2010
General topics - you can use one of these topics to write about any type of short written text. The texts you write about could be the same text type (eg two poems) or different text types (eg a poem and a short story).
1. Analyse how the writer develops ideas or themes for a particular purpose in at least two short texts you have
studied.
2. Analyse how the writer develops characters for a particular purpose in at least two short texts you have studied.
3. Analyse how the writer uses setting for a particular purpose in at least two short texts you havestudied.
4. Analyse the writer’s choice of ending in at least two short texts you have studied.
5. Analyse how the writer uses characters as symbols in at least two short texts you have studied.
6. Analyse how the writer creates contrast within the text in at least two short texts you have studied.
Poetry and / or song lyric topics:
7. Analyse how the writer uses particular techniques to challenge views held by society in at least two poems / song
lyrics you have studied.
8. Analyse the relationship between language techniques and the writer’s purpose in at least two poems /song
lyrics you have studied.
2009
General topics: use one of these topics to write about any type of short written text. The texts you write about could be the same text type (eg two poems) or different text types (eg a poem and a short story).
1. In short written texts, setting is often used to develop the themes. Analyse how settings are used to develop the
themes in at least TWO short written texts that you have studied. Note: “Themes” are the main ideas in a text.
2. In short written texts, writers often use symbols to represent complex or significant ideas. Analyse how symbols
have been used to develop your understanding of people OR ideas in at least TWO short written texts you have
studied.
3. Writers of short written texts often reveal a strong viewpoint on particular issues. Analyse how different viewpoints
on the same issue or idea are developed in at least TWO short written texts you have studied.
4. Writers of short written texts often reveal character(s) gradually for readers. Analyse how your understanding of character(s) developed in at least TWO short written texts you have studied.
Poetry and/or song lyrics topics: the texts you write about could be two poems, or two song lyrics, or one poem and one song lyric.
5. Poetry and / or song lyrics are often concerned with intense experiences, emotions or attitudes. Analyse how
moments of strong feeling are created through the use of specific language techniques in at least TWO poems
and / or song lyrics you have studied.
6. Poetry and / or song lyrics often capture brief moments in which there is a search for meaning in human lives.
Analyse how the writer has explored aspects of human experience, such as love, regret, joy, or racism, in at least
TWO poems and / or song lyrics you have studied.
2008
1. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the writer influenced you to think differently about an important idea or issue.
2. For EACH of the texts, analyse how at least ONE setting helped develop an important theme.
3. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language techniques shaped your attitude toward ONE OR TWO characters
or individuals.
4. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the writer used symbolism and / or figurative language to develop an important idea.
5. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the narrator and / or style of narration helped develop an
important idea.
6. For EACH of the texts, analyse how surprise and / or humour helped the writer communicate an
important message. Note: You may discuss “surprise” for one of your texts and “humour” for the other.
2007
1. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language techniques helped you understand ONE or MORE
main character(s) or individual(s).
2. For EACH of the texts, analyse how techniques were used to strengthen or change your opinion
of a particular topic or issue.
3. For EACH of the texts, analyse how ONE OR MORE symbols were used to present an important
idea or ideas.
4. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language techniques helped you imagine an important
setting.
5. For EACH of the texts, analyse why you thought either the beginning OR the ending was effective.
Note: You may discuss the beginning of one of your texts and the ending of the other.
6. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the writer(s) presented a positive OR negative view of
humanity and / or society.
Note: You may discuss a positive view in one of your texts and a negative view in the other.
2006
1. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language features were used to create a strong sense of
place.
2. For EACH of the texts, analyse techniques that made you feel sympathetic to a main
character. Note: “Sympathetic to” could include “feel sorry for” and / or “feel positively toward”.
“Character” can refer to an individual in a non-fiction text.
3. For EACH of the texts, analyse how links between the beginning and end helped you
understand a main theme or issue.
4. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the author managed to “say a lot” in a few words.
5. Analyse how EACH of the texts was made to be BOTH entertaining AND thought-provoking.
6. For EACH of the texts, analyse techniques that made you feel strongly about a main theme or
issue.
General topics - you can use one of these topics to write about any type of short written text. The texts you write about could be the same text type (eg two poems) or different text types (eg a poem and a short story).
1. Analyse how the writer develops ideas or themes for a particular purpose in at least two short texts you have
studied.
2. Analyse how the writer develops characters for a particular purpose in at least two short texts you have studied.
3. Analyse how the writer uses setting for a particular purpose in at least two short texts you havestudied.
4. Analyse the writer’s choice of ending in at least two short texts you have studied.
5. Analyse how the writer uses characters as symbols in at least two short texts you have studied.
6. Analyse how the writer creates contrast within the text in at least two short texts you have studied.
Poetry and / or song lyric topics:
7. Analyse how the writer uses particular techniques to challenge views held by society in at least two poems / song
lyrics you have studied.
8. Analyse the relationship between language techniques and the writer’s purpose in at least two poems /song
lyrics you have studied.
2009
General topics: use one of these topics to write about any type of short written text. The texts you write about could be the same text type (eg two poems) or different text types (eg a poem and a short story).
1. In short written texts, setting is often used to develop the themes. Analyse how settings are used to develop the
themes in at least TWO short written texts that you have studied. Note: “Themes” are the main ideas in a text.
2. In short written texts, writers often use symbols to represent complex or significant ideas. Analyse how symbols
have been used to develop your understanding of people OR ideas in at least TWO short written texts you have
studied.
3. Writers of short written texts often reveal a strong viewpoint on particular issues. Analyse how different viewpoints
on the same issue or idea are developed in at least TWO short written texts you have studied.
4. Writers of short written texts often reveal character(s) gradually for readers. Analyse how your understanding of character(s) developed in at least TWO short written texts you have studied.
Poetry and/or song lyrics topics: the texts you write about could be two poems, or two song lyrics, or one poem and one song lyric.
5. Poetry and / or song lyrics are often concerned with intense experiences, emotions or attitudes. Analyse how
moments of strong feeling are created through the use of specific language techniques in at least TWO poems
and / or song lyrics you have studied.
6. Poetry and / or song lyrics often capture brief moments in which there is a search for meaning in human lives.
Analyse how the writer has explored aspects of human experience, such as love, regret, joy, or racism, in at least
TWO poems and / or song lyrics you have studied.
2008
1. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the writer influenced you to think differently about an important idea or issue.
2. For EACH of the texts, analyse how at least ONE setting helped develop an important theme.
3. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language techniques shaped your attitude toward ONE OR TWO characters
or individuals.
4. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the writer used symbolism and / or figurative language to develop an important idea.
5. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the narrator and / or style of narration helped develop an
important idea.
6. For EACH of the texts, analyse how surprise and / or humour helped the writer communicate an
important message. Note: You may discuss “surprise” for one of your texts and “humour” for the other.
2007
1. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language techniques helped you understand ONE or MORE
main character(s) or individual(s).
2. For EACH of the texts, analyse how techniques were used to strengthen or change your opinion
of a particular topic or issue.
3. For EACH of the texts, analyse how ONE OR MORE symbols were used to present an important
idea or ideas.
4. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language techniques helped you imagine an important
setting.
5. For EACH of the texts, analyse why you thought either the beginning OR the ending was effective.
Note: You may discuss the beginning of one of your texts and the ending of the other.
6. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the writer(s) presented a positive OR negative view of
humanity and / or society.
Note: You may discuss a positive view in one of your texts and a negative view in the other.
2006
1. For EACH of the texts, analyse how language features were used to create a strong sense of
place.
2. For EACH of the texts, analyse techniques that made you feel sympathetic to a main
character. Note: “Sympathetic to” could include “feel sorry for” and / or “feel positively toward”.
“Character” can refer to an individual in a non-fiction text.
3. For EACH of the texts, analyse how links between the beginning and end helped you
understand a main theme or issue.
4. For EACH of the texts, analyse how the author managed to “say a lot” in a few words.
5. Analyse how EACH of the texts was made to be BOTH entertaining AND thought-provoking.
6. For EACH of the texts, analyse techniques that made you feel strongly about a main theme or
issue.