Key points
For Eduqas, Boys Don鈥檛 Cry is examined in Section A, Component 2: Post 1914 Prose/Drama of your English Literature exam.
You will be asked to write an essay on a character, theme or relationship from Boys Don鈥檛 Cry.
This is a closed book exam so you will not be allowed to take a copy of the text in with you.
You will be provided with an extract from the novel.
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Remember
In your answer, you should:
- Write about key ideas, moments and characters
- Analyse language, structure and form using relevant technical language relating to a particular subject. For English Literature, this includes words relating to language, structure and form techniques such as 鈥榤etaphor鈥, 鈥榩ronouns鈥, 鈥榚llipses鈥 and so on
- Refer to the extract and the novel as a whole
- Write carefully and check your work.
GCSE exam-style question
You will be asked to write an essay on a character, theme or relationship from Boys Don鈥檛 Cry.
You should take a few minutes to plan your answer before you start writing.
You could bullet point your ideas, create a mind-map or use any other method that works for you.
Example question
Refer to the extract and your knowledge of the entire novel to answer the question below.
Write about strong feelings and how they are important to the novel as a whole.
You should:
- Refer closely to the extract
- Link your ideas to elsewhere in the novel
- Show understanding of characters and events.
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Remember
You should refer to the extract in your answer, but also to the wider novel too.
Use the extract as a starting point.
Inspecting the question
- Before you start writing your answer, make sure you understand the question properly by asking yourself:
What are the important words in this question?
strong feelings: this is the focus of the question, so everything you write needs to link back to this.
how: 鈥榟ow鈥 is a reminder that this is an analysis question. You need to look at the techniques that Blackman has used 鈥 language, structure and form.
the novel as a whole: you need to write about the whole text, so plan to make at least one point from the beginning, middle and end of the book. Consider what changes across the novel and the significance of the ending.
the extract: make sure you鈥檝e read the extract carefully, can place where it comes from in the novel, and refer to it explicitly in your answer.
understanding of characters and events: consider which characters and events are most obviously linked to the topic of strong feelings. You can show more understanding by linking characters and events to wider themes.
Assessment objectives
Your exam response will be marked using Assessment Objectives (AOs).
The ones for this question are below.
| What is the objective? | How do I do well? |
|---|---|
| AO1: The quality of your ideas, understanding of the text and use of supporting evidence | Stay focused on the question and show that you understand the text and the writer鈥檚 messages well. Use evidence clearly and carefully to support your answer. |
| AO2: Analysis of the writer鈥檚 methods and effects | Explain how the writer uses different tools to create meaning. Use the correct language to explain these techniques and their effects on the audience. |
| AO4: Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. | Check your writing carefully for errors. Paragraph your work and try to make sure your meaning is clear. |
Activity
Planning your answer
Choose four or five key events from across the book that directly link to the question.
Make sure at least two of these are specific examples of language, structure or form.
Make sure you include ideas from the given extract.
Write about them in the order they happen in the book, as this allows you to show shifts in characters.
At the start of your answer, it is helpful to have a short introduction. An effective introduction should give a summary of the ideas you are about to present, and link to the question and the writer鈥檚 message.
After your introduction, each paragraph should include:
A topic sentence, which uses some of the language of the question, to introduce your argument
Evidence that supports your argument
Analysis of the effects of language or dramatic techniques
A final sentence that acts as a mini-summary.
You could include a short conclusion at the end of your answer to summarise the points you have made.
Top Tip
If you cannot remember a quotation exactly, you can to explain an idea or quotation in your own words it instead by explaining it in your own words.
For example: "My life is being flushed down the loo" could be paraphrased as Dante uses the comparison of something going down a toilet to explain how he feels about becoming a parent.
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