find it pointless? in my classes we focus more on the overall image of literature and write tests on "who was the author of...?" or "define renaissance literature (themes etc.)" or "what is the name of the book where the main character does this and that". we actually write essays very very rarely (i'm now graduating and in my life i only wrote about 6 maybe), because it's not considered that it would prove knowledge of a certain topic. we always get just tests. so watching your vids is always like "oh now she's preparing for... essay? oh she learns *quotes* ??? what for?" lol i always get so confused (but i like your vids anyways!!)
Ruby, you're such an inspiration! Your videos are always of great help to me. Thanks to you, I get a little more productive everyday 😊 Keep doing you, girl! 😘🙌💕💕
Watching your videos has made me more motivated to do PhD work. It’s bioscience based so a lot is in the lab anyway, but I’ve got much better at reading papers and note taking etc 👍
Thank you so much for this video, I was told today to start revising for my Y8 end of year exams in all my subjects and a couple of minutes before this was posted I was trying to think of ways to revise for English. Thank you.
Rowena, please look above at my response to Sarah Rigby. Purely revising "themes" will not work out. Here's something to think about: many marking systems operate on the basis of norm-referencing, or else they work on a bell curve - this means, in essence, that if everyone taking the exam this year gets a poor result, then candidates who do OK, will actually get a much higher grade than they would have done if everyone else did OK. Their OK performance, starts looking excellent, in other words. Norm-referencing works on the basis of the exam board having to give so many "A" grades out based on what they gave last year (with some minor room either side of this). Ruby - or anyone else with a platform where they reach thousands of people - has a vested interest in not giving away all her secrets. If everyone else starts doing well, then it impacts on how well she does. I say all this, just so you take her advice with a pinch of salt. There is a lot you can do to revise for English - knowing the material and practising is part of that. But practising the right stuff is also key. As is how you structure your work, and present your argument. (see above). Let me know if there's anything you need help with!
Very motivational and helpful video, Thank you very much for always motivating us Ruby, Good Luck ^^ By the way, tomorrow I have an exam on Humanities and Social Science, and I was just studying on 'Ethics, Art, and Science' and the video boosted me up. Thank you !!!!!!
I got the highest score in my end of years for maths and science in my year but I got the lowest score for English - even though I'm pretty sure I read more books than anyone else in my year
Hi ruby although I have revised a bit I feel as though I’m seriously behind and not prepared for my GCSEs and I think u can really help me!! Could u give me some tips like what to do now seeing as there’s only a few weeks and how to prioritise my time. I’m really scared and would love for you to give time to my comment. Love u and been a long time fan of yours ❤️❤️
Same! Honestly, thers about 18 days, 2 and a half weeks... I'm stressing out as well I regret choosing damn textiles and all course work is due on Friday I haven't even started my shoes...Ugghh. (I'm probably going to fail art). I hate coursework. But good luck to you! I'm not Ruby haha but do about 6 hours a day after school and if your're an early riser an hour or two in the morning and just remember this will end, these exams will end... Do your best and know that you've at least tried.
Hey ruby, i’ve been using the same way of revising english and its really benificial !, can you please make a video on organic chemistry or how to revise chemistry.
Dear ruby granger, I was wondering if we can do a collab on UA-cam for a book review on the cursed child? If you can please answer to me as soon as possible. Xox Granger bts
I'm sure you have a reason for commenting on this video, but I would recommend just directly contacting her on rubygrangercontact@gmail.com , which you can find on her "About" UA-cam page.
Really informative one.But it would be easier to understand more if you include bullet points right or lft side of your screen to briefly state your points in case of these types of videos...always love your videos..
Thanks so much for the tips, I've struggled to find helpful English revision tips and this is great! I'm interested what you are covering in Lit? I'm doing Twelfth Night, Rossetti/Duchess of Malfi & Immigrant Experience :)
Sarah - here are some tips which this video does not cover. First of all, when she says identify "themes" be very cautious, because this is only half the story - you may well be asked a question about a particular character, or a critical moment in a novel/play. So you need to therefore know who the characters are, and what motivates them, and you'll also need to identify critical points in the play/novel too (i.e. when things turn for the characters). For example, a past paper question gave a quote and then asked candidates to consider "the role and dramatic presentation of Caliban" (The Tempest). All characters, in plays and novels develop. If they do not develop, they are what E.M Forster called "flat characters". Exam questions always focus on the "round characters" which develop, and a standard question is about how they are represented and how they develop. In the case of all the texts you also need to have an awareness of the form - for your poetry, be aware of the rhyme scheme, and techniques such as metaphor and alliteration (etc) and the effect this produces. Make sure you know the correct language (e.g. the difference between a metaphor and a simile for instance). For the work you are doing on immigrant experience, you will probably also need to have an awareness of historic context, so make sure you have a few facts you can use to introduce the texts and explain the background to the work. When you are practising writing essays (and try and replicate exam conditions as much as possible when you do this - so shut off your phone, time yourself and stay focused) remember to always use some of your time to plan your essay well. Don't just start writing! Having a strong structure really helps to organise your material, stops you from repeating yourself or getting confused, and it will also help your marker too. Markers get worn down reading all this stuff, so if you can help them by writing a clear essay they will love you, and reward you with a good mark! SO: Make sure you always have an introduction that sets out your thesis. Then you develop this in the body of the essay. Then you'll summarise your argument at the end, in your conclusion. Make sure you sign post each paragraph clearly with a good starting sentence. For example, you might start a paragraph with: "King Lear can be seen to be an arrogant character in the way in which he makes demands of his daughters" (you'd then go on to give examples of this with supporting quotes) Next paragraph: "Another way in which Lear shows his arrogance is in the scene where he punishes Cordelia." In other words, each paragraph clearly tells us up front what the rest of the paragraph will do. You will know all this, of course, but it is really important not to panic, and to just get into the habit of starting each paragraph with a key sentence. When you write, aim to write clearly. Better to write short, clear sentences than try and use lots of long words you aren't confident with, which you might end up using wrongly. Punctuate your sentences. Use good linking words: "Another similarity is". "In contrast to this". "However". 'The author also". And always make sure that when you are quoting the text, that you put quotation marks around the sentence(s). When you get stuck, go back to your essay plan. The more essays you do, the easier it will become. My final tip: read and re-read the question. A lot of students fail, because they glance at the question and think "oh yeah, I know this one" - and they answer the question they wish they'd been asked, rather than the one they are actually asked. Good luck!
How come in English education system there is not a big focus on foreign languages? Like there is so much focus on own literature but they can't speak an other language? I think as a country in Europe the students should be able to speak French, German or Spanish, etc.
Hi, thank you so much for the video! Since you did A-Level literature I have a question for you. I'm studying it but there are many books. Since there aren't compulsary questions on the exam but we must answer questions on each section, can I study two books for each section of each paper and not all of them? (I have approximately six months to prepare it) Advices well accepted. Thank you again🌻
I'm from Germany, 12th grade and I have a few problems with studying and I struggle with my grades a bit. It's mainly because my mom won't let me study longer than two hours a day before she starts to constantly interrupt me. We live alone, just her and me. I told her so many times that I don't like to be interrupted every ten minutes, but I have the feeling that she just doesn't understand that I wish to have a better result than 1,8 (which is not perfect, but kind of acceptable. 1,0 is the best here and 6,0 the worst). Maybe it's just because she didn't do the 10th - 13th class and so she doesn't understand my situation. I don't know how I can make her understand that I need my 4 to 7 hours a day of studying but I don't want to fight with her also... Does anybody has ideas how I can stop her from interrupting me to tell me random things or just... ask me how to copy a text into a word document? I would rather study at home instead of the library because it's so far away...
I got an A* at English A level by making quotation maps and just generally analysing the text. You DONT need to memorise more than 10 quotations per text just find some quotations that apply to multiple themes and you will be fine.
That's a really good point actually and something which I forgot to mention in the video! For each of my core texts, I will learn around 12-15 key moments and quotes which can be applied to a range of different essay titles and themes. You don't want to learn an excessive number of quotes because, when you have a relatively small number to choose from, your analysis of these points can become really strong.
Thanks for bringing this up :)
For my board, I don’t know about your one, there’s not really any point in remembering quotes from the text. None of the questions that don’t have a passage give any credit for language analysis. We are memorising critical quotes, and then using them to gain interpretation marks.
I mean most English essays anywhere you will need textual references to support a point you make. You can't make a point about something without evidence, that's just common sense
Ayy well done!! I liked to visually map the quotes and colour code them by theme. It meant I could draw arrows and stuff linking them too!
If you're writing a GCSE essay, sure. If I'm writing at any sort of level above that, it's worthless to use precise quotes unless I am making a point about the use of language, form or structure, or it is necessary to a bigger contextual point on the text.
Why would I quote 'He spat. He spat full into my litso,' when I could just say, PR Deltoid spat into Alex's face? The only reason I would remember the quote is to analyse the language or form of it. Which is a worthless exercise, considering I don't get marks for it.
Now remembering words here and there is worthwhile, I make no mistake of that, my knowledge of Nadsat and the Biblical language of The Handmaids tale is not worthless. But these words are only worthwhile when linked into a bigger point, and are not worth revising because you remember stand out words after a read or two.
On my board I'm better off talking nebulously with critics, rather than precisely with quotes, when it comes to non-passage questions.
I was just exercising, your video came up haha. 18 day's left till my GCSE's woo... Honestly, what I'm doing right now for English revision is the best way for me but still haha. I love your videos!
I’m in a very similar situation as I’ve got my GCSE’s now (they started last week) but haven’t had my English yet so need to really revise!
it's actually crazy how much you remind me of Hermione!! and on that note, I'm off to re-read Chamber of Secrets haha x
I am quite done with schools, but the reason why i subscribed your channel is that you’re unbearably adorable and giving me so much motivation on everything i try to do. Your videos just calm me so down. Thank you Ruby!
You’re not bragging-your grades were great, I’d be shouting them everywhere I went if I got them 😂😂
I got an A* in English Literature and I tell everyone 😂😂
Same tbh
Could you make a video about education system in UK? That would be interesting for people from other countries, I think. Actually I really want to get to know something about it, because it looks different than in my country. :D
Jul Ka it would only be a video on the English education system! Scotland wales and N. Ireland all have very different ones.
Yes! I remember in her room tour video, she was showing her prefect gown. Before that I always thought prefect only exists in Harry Potter 😂
Aimee Vincent Seriously, I didn't even know that! :)
yes please
I´d love that! It´s so much different here in Czech Republic. I always get confused when my friends from UK or youtubers like Ruby talk about CGCE and this stuff. It would be nice if this video would be also about what is mandatory, which job you can do with these levels etc., what is most common etc. In return, we can write Ruby in comments how it is in ouŕ countries :).
This is what i needed right now ! I love literature ❤️ Thank you Ruby :)
I really need real-time study with you, ruby, you are such an inspiration to me !!thanks
It's not bragging at all - you worked hard and that's why you got the grades and that's something to be proud of! got my a levels this year too
Ruby, thank you so much this is so helpful; I’m in year ten right now so I need this a lot!! You are such a lovely girl and I wish I could meet you in real life!! It’s also lovely to know that I’m not the only one who finds English essays daunting haha x
Could you please explain your daily essay paragraphs a bit more in depth like what you write about?
THANK YOU SO MUCH RUBY! I absolutely love your content and I can’t express how much you help me in school. Next year I will be going to grade 8 and I’m quite scared, but you make me feel motivated and excited! Also NOTIFICATION SQUAD UNITE! :3
My english examen is next Monday , I really needed this, thank you and Love so Much!
best of luck for everyone's gcses!!!!!! you guys have totally got this
I really needed this! My GCSEs exams are just around the corner and I'm really scared but I'm trying to calm myself down and not freak out too much or else I'll do bad. This is useful thanks ruby ☺️
I just came home from school, so this is a real treat, since YOU are one of my inspirations.
Thank you! This is really helpful ❤️ You look really pretty here btw :)
Ruby, you continue to be delightful and to motivate me more than virtually anyone. Thank you.
Thank you so much! My English Literature exam is May 9th and I’ve been doing a lot of the tips you gave already in my revisions but you gave me even more ideas!
I am so happy i came across your channel Ruby ❤️
Thanks for motivating me!
I needed this so bad😊Thnx Ruby💞💞💕Could you maybe do a video on how to deal with stress and depression from school. You seem like a very confident girl and you might have some tips❤
Honestly just watching this has given me hope for gcse English lit
This is so helpful!!! Next year I will be taking an english literature class in high school. But the thing is, english is not my first nor second language. So sometimes is quite hard to understand the very complex language that some of the most important authors use. So this was really really helpful!!!
Hey Ruby! This video was really helpful. ❤ I was just wondering if you could make a video on dealing with school stress and anxiety? Thanks!
I am so glad I found this video! I was feeling very daunted about my final year of highschool because I have to write my most challenging diplomas (i don't know if you have these where you are but they are government issued final exams for 30 level courses) - Social Studies and English. Thank you so much for these tips!
Great video! i have an essay due on monday for the book Ceremony, this will help :)
Thankyou for all the tips. I love all your advice!
Don’t feel like it seems you are bragging - you work really hard for your grades and deserve them ❤️
NEEDED THIS OMGGGG!!! ❤️❤️
I love this video and hopefully it will be very useful to me! Congratulations on your grades - well deserved! One question. . . what are you timed english paragraphs about? How do you from questions to do them? Im just like you when it comes to writing under pressure so i think I'm going to try writing a paragraph per day!
Essay planning and practicing is the best! It's real hard work but pays off!
Thank you sooo much this is very helpful. I call taking a quote and brainstorming it, a quotation explosion which is extremely effective..
Hii Ruby from East coast.. Cỏngatulations on your silver play button😚😙😙😍😘😘
Just what I needed, Ruby! Thank you so much! Could you do a video on Maths as well? 💓
Love it📚📚
You are honestly the revising queen hahaha!! Thank you for all the help and amazing advice (all the way from Australia) 🐨❤️
Hi Ruby, we're running a GCSE English Lit Q&A in the run up to this year's exams. We have some 'grade booster' videos too that people have found really helpful. It would be fantastic if you could take quick look - they're designed with visual learning in mind and for students aiming for Grade 5 and higher.
I really like the idea of writing a timed paragraph each morning! I was just wondering: how do you decide what to write one on every day? Do you use literary works and example questions? Or do you use something else? Love from the Netherlands 💛
Yeah... really helpful. Thanks.🙇
Thank you so much, you gave me actual helpful tips to make revision simpler and easier to get your mind round.❤
i don't live in the uk and oh man just watching these vids is like... so confusing in a way? like we literally never had to write essays or anything like this in our literature class, i actually find it pointless? in my classes we focus more on the overall image of literature and write tests on "who was the author of...?" or "define renaissance literature (themes etc.)" or "what is the name of the book where the main character does this and that". we actually write essays very very rarely (i'm now graduating and in my life i only wrote about 6 maybe), because it's not considered that it would prove knowledge of a certain topic. we always get just tests. so watching your vids is always like "oh now she's preparing for... essay? oh she learns *quotes* ??? what for?" lol i always get so confused (but i like your vids anyways!!)
Ruby, you're such an inspiration! Your videos are always of great help to me. Thanks to you, I get a little more productive everyday 😊 Keep doing you, girl! 😘🙌💕💕
Watching your videos has made me more motivated to do PhD work. It’s bioscience based so a lot is in the lab anyway, but I’ve got much better at reading papers and note taking etc 👍
Thank you so much you are helping us studying more 🖤
Such a helpful video Ruby ! X
Lots of love rubi💕 love ur all video.. Best wishes for u😊
Thanks for wonderful tips Ruby😊
Love your videos xx please can you do a maths revision please as I’m really struggling xxx
Thank you so much for this video, I was told today to start revising for my Y8 end of year exams in all my subjects and a couple of minutes before this was posted I was trying to think of ways to revise for English. Thank you.
Rowena, please look above at my response to Sarah Rigby. Purely revising "themes" will not work out.
Here's something to think about: many marking systems operate on the basis of norm-referencing, or else they work on a bell curve - this means, in essence, that if everyone taking the exam this year gets a poor result, then candidates who do OK, will actually get a much higher grade than they would have done if everyone else did OK. Their OK performance, starts looking excellent, in other words. Norm-referencing works on the basis of the exam board having to give so many "A" grades out based on what they gave last year (with some minor room either side of this). Ruby - or anyone else with a platform where they reach thousands of people - has a vested interest in not giving away all her secrets. If everyone else starts doing well, then it impacts on how well she does.
I say all this, just so you take her advice with a pinch of salt. There is a lot you can do to revise for English - knowing the material and practising is part of that. But practising the right stuff is also key. As is how you structure your work, and present your argument. (see above). Let me know if there's anything you need help with!
Ruby ur skin is so clear what products do u use?
Ruby Ali yes!!
Woohoo thank you Ruby !!❤️🔥
Love ur videos so much, can u make a video for recommending some books that u like?
that will be fantastic.Thank u so much
I posted a study with me too ruby !!!!
Su fa tysm for watching
Amazing Ruby you are doing so well
I fractured my dominant hand while a handball game. Thing is, exams are in 2-3 weeks and it’ll heal in one week. I’ve only STARTED one subject 😬
Very motivational and helpful video, Thank you very much for always motivating us Ruby, Good Luck ^^ By the way, tomorrow I have an exam on Humanities and Social Science, and I was just studying on 'Ethics, Art, and Science' and the video boosted me up. Thank you !!!!!!
Holaa! I love your videos, do you think you could make a video about how to stay out of social media? I'd love that💚 great video as always :)
Thanks for the video! I love you accent ♥️
Ruby, what is your favorite genre to read?
Thank you for all!!
Ruby, could you show us one of your essays?
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love your videos!🇧🇷❤️🇧🇷
Hey Ruby! Can you please make a video about how to write/type an essay?
Thank you
Are you allowed to use a laptop in your exam? I've just noticed you always seem to type up your essays x love your videos!
Omg i welly like your videos, i love you😍😍
Thank you for the tips!
Also, Ruby, have you played Hogwarts Mystery? I downloaded it today and it's really good.
I got the highest score in my end of years for maths and science in my year but I got the lowest score for English - even though I'm pretty sure I read more books than anyone else in my year
Thank you! 💓
Than you so much Ruby nyou are a star!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxx
Hash! Thx for uploading I have my English test on Monday 😃😃
Hi ruby although I have revised a bit I feel as though I’m seriously behind and not prepared for my GCSEs and I think u can really help me!! Could u give me some tips like what to do now seeing as there’s only a few weeks and how to prioritise my time. I’m really scared and would love for you to give time to my comment. Love u and been a long time fan of yours ❤️❤️
Becca S same!! I'm so nervous, tv's are so close😢😢 especially for history so much content!!
Same! Honestly, thers about 18 days, 2 and a half weeks... I'm stressing out as well I regret choosing damn textiles and all course work is due on Friday I haven't even started my shoes...Ugghh. (I'm probably going to fail art). I hate coursework. But good luck to you!
I'm not Ruby haha but do about 6 hours a day after school and if your're an early riser an hour or two in the morning and just remember this will end, these exams will end... Do your best and know that you've at least tried.
Not tv i mean they😅
H C
Lol i thought tv was a distraction to you
Neptune well it kinda is😂😂
I am late 😭😭😭😭
But Hi!
Love you 😘😘😘
So Helpful! Thank You :))
at 1:01 you reminded me so much of emma watson it's crazy! xx
Merci beaucoup,mon ami❤❤
Your eyes are very beautiful. Your tips are helpful
Hey ruby, i’ve been using the same way of revising english and its really benificial !, can you please make a video on organic chemistry or how to revise chemistry.
Hey ruby I know that you are good at English. I am so bad at grammar, structure etc. How do I fix that?
Love this 💞 xx
Dear ruby granger,
I was wondering if we can do a collab on UA-cam for a book review on the cursed child?
If you can please answer to me as soon as possible.
Xox
Granger bts
I'm sure you have a reason for commenting on this video, but I would recommend just directly contacting her on rubygrangercontact@gmail.com
, which you can find on her "About" UA-cam page.
good point thank xox
My exam is in 15 days this was extremely useful thank you!
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks Ruby
Twenty fourth 😂 Nice video Ruby!
Really informative one.But it would be easier to understand more if you include bullet points right or lft side of your screen to briefly state your points in case of these types of videos...always love your videos..
Thanks for the advice - I'll do this in future :)
What year is your macbook? I'm trying to get one for school. Lysm♥️
Mine is the early 2015 x
could these tips also work for other subjects like History and Ethics?
Ruby can you make a video on how to act and study like a 9 years old Hermione granger?????
Hi, Ruby. Thank you!
Another video! 50 points to Gryffindor!
I loveee you thanks for your nice viedos for us could you maybe do again a wake up routine 😁
Thanks so much for the tips, I've struggled to find helpful English revision tips and this is great! I'm interested what you are covering in Lit? I'm doing Twelfth Night, Rossetti/Duchess of Malfi & Immigrant Experience :)
Sarah - here are some tips which this video does not cover.
First of all, when she says identify "themes" be very cautious, because this is only half the story - you may well be asked a question about a particular character, or a critical moment in a novel/play. So you need to therefore know who the characters are, and what motivates them, and you'll also need to identify critical points in the play/novel too (i.e. when things turn for the characters). For example, a past paper question gave a quote and then asked candidates to consider "the role and dramatic presentation of Caliban" (The Tempest). All characters, in plays and novels develop. If they do not develop, they are what E.M Forster called "flat characters". Exam questions always focus on the "round characters" which develop, and a standard question is about how they are represented and how they develop.
In the case of all the texts you also need to have an awareness of the form - for your poetry, be aware of the rhyme scheme, and techniques such as metaphor and alliteration (etc) and the effect this produces. Make sure you know the correct language (e.g. the difference between a metaphor and a simile for instance).
For the work you are doing on immigrant experience, you will probably also need to have an awareness of historic context, so make sure you have a few facts you can use to introduce the texts and explain the background to the work.
When you are practising writing essays (and try and replicate exam conditions as much as possible when you do this - so shut off your phone, time yourself and stay focused) remember to always use some of your time to plan your essay well. Don't just start writing! Having a strong structure really helps to organise your material, stops you from repeating yourself or getting confused, and it will also help your marker too. Markers get worn down reading all this stuff, so if you can help them by writing a clear essay they will love you, and reward you with a good mark!
SO: Make sure you always have an introduction that sets out your thesis. Then you develop this in the body of the essay. Then you'll summarise your argument at the end, in your conclusion. Make sure you sign post each paragraph clearly with a good starting sentence. For example, you might start a paragraph with:
"King Lear can be seen to be an arrogant character in the way in which he makes demands of his daughters" (you'd then go on to give examples of this with supporting quotes)
Next paragraph: "Another way in which Lear shows his arrogance is in the scene where he punishes Cordelia."
In other words, each paragraph clearly tells us up front what the rest of the paragraph will do. You will know all this, of course, but it is really important not to panic, and to just get into the habit of starting each paragraph with a key sentence.
When you write, aim to write clearly. Better to write short, clear sentences than try and use lots of long words you aren't confident with, which you might end up using wrongly. Punctuate your sentences. Use good linking words: "Another similarity is". "In contrast to this". "However". 'The author also". And always make sure that when you are quoting the text, that you put quotation marks around the sentence(s).
When you get stuck, go back to your essay plan.
The more essays you do, the easier it will become. My final tip: read and re-read the question. A lot of students fail, because they glance at the question and think "oh yeah, I know this one" - and they answer the question they wish they'd been asked, rather than the one they are actually asked.
Good luck!
Charley Kane Wow, thank you for such a detailed response, all is very valued! :) I shall note it down
Sarah - you are very welcome. Do come back if you have any questions.
Did u do anything. To prepare during the summer before a level I am starting next week didn’t do anything
How come in English education system there is not a big focus on foreign languages? Like there is so much focus on own literature but they can't speak an other language? I think as a country in Europe the students should be able to speak French, German or Spanish, etc.
I've looked at this video 7 times,
I'm shitting myself, I've got exams next week :(
Hi, thank you so much for the video! Since you did A-Level literature I have a question for you. I'm studying it but there are many books. Since there aren't compulsary questions on the exam but we must answer questions on each section, can I study two books for each section of each paper and not all of them? (I have approximately six months to prepare it) Advices well accepted. Thank you again🌻
How old is she?love your videos!!!
I'm from Germany, 12th grade and I have a few problems with studying and I struggle with my grades a bit. It's mainly because my mom won't let me study longer than two hours a day before she starts to constantly interrupt me. We live alone, just her and me. I told her so many times that I don't like to be interrupted every ten minutes, but I have the feeling that she just doesn't understand that I wish to have a better result than 1,8 (which is not perfect, but kind of acceptable. 1,0 is the best here and 6,0 the worst). Maybe it's just because she didn't do the 10th - 13th class and so she doesn't understand my situation. I don't know how I can make her understand that I need my 4 to 7 hours a day of studying but I don't want to fight with her also...
Does anybody has ideas how I can stop her from interrupting me to tell me random things or just... ask me how to copy a text into a word document? I would rather study at home instead of the library because it's so far away...
ruby can you pls do a video on THINGS TO LEARN THIS SUMMER please......