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English Language and Literature Revision Tips

Nicky Forro, English language and literature teacher, offers revision tips...

"English is a skill rather than a fact-based subject, so you can't really revise in the way that you can for history where there are dates, historical figures, etc., to commit to memory. Frankly, if you have not got your written English up to scratch by the time you are close to taking your GCSE then you are going to find it very difficult to catch up on what you should have learned over your entire school career. However, spelling, punctuation and grammar CAN be improved if you tackle them early enough.

Spelling
Grammar
Punctuation
English Literature

Spelling

If you know you have a problem with your spelling and you are determined to do something about it then it can be improved but it is NOT something you can improve overnight. It will take a lot of time and a lot of work. So how to go about it?

Well, first ask your teacher. Maybe your school can you support you, but not all schools will. Here are some self-help methods:

Keep a 'spelling diary'
List all the words that you spell wrong each week, in all subjects, not just English. The best method I have found to learn spellings is 'look, cover, write, check':-

Look at the word.
Cover it up.
Write it down.
Check if it is right.
Repeat this until you can confidently spell the word right.

Get people to test you at the end of each week on your words. If you can keep this up it will soon make a big impact on your spelling.
Alternatively you may be in a position where you can afford private tuition. Be careful who you hire. Check their qualifications and go by recommendation if you can. You can expect to pay around Ł20 per hour.

Grammar

If your grammar is weak you can improve that too. Correct use of grammar makes English make sense! The best way to tackle grammatical errors is to carefully proof-read. Calculate proof-reading time into all your work, especially in exams. Don't just scan a page. Carefully read each sentence back to yourself. If one does not sound right do something about it.

Punctuation

Punctuation is one of area in English which you either get right or wrong. Again, it helps things make sense, so proofreading will help you improve your punctuation. Look for the natural pauses. You need to be sure you understand the use of the following:

The full stop
The comma
The question mark
The apostrophe (for contraction or possession)
The quotation mark

Oh, and don't forget to use paragraphs! These are concepts you just need to learn. There is plenty of help out there in books and on the Web. Make sure that you are in full command of their use before your exam.

English Literature

The most important thing is to know your texts really well. Make sure you understand what is going on in the plot and that you understand the motivations and the role of each of the important characters in a text. You need to be able recall these details easily.

Ensure you have developed some impressions and ideas on these characters and plots so that you will be prepared to put forward a point of view.

Be aware of the language and style of writing adopted by the author.

Sometimes some awareness of the author's background can also be useful as it may shed some light on to his intentions within the text.

There are some excellent ranges of literature study notes available cheaply in bookshops these will prove valuable in all these areas. They represent an excellent investment in your future!"

Other Tips Pages

Revision Tips:	GCSE English, GCSE Maths, GCSE Geography, GCSE Science, and Exam Revision Tips
Coursework Tips:	English (general), Higher and Standard Grade English, Maths and Science .
Other Tips:	Stress management and tele-tutoring.