AQA Question 2 - Fake Answer

Here's a silly answer I used with a class when looking at Question 2. Every time I use it, there is at least one student who thinks it is a clear 8 out of 8.


Explain how the headline, subheading and picture are effective and how they link with the text.

The writer has used a picture to make the reader interested and want to read on. It is a picture that shows the reader what the article is about. It makes the reader interested and it links to the text as the text is about things in the picture. They have used a big picture to make it stand out and catch your eye because we like looking at pictures more than we like looking at writing. They also use colour to make it more eye-catching.

The headline is effective because the writer has made it bold so it stands out. The reader will then read it. They use interesting words also to make the writing stand out and so we read it. The headline links to the article as it sums it up so the reader will know what the article. It is written in an interesting ways so the reader wants to read on. The headline is also short and snappy so it isn’t boring and the reader wants to read the rest of the article.

The subheading gives the reader even more information so if they want to read the story they know a bit more about it. It is near the picture to explain what the story is about. It is after the headline to give more detail. It links to the rest of the article because it tells the reader what is happening in the story. If the reader is interested, then the reader will read on.

Creative Writing - The Journey

Here's an example piece of writing for Year 11 students. I used this to prepare students for a piece of creative writing entitled 'The Journey'. I have also used it for travel writing too.

Twisted lines of ice snake across the windscreen, covering all sight. I scrape the silver slivers off. The early darkness smothers everything in sight. On the edges of my vision, I see the vacant houses’ eyes closed with curtains. There’s some life behind the ornate flowery curtains. Probably, cartoons for children. Probably, breakfast news for adults. Any minute now life will burst through the doors. Except at this ungodly hour it is me, a plastic ice scraper and a bag of work.

The car starts quickly without coughing or spluttering. The heater kicks on and steams up the window. It is as if the car doesn’t want us to move. Ice and fire combat to prevent me from going to school. The screen clears in patches like clouds of clarity. There are glimpses of the world outside like sunlight breaking through the rainy clouds. The irony being that there is no sun and I am waiting for the darkness to be seen. When the steamed up window clears, I drive the car off.

Cars, bikes and lorries all join the conveyor belt to work. Each one driving on to their place of work. Office. Shop. School. Hospital. Radios blare out different tunes: the misery of life punctuated by catchy songs sung by people that were born out of misery. The conveyor belt pulls me forward. The lights of the massive machine of life flash red, amber and, only occasionally, green.  The sky starts to lighten as my mood improves. At least, I have a few frees today. At least, I don’t have a parents' evening tonight. At least, I don’t have to teach Tom today. Every cloud has a silver lining.