GCSE English Language Syllabus

What is a 'motif' in creative writing?

A recurring image, idea or symbol that runs through a piece of writing to build meaning or atmosphere.

What is 'pathetic fallacy'?

A technique where the weather or environment reflects the mood or emotions of a character or scene (e.g. storms suggesting conflict).

What is 'transactional writing'?

Non-fiction writing for a real-world purpose and audience — such as letters, articles, speeches, reviews, reports, leaflets and essays — usually to inform, persuade or advise.

List four common forms of transactional writing.

Any four of: formal/informal letter, newspaper or magazine article, speech, leaflet, report, review, blog, essay.

What layout features should a formal letter include?

Sender's address (top right), recipient's address, date, appropriate greeting ('Dear Sir/Madam' or name), clear paragraphs, and a matching sign-off ('Yours faithfully'/'Yours sincerely').

When do you end a formal letter with 'Yours faithfully' versus 'Yours sincerely'?

'Yours faithfully' when you do NOT know the recipient's name (opened with 'Dear Sir/Madam'); 'Yours sincerely' when you DO know their name (opened with 'Dear Mr Smith').

What features should a speech include to engage its audience?

Direct address to the audience, rhetorical questions, emotive language, a clear structure, personal anecdotes, and a strong opening and closing.

What does the persuasive acronym AFOREST stand for?

Alliteration, Facts, Opinions, Rhetorical questions, Emotive language, Statistics, Triples (rule of three).

What is the 'rule of three' (triples) in persuasive writing?

Grouping words, phrases or ideas in threes to make them more memorable and rhetorically powerful (e.g. 'safer, cleaner, greener').

What is a 'rhetorical question'?

A question asked for effect that does not require an answer, used to make the reader think or to emphasise a point.

What is 'emotive language'?

Words deliberately chosen to provoke an emotional response in the reader, such as sympathy, anger or fear.

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?

A fact is a statement that can be proven true; an opinion is a personal belief or judgement that cannot be objectively proven.

What is an 'anecdote' and why use one in persuasive writing?

A short personal story or example; it adds relatable, human detail that engages the reader and supports an argument.

What is 'register' in writing?

The level of formality of language chosen to suit the audience and purpose, ranging from very formal to informal/colloquial.

Name the four main sentence types by structure.

Simple (one clause), compound (two main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction), complex (a main clause plus one or more subordinate clauses), and compound-complex.

What is the difference between a main (independent) clause and a subordinate (dependent) clause?

A main clause makes complete sense on its own; a subordinate clause depends on a main clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

What are the four main sentence functions/types by purpose?

Declarative (statement), interrogative (question), imperative (command), and exclamatory (exclamation).

When is a semicolon (;) used?

To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or to separate items in a complex list that already contains commas.

What is the main use of a colon (:)?

To introduce a list, an explanation, an example, or a quotation that follows and expands on the preceding clause.

What is the difference between its and it's?

'Its' is a possessive pronoun (belonging to it); 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'.

What is the difference between there, their and they're?

'There' refers to a place or existence; 'their' shows possession (belonging to them); 'they're' is a contraction of 'they are'.

How is an apostrophe used to show possession for a singular versus a plural noun?

Singular: add apostrophe + s ('the dog's bone'); plural ending in s: add apostrophe after the s ('the dogs' bones'); irregular plural: apostrophe + s ('the children's toys').

What is a 'discourse marker' (connective) and give three examples.

A word or phrase that links ideas and guides the reader through a text. Examples: 'however', 'furthermore', 'therefore', 'in contrast', 'consequently'.

What is the difference between an active and a passive sentence?

Active: the subject performs the action ('The dog chased the cat'). Passive: the subject receives the action ('The cat was chased by the dog').

What is 'presenting' as a spoken-language skill in GCSE English?

Delivering a formal individual talk or presentation on a chosen topic to an audience, using appropriate structure, register, and Standard English.

Name three techniques that improve the delivery of a spoken presentation.

Any three of: clear articulation and pace, eye contact, varied intonation, purposeful pauses, confident body language/gestures, and appropriate volume.

In the spoken-language endorsement, what does 'responding to questions and feedback' assess?

Your ability to listen to questions from the audience after a presentation and answer them clearly, relevantly and confidently, expanding your ideas.

What does 'listening' involve as an assessed spoken-language skill?

Attentively understanding what a speaker says, including their main points and viewpoint, so you can respond appropriately, ask relevant questions and build on ideas.

What is 'Standard English' and why is it expected in presentations?

The widely accepted form of English with conventional grammar and vocabulary (not dialect or slang); it is expected because it suits a formal audience and purpose.

What is the difference between 'summarising' and 'synthesising' when comparing two texts?

Summarising condenses the key points of one text; synthesising combines and cross-references information or ideas from two (or more) texts to draw them together.

When comparing two non-fiction texts, what three things should you compare?

Writers' viewpoints/attitudes, the methods/techniques they use, and the effects on the reader — supported with evidence from both texts using comparative connectives.