How to Answer Assignment A (Edexcel IGCSE English Language)

How to Answer Assignment A

For Assignment A you need to write one 30-mark essay based on any three poetry or prose texts from Part 2 of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology. At least one poetry text and one prose text must be discussed in the assignment.

You should write approximately 1,200 words and you are being assessed on your ability to:

• Read and understand three texts from Part 2 of the anthology, selecting and interpreting information, ideas and perspectives (AO1)
• Understand and analyse how writers use linguistic and structural devices to achieve their effects in these three texts (AO2)

The following guide includes:

• Breaking down the question
• Assignment tips

Breaking down the question

The Assignment A question itself can either be self-generated or given to you by your teacher(s). There should be a clear focus for the assignment, for example on setting, character(s), event(s) or theme(s). Comparison is not an assessment objective for this assignment, and therefore your question should not ask you to “compare” any element of your three chosen texts.

You should therefore be asked to:

• Discuss
• Explore
• Examine
• Analyse
• Consider

You should then be directed to how writers use language and structure to present a certain focus in the texts. The focus could be on a particular theme, such as suffering, loss, the presentation of women, hope or isolation, or it could be on the presentation of certain characters or events.

As a reminder, you can choose any three of the following texts from Part 2 of the anthology, as long as at least one is a poem and at least one is prose:

• ‘Disabled’ by Wilfred Owen
• ‘Out, Out—’ by Robert Frost
• ‘An Unknown Girl’ by Moniza Alvi
• ‘The Bright Lights of Sarajevo’ by Tony Harrison
• ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou
• The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
• The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
• Significant Cigarettes (from The Road Home) by Rose Tremain
• Whistle and I’ll Come to You (from The Woman in Black) by Susan Hill
• Night by Alice Munro

For example:

Assignment tips

• Make notes and plan the response to the task

• Do not begin your essay with an introduction to the context of each of the texts, or a simple “re-telling” of each text

• Begin with a brief overview or thesis outlining the shape of the discussion or exploration in relation to their chosen title

• Make good use of short and relevant quotations and textual references from each of the texts to support your points

• Remember that the word count is a guide — you do not have to stick rigidly to it:

  • However, writing way more than the suggested length may lead to a less focused response
  • Writing more does not equal more marks
  • Responses which are slightly under the word count, but that are concise, controlled and relevant, can achieve very high marks

• Do not be tempted to compare the texts — this is not an assessment objective for this assignment

• Make use of the fact that you are able to draft and edit coursework