English Advanced English Syllabus

What is the difference between first-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient narration?

First-person uses 'I' and is confined to one character's view; third-person limited uses 'he/she' but follows one character's perspective; third-person omniscient knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters.

Define 'in medias res' as a narrative technique.

In medias res (Latin for 'in the middle of things') is beginning a story in the middle of the action rather than at the chronological start, often filling in earlier events later through flashback or exposition.

What is the standard five-part plot structure (Freytag's Pyramid)?

Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (denouement).

What is a metaphor and how does it differ from a simile?

A metaphor states one thing IS another ('Time is a thief'); a simile compares using 'like' or 'as' ('as brave as a lion'). Both are figurative comparisons, but only the simile uses an explicit comparison word.

Define 'personification' and give an example.

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things or abstractions, e.g., 'The wind whispered through the trees' or 'Opportunity knocked.'

What is dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something that a character does not, creating tension or humor from the gap in knowledge (e.g., the audience knows Juliet is alive but Romeo does not).

Distinguish theme from motif in literary analysis.

A theme is the central underlying message or idea of a text (e.g., 'the corrupting nature of power'); a motif is a recurring image, symbol, or element that develops and reinforces that theme.

What is the difference between tone and mood in a text?

Tone is the author's or narrator's attitude toward the subject (e.g., sarcastic, solemn); mood is the emotional atmosphere the text creates in the reader (e.g., eerie, joyful).

What does SQ3R stand for as a critical reading strategy?

Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review — a five-step active-reading method for comprehending and retaining academic texts.

What is the difference between skimming and scanning?

Skimming is reading quickly to grasp the general gist or main idea; scanning is searching a text rapidly to locate specific information, such as a date, name, or keyword.

Distinguish a fact from an inference in critical reading.

A fact is a statement that can be verified or proven true; an inference is a conclusion the reader draws by combining textual evidence with reasoning, going beyond what is explicitly stated.

What is the difference between an argument's premise and its conclusion?

A premise is a statement offered as evidence or a reason; the conclusion is the claim the premises are meant to support. Identifying both is essential to evaluating an argument's validity.

Name three common logical fallacies a critical reader should detect.

Ad hominem (attacking the person, not the argument), straw man (misrepresenting an opponent's position), and false dilemma (presenting only two options when more exist). Others include slippery slope and appeal to authority.

What is the recommended note-taking method for academic lectures that uses a cue column, notes, and summary?

The Cornell Note-Taking System: divide the page into a narrow left cue/question column, a wide right notes section, and a summary strip at the bottom.

What are 'signposting' phrases in a lecture, and why are they useful?

Signposting phrases (e.g., 'firstly', 'in contrast', 'to summarize', 'moving on to') signal structure and transitions, helping listeners follow the organization and anticipate key points.

In listening, what is the difference between listening for gist and listening for detail?

Listening for gist means grasping the overall main idea or purpose; listening for detail means catching specific pieces of information such as numbers, names, or definitions.

What is the schwa sound and why is it important in understanding spoken English?

The schwa /É™/ is the unstressed, neutral vowel sound (as in the 'a' of 'about' or 'e' of 'taken'). It is the most common vowel sound in English and key to recognizing connected speech and word stress.

What is 'rhoticity', and how does it distinguish accents?

Rhoticity is whether the /r/ sound is pronounced after a vowel. Rhotic accents (most American, Scottish, Irish) pronounce the 'r' in 'car'; non-rhotic accents (Received Pronunciation, most Australian) drop it.

Define 'connected speech' and name two of its features.

Connected speech is the way sounds blend in natural fluent speaking. Features include elision (dropping sounds, 'nex(t) day'), assimilation (sounds changing to resemble neighbors), and linking (joining words, 'an apple').

What is the rhetorical 'rule of three' in public speaking?

The rule of three is structuring ideas, phrases, or examples in groups of three (e.g., 'government of the people, by the people, for the people') because triads are memorable and rhythmically satisfying.

Name Aristotle's three modes of persuasion (rhetorical appeals).

Ethos (credibility/character of the speaker), pathos (appeal to the audience's emotions), and logos (appeal to logic and reason).

What is the difference between verbal and non-verbal communication in public speaking?

Verbal communication is the spoken words and their delivery (tone, pace, volume); non-verbal communication is body language, eye contact, gestures, posture, and facial expressions that reinforce or undercut the message.

What is a 'rhetorical question' and why is it used in speeches?

A rhetorical question is asked for effect, not to elicit an answer (e.g., 'Isn't it time we acted?'). It engages the audience, emphasizes a point, and prompts reflection.

In a formal debate, what is the difference between the proposition (affirmative) and the opposition (negative)?

The proposition/affirmative argues in favour of the motion and bears the burden of proof; the opposition/negative argues against it, refuting the proposition's case and offering counter-arguments.

What is a 'rebuttal' in a debate?

A rebuttal is the part of a debate where a speaker directly responds to and refutes the opposing side's arguments, exposing flaws in their evidence or reasoning.

What is the 'burden of proof' in argumentation and debate?

The burden of proof is the obligation on the side making a claim (typically the proposition) to provide sufficient evidence and reasoning to establish it; without it, the claim defaults to rejection.

Name the four major historical periods commonly used to study English literature, in order.

Medieval (Old/Middle English, e.g., Chaucer), Renaissance/Early Modern (e.g., Shakespeare), Romantic and Victorian (18th–19th c.), and Modern/Contemporary (20th–21st c.).

What is the structure of a Shakespearean (English) sonnet?

14 lines in iambic pentameter, organized as three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet, with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

What is iambic pentameter?

A line of verse with five iambic feet, each foot being one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (da-DUM), giving ten syllables per line — Shakespeare's standard meter.

What does 'cultural context' mean when interpreting a literary text?

Cultural context is the set of historical, social, religious, political, and value-based circumstances of the time and place in which a text was written, which shape its meaning and the author's assumptions.

Distinguish 'high-context' from 'low-context' communication cultures.

In high-context cultures, meaning relies heavily on implicit cues, relationships, and shared background; in low-context cultures, meaning is conveyed explicitly through direct words. This distinction shapes how language and texts are understood across cultures.