Paper 2: Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Reading

Things you will need to take for this exam:

 Three black pens
 Four different coloured pens
 A reading ruler

Exam information:
 Paper 2 is for your English Language GCSE.
 It assesses how well you can read, understand, and analyse non-fiction texts.
 It is one hour and forty-five minutes long.
 You should complete the paper in this order:
A. 5 minutes - Read Q1. It will ask you to select four true statements. Bracket off
the extract using your Easy-Peasy Purple pen. Read it very carefully. Use this
pen to note T or F next to the statements in rough. When you are confident
you have the four statements, colour in the ovals in black.

B. 15 minutes - Q3.YES- QUESTION THREE

C. 10 minutes –Q2.
D. 20 minutes –Q4.
E. Section B – writing.
 LANGUAGE PAPER 2 QUESTION 3
Firstly, the writer conveys
Language Paper 2 Question 3 will analyse how language is used to present one specific thing. This question is
the idea that………….
only worth 12 marks, so you shouldn’t spend too long on it – just 15 minutes. Follow the formula WHAT-HOW-
isWHY x3.
………………………...

By……………………………………,
it shows that….
Remember:
The use of …………………  Three is GREEN
creates ……………………  Box of the right section for
because this makes us think the text in green
of……………………………………..
 Underline or circle the
This is further shown in
…….. which gives the quotes you are going to
impression… use in green
as………………………………………  Annotate what this
. Which confirms that idea suggests in green
….  Write up in black:

WHAT
HOW
The writer also creates the
idea that………….
WHY – BECAUSE

is ………………………... WHAT
HOW
By……………………………………, WHY – BECAUSE
it shows that….
WHAT
The use of …………………
HOW
creates ……………………
because this makes us think WHY - BECAUSE
of……………………………………..
This is further shown in Stop after 15 minutes and
…….. which gives the move on to question 2!
impression…
as………………………………………
. Which confirms that idea
….

Finally, the writer portrays

the idea that………….

is ………………………...

By……………………………………,
it shows that….

The use of …………………

creates ……………………
because this makes us think
of……………………………………..
This is further shown in
…….. which gives the
impression…
as………………………………………
. Which confirms that idea
….
 LANGUAGE PAPER 2 QUESTION 2

Language Paper 2 Question 2 will ask you to compare the two texts, focusing on one specific thing. This question
Both
is onlywriters
worth tell us about…
8 marks, so you shouldn’t spend too long on it – just 10 minutes. You doBoth
not need to tell
do any
writers us about…
(link to Q). However, Source
analysis in this question! That means NO techniques, NO explaining why! Follow the(link formula: Fact, Evidence,
to Q); they equally
A is about…
Suggests for whereas
each text,Source
and make a comparison link in between. Usually this questionshow
asks for
us…differences, but
B is about…
once it has asked for similarities, so make sure you check!

DIFFERENCE
In Source A we are told SIMILARITY
In Source A we are told
about… (link to the Q).
Remember: about… (link to the Q).
through
through
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and  Two is BLUE
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and
“xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx”  Box of the right sections “xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx”
(embed quotes!) for both texts in blue (embed quotes!)
This suggests… (link to Q).  Underline or circle the This suggests… (link to Q).
quotes you are going to
use in blue
On the other hand,
 Annotate what this
suggests in blue Similarly,
in Source B we are told…
 Write up in black: in Source B we are told…
(link to the steer).
(link to the steer).
through
through
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and FACT
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and
“xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx” EVIDECNE “xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx”
(embed quotes!) SUGGESTS (embed quotes!)
which implies… (link to LINK which implies… (link to
steer). FACT steer).
EVIDENCE
SUGGESTS
Contrastingly, in Source A
Equally, in Source A we are
we are told about… (link to
FACT told about… (link to the
the steer).
EVIDENCE steer).
through
SUGGESTS through
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and
“xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx” LINK
“xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx”
(embed quotes!) FACT
(embed quotes!)
This implies… (link to steer). EVIDENCE This implies… (link to steer).
SUGGESTS

Stop after 10 minutes and

Whereas, in Source B we move on to question 4! Likewise, in Source B we are
are told… (link to the steer).
told… (link to the steer).
through
through
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” and
“xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx”
“xxxxxxx” and “xxxxxx”
(embed quotes!)
(embed quotes!)
which suggests… (link to
which suggests… (link to
steer).
steer).
 LANGUAGE PAPER 2 QUESTION 4
Language Paper 2 Question 4 will ask you to compare the viewpoints of the writers of the two texts, focusing on
one specific thing. This question is worth 16 marks, so you should spend the longest on it – around 20 minutes.
You also need to analyse for this question! That means techniques, and explaining why! Follow the formula:
WHAT-HOW-WHY for each text, and make a comparison link in between x3.

Both of the writers have

strong attitudes towards (Q
focus); however, the writer
of Source A believes….. Remember:
whereas the writer of  Four is PINK
Source B feels….
 Box of the right sections
In Source A, we can see that for both texts in pink
the writer feels…. (viewpoint)
 Underline or circle the
This is shown in (quote).
quotes you are going to
The use of (techniques/
use in pink
word) shows us… (meaning/
effect) because this makes  Annotate what this
us think of… (explain why) suggests in pink
 Write up in black:
WHAT
HOW
WHY – BECAUSE
However/ Similarly, in LINK
Source B the writer seems…. WHAT
(viewpoint) HOW
This is shown in (quote). WHY – BECAUSE
The use of (techniques/
word) shows us… (meaning/ WHAT
effect) because this makes HOW
us think of… (explain why)
WHY – BECAUSE
The writer of this source
LINK
may feel like this because,
WHAT
in the time it was written…
(context) HOW
WHY – BECAUSE
WHAT
Later in Source A, the writer HOW
feels…. (viewpoint) WHY – BECAUSE
This is shown in (quote). LINK
The use of (techniques/ WHAT
word) shows us… (meaning/ HOW
effect) because this makes
WHY – BECAUSE
us think of… (explain why)
Stop after 20 minutes and
move on to question 5!
However/ Similarly, in
Source B the writer seems….
(viewpoint)
This is shown in (quote).
The use of (techniques/
word) shows us… (meaning/
effect)
because this makes us think
of… (explain why)
Towards the end of Source
A, we can see that the
writer seems…. (viewpoint)
This is shown in (quote).
The use of (techniques/
word) shows us…
(meaning/effect)
because this makes us think
of… (explain why)
However/ Similarly, in
Source B the writer seems….
(viewpoint)
This is shown in (quote).
The use of (techniques/
word) shows us…
(meaning/effect)
because this makes us think
of… (explain why)
Overall, the perspectives
are similar/different
because the writer of
Source A feels… and/but the
writer of Source B believes…
The differences are mainly
due to the very different
times that the texts were
written.
 LANGUAGE PAPER 2 SECTION B –
QUESTION 5
Language Paper 2 Question 5 will ask you to argue your own viewpoints on a linked topic to the two texts from
Section A. This question is worth 40 marks – half of the paper - so you should spend around 45 minutes on it.
Make sure you check what form this is supposed to be – letter, article, speech – and set it out in the right way.
Then follow the formula in the structure strip below. Use interesting vocabulary, and make your paragraphs clear
and precise.

4. It’s not just me that

1. Imagine: feels like this;

Use an anecdote to help Quote an expert

the reader to see things
from your point of view.
Use 2nd person, emotive
language and rhetorical
questions.
Remember to use their full
name (capitalised)
Professor Hickin of the
University of Cambridge
and speech marks around
the words spoken.

2. Many people say…

5. It’s the truth.
 Give the opposite
Give some facts and
view
statistics to support your
 Explain why these
point of view.
people are wrong
 Give more reasons
why you’re right
 End with a
rhetorical question

6. So, we need to…

Describe what you think

needs to happen in the
future. Use positive words
3. There are a number to inspire the reader. Try
of valid reasons for using anaphora (starting
my point of view. several sentences with the
same words)
Give at least three
different ideas to support
your point. Use
7. Overall, …
connectives to link them
Conclude your argument
clearly:
by summarising your
 First of all,
opinion. Try using a triplet
 In addition,
to make it memorable.
 Furthermore,
LINK BACK TO YUR
ANECDOTE AT THE VERY
END.