Scottish National 4 (Nat 4) English (National 4) Syllabus

What is the difference between a novel and a short story?

A novel is a long prose work with developed plot, subplots, and many characters; a short story is brief, usually focusing on a single incident, few characters, and one main effect.

Define 'plot' and name the typical stages of a story's structure.

Plot is the sequence of events in a story. Typical stages are exposition (introduction), rising action, climax (turning point), falling action, and resolution (ending).

What is characterisation?

The way a writer creates and reveals characters — through their appearance, actions, speech, thoughts, and what others say about them.

What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?

The protagonist is the main character around whom the story centres; the antagonist is the character or force that opposes or creates conflict for the protagonist.

What is 'theme' in literature?

The central idea, message, or insight about life that a text explores, e.g. love, conflict, growing up, prejudice. A theme is broader than the plot.

What is a stanza in a poem?

A group of lines in a poem separated from other groups by a space, similar to a paragraph in prose. Stanzas help organise the poem's ideas.

What is rhythm in poetry?

The pattern of stressed and unstressed beats in lines of poetry, creating a sense of movement or musicality that can reinforce meaning and mood.

What is a rhyme scheme and how is it labelled?

A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming line-endings in a poem, labelled with letters where each new rhyme sound gets the next letter, e.g. ABAB or AABB.

What is imagery in poetry?

Language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create pictures or impressions in the reader's mind, often using similes, metaphors, and vivid word choice.

What is enjambment in poetry?

When a sentence or phrase runs over from one line (or stanza) to the next without a pause or punctuation at the line break, often creating flow or emphasis.

In drama, what is a stage direction?

An instruction in the script, usually in italics or brackets, telling actors how to move, speak, or behave, and describing the set, lighting, or sound.

What is dialogue in a play and what is its purpose?

Dialogue is the spoken conversation between characters. It reveals character, advances the plot, builds relationships, and creates conflict or tension.

What is a soliloquy?

A speech in which a character, alone on stage, speaks their thoughts aloud to the audience, revealing inner feelings and motives that other characters do not hear.

What is dramatic irony?

When the audience knows something important that one or more characters on stage do not, creating tension, humour, or anticipation.

What is conflict in drama and name two types.

Conflict is the struggle that drives the plot. Types include external conflict (character vs character, society, or environment) and internal conflict (a struggle within a character).

When 'responding to literature in detail', what should a detailed answer include?

A clear point about the text, supported by a relevant quotation or reference, plus an explanation analysing how the writer's technique creates meaning or effect (often a Point–Evidence–Explanation structure).

What does the P-E-E structure stand for in literary responses?

Point (your statement/idea), Evidence (a quotation or reference from the text), Explanation (analysis of how the evidence supports the point and its effect on the reader).

What is the difference between imaginative/creative writing and discursive writing?

Imaginative/creative writing tells a story or describes experience to entertain, using narrative and description; discursive writing explores or argues a topic using points, evidence, and reasoning to inform or persuade.

Name three common forms of imaginative or creative writing.

A short story, a personal/reflective essay, and a description (or a poem/script). All aim to engage the reader through imagination and feeling.

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

First-person narration uses 'I/we' and tells the story from inside one character's viewpoint; third-person uses 'he/she/they' and may be limited to one character or omniscient (all-knowing).

What is the difference between a discursive and a persuasive essay?

A discursive essay presents balanced arguments on both sides before reaching a measured conclusion; a persuasive essay argues one side strongly to convince the reader of a single viewpoint.

Name three persuasive techniques used to convince a reader.

Examples include rhetorical questions, emotive language, repetition, statistics/facts, expert opinion, and direct address to the reader ('you'). (Any three.)

What is emotive language?

Word choice deliberately chosen to stir the reader's emotions (e.g. 'innocent', 'cruel', 'devastating'), used to influence how the reader feels about a subject.

What does 'crafting and structuring a text' involve?

Deliberately shaping a piece of writing with a clear beginning, middle, and end, using paragraphs, linking words, and an effective opening and closing so ideas are organised and flow logically for the reader.

Why is an effective opening important in a piece of writing?

It grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read on, sets the tone, and introduces the subject or situation. Techniques include a question, vivid image, dialogue, or surprising statement.

What is a paragraph and when should you start a new one?

A paragraph is a group of sentences on one main idea. Start a new paragraph when there is a change of topic, time, place, person, or speaker (in dialogue).

What does 'technical accuracy' cover in writing?

Correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence construction, and paragraphing throughout a piece so that the writing is clear and easy to understand.

Give three rules for using a capital letter.

Use a capital for the first letter of a sentence, for proper nouns (names of people, places, days, months), and for the pronoun 'I'. (Also for titles and the start of direct speech.)

How are apostrophes used in English?

Two ways: for contractions to show missing letters (e.g. 'do not' becomes 'don't') and for possession to show belonging (e.g. 'the dog's lead', 'the girls' team').

What features make an effective spoken presentation?

Clear structure (intro, main points, conclusion), appropriate content for the audience, clear delivery (audible voice, pace, eye contact, body language), and use of notes or visual aids rather than reading word-for-word.

In a group discussion, what makes a successful contributor?

Communicating ideas clearly, listening to others, responding to and building on their points, taking turns, asking questions, and helping the discussion move forward — communicating appropriately for purpose and audience.