Here is the mark scheme:
Level 3: Clear, relevant comparison: 9–12 marks
Compares ideas and perspectives in a clear and relevant way
Explains clearly how writers’ methods are used
Selects relevant detail to support from both texts
Shows a clear understanding of the different ideas and perspectives in both texts
So, I’m going to make it easy for you. Here are two answers which fall in level 3.
Which one do you think is best?
What mark would you give it?
Answer A
Source A is hyperbolic in the way it describes the children’s craving for sweet treats, and even how they enhanced the experience of going to the cinema. “You could horde the churros, twirling them into the chocolate sauce, scooping ever thicker layers of dark splendour, before twirling the end into your drooling mouth”. The verbs “horde”, “scooping” and “drooling” combine to create an air of excitement and joy. The treats are so delicious that the child is transformed unpleasantly into someone who hordes and drools. This contrast creates a vivid experience we can imagine sharing.
In contrast, Source B focuses on the dangers of eating sweets in the nineteenth century, “candies of the past were beautiful, but the colours were made from lead based paints, and this metal is wickedly poisonous”. The phrase “wickedly poisonous” implies that the sweets deliberately fool the children, as though they are being lured to eat poison. This poison is juxtaposed with how “beautiful” the sweets were, suggesting that eating them would be enjoyable.
This colourful beauty is another example of how the sweets are a cruel trick to poison children. We are expecting sweets to be a harmless pleasure, so discovering that their poisons could make them fatal makes us curious.
Answer B
The writers of both sources experience different emotions.
The emotive language in Source A is negative, to describe Ben’s terrible experience. He repeatedly refers to his “pain” and the cold in order to convey the difficulties he faced on the climb.
Whereas Ursula, in Source B, portrays herself positively, where “My spirits lifted” and, at the top of the mountain she feels great happiness, so that “We basked at the summit till noon”. This emphasises her contentment and delight in finishing the climb up the mountain.
So Source B presents mountain climbing as a positive experience. Source A, however, focuses on Ben’s negative experience of the descent in order to portray mountain climbing as a negative experience.
Both sources include descriptions of the weather to reflect the writers’ feelings.
Source A uses the weather to emphasise how negative Ben’s experience was. He describes how he “let the freezing snow bite at my cheeks to distract me from my agony.” Portraying the snow as a predator whose bite he welcomes suggests that the pain in his leg must be severe. Even though the snow savages his face, it is better than the “agony” in his leg.
In contrast, the writer of Source B focuses on the weather to reveal the wonder of the setting. Ursula observes “The night was clear, with a perfect view of stars and moon” which is an expression of her appreciation. She emphasises this positivity by describing “a gentle cold” temperature, and her mood where “My spirits lifted”.
Answer C
Although Youngs is an experienced climber who clearly relishes the sport, Source A conveys a sense of dread.
Before the description of their descent, both Ben and Jack must have felt a sense of dread, as Youngs mentions “the despair we’d both felt when my leg broke”. This suggests their first reaction had been that it would be impossible for Ben to safely descend the mountain. Ben appears to feel this despair again later when he cannot stop his broken leg from snagging as he descends, observing “It was hopeless.” This hyperbolic reaction reveals that he doesn’t believe he can save his leg from irreparable damage. Youngs has lost any sense of excitement in his mountain adventure, and now feels only excruciating pain.
Bear also describes her adventures as tortuous, confessing “But I must declare – it is terrifying”. Although the letter is written to her mother, we can imagine it is also intended to persuade other readers that the adventure is also full of terror. However, she also takes pride in overcoming her fear, declaring that “I … now look upon it with utmost delight – I imagine myself ready to meet all future challenges”.
We feel her joy and satisfaction in looking back on her memory of success and meeting the challenges of the climb. This contrasts with Youngs’ feelings of pain and sense of dread.
Ok, you’ve picked the best one. I can’t wait to see the results of the poll!
Right, now what is your top mark?