AS English General Essay Meta-cognitive Analysis
Quiz by Scott Darnell
Feel free to use or edit a copy
includes Teacher and Student dashboards
Measure skillsfrom any curriculum
Tag the questions with any skills you have. Your dashboard will track each student's mastery of each skill.
- edit the questions
- save a copy for later
- start a class game
- automatically assign follow-up activities based on students’ scores
- assign as homework
- share a link with colleagues
- print as a bubble sheet
- Q1
Re-read the opening sentence to the essay on selfies.
The rise of selfies is a rather peculiar cultural phenomenon – it is a form of communication, as well as a method of self-representation.
This opening sentence is impacting because the clause before the dash indirectly answers the essay question in a personalised way. The clause after the dash then directly answers the demands of the essay question.
The opening sentence is long and complicated. The examiner can clearly tell if the candidate has understood the question and can write at C1/C2 level.
This opening sentence is not impacting because the clause before the dash doesn't answer the essay question in a personalised way. The clause after the dash fails to directly answer the demands of the essay question.
The opening sentence is too long and complicated. The examiner cannot tell if the candidate has understood the question or not.
60s - Q2
The selfie has become a medium in and of itself, where “the self is the message,” as proposed by journalist Kate Losse in her article ‘The Return of the Selfie’ (The New York, 2013).
What makes this an effective part of the introduction?
The candidate has invented a quote from a newspaper article and tries to explain what it means.
It answers the exam question (the selfie has become a medium in and of itself), and the candidates provides a theory to support their response.
It not only answers the exam question (the selfie has become a medium in and of itself), but the candidates provides evidence that backs up their response.
This analysis of the question is effective because it has an effect on the examiner's way of taking selfies.
60s - Q3
The aggressive spread of this cultural phenomenon in society can be attributed to the global increase of camera phones, development of forward-facing cameras, and the growing popularity of social networking and photo sharing sites...
Why is this statement a good thesis in relation to the question?
The sentence is long and complex, so the examiner can tell that the candidate has eaten alphabet spaghetti soup for dinner.
'aggressive spread' shows the examiner that selfies / social media are affecting society. The candidate then develops the point about the social impact.
It is clear to see that the candidate is an expert in social media, especially the art of taking selfies because he/she comments on the use of cameras on a smartphone.
By calling social media and selfies a 'cultural phenomenon', the examiner can see that the candidate has general knowledge of society.
60s - Q4
Which of the following comments from the introduction would receive a double tick or no tick (not because it isn't a good comment, just isn't anything special)?
Users sort answers between categoriesSorting300s - Q5
What is effective about the start of the second paragraph?
The phenomenon of selfies has become a communicative art form. There are developed guidelines which allow users to maximize the selfie and communicate the best ‘message’.
The candidate uses a lot of scientific language that helps them to show off their general knowledge of the world.
The candidate uses a head sentence that reinforces the focus of the question. They then develop their point, continuing to reinforce key concepts from the question.
The start of the paragraph clearly explains the candidate's opinion regarding the art of taking selfies.
The candidate uses complex vocabulary that examiner would expect to see in an AS level essay. They then develop their point, continuing to reinforce key words from the question.
300s - Q6
Link the following statements from the second paragraph to whether the candidate has argued their opinion, or, given an example, or, developed a point.
Users link answersLinking120s - Q7
The third paragraph is shorter. Why?
The candidate wanted to introduce the downside of taking selfies because maybe he or she believes that they are harmful for society.
It conveys the essence of the question: the candidate explains how crucial the selfie is for communication but also how this impacts behaviours.
The third paragraph does not need to be the same length as the other paragraphs.
The candidate did not know how to develop the previous paragraph, so they decided to move the topic on.
30s - Q8
Which technique used in the fourth paragraph is powerful in an essay?
The meaning and significance that underlies taking selfies is rather peculiar – how did it originate and what factors contributed to its popularity?
Use of a meaningful rhetorical question
Use of the dash again
Use of words from the question
Use of complex English
20s - Q9
What is effective about the following comment?
The notion of taking a photo of oneself has been around for almost 200 years: Robert Cornelius, a pioneer in daguerreotype photography, took a self-portrait of himself outside of his family’s store in Philadelphia in 1839. Selfies were experimented with by Andy Warhol and others in the 1970s when the Polaroid camera was invented and rose to popularity.
Mentioning art because it is about your general knowledge
Using long sentence structures
A reference to something from history that backs up the point.
Showing the examiner you are intelligent
30s - Q10
Overall, what makes the fourth paragraph very strong in its argument and structure?
The candidate uses plenty of examples to continuously prove their point.
The candidate uses plenty of scientific evidence to prove their point.
The candidate summarises their ideas.
The complex use of vocabulary and grammar.
20s - Q11
Reflecting on the rest of the essay, what is noticeable about the quality of the candidate's answer?
The candidate continues to quote theorists, examples and gives their own insights in order to answer the question.
There is a lot of complex vocabulary and terms being used.
There is a range of evidence and examples, although these are not always contextualised.
The answer is far too long and doesn't sound convincing for the examiner.
20s