Below are some suggested approaches to tackling the recast question and commentary
THE RECASTING QUESTION
25 marks
40 MINUTES - 10 minutes planning and 25 minutes writing and 5 minutes correcting and editing.
- Read the question several times:
- to identify clearly the audience, purpose and genre
- to help recall the source text and they key points that you've already identified
- to recall the main language features appropriate for the recast genre, purpose[s] and audience
- Read the source text and:
- decide on the relevant points that you will include in the recast task
- put into your own words important words and phrases from the source text that you've decided to use in the recast task
- Bare in mind that you will be writing a commentary so consider adopting lexis and other language features
- annotate and make notes on the relevant points that you will include in your recast text
- Organize the relevant and appropriate points you've made and:
- consider the order you will place the points
- decide what points are the most important points - rank them in order of importance according to audience, purpose and genre
- choose points that are suitable for an introduction, main section and conclusion
- try and place points in a logical and common sense order and try and put points that link together close to each other. This will make your recasting text fluent and coherent and easily readable.
- Using the notes you've made on a separate sheet of paper in the exam answer book begin writing your recast task
- As you write have in your mind the target audience, your main purpose and specific features of genre
- try and make this communication as genuine and realistic as you can
- cross out each section as you write it
- even at this late stage consider any interesting language features you could still use
THE RECASTING TASK COMMENTARY
15 marks
20 MINUTES - 5 minutes planning - 15 minutes writing, correcting and editing
Actually writing the commentary begins when you start reading the question at the beginning of the exam.
Remember that every time you make a decision to include a language feature to your recast text as a result of your audience, purpose or genre, you are potentially making a point you can include in your commentary. However I expect there will be so many of these it will be impossible to include every one in your commentary.
Therefore I suggest you make a mental note or jot down very quickly as you plan the recast task the most important and or most impressive points you can include in your commentary. An important point might be the repeated use of listing, or the repeated use of rhetorical questions. Other important decisions might be such things as your adoption of first person narrative rather than third person narrative, or your decision to adopt a question and answer structure to your recast text.
A simple structure to your commentary might be:
Paragraph 1 - Audience
- Identify your intention or the relationship you wanted to create between audience and narrative voice. For example, 'I wanted to make the language of the text as accessible as possible to men and women, young and old. I did this by using high frequency Lexis.'
- Follow this by quoting a short phrase or a series of words that illustrate the high frequency Lexis. For example, 'I used monosyllabic and simple lexis like 'fun' rather than 'pleasure', or 'walker' rather than 'pedestrian' to make the language inclusive.' Another example might be something like, ' I used syndectic listing of concrete nouns rather than general abstract nouns to attract a younger audience as children would be drawn by strong symbols that would stimulate their imagination. 'The house was full of cats and dogs and mice and monkeys.' There is a rhythmic quality to the list by adding the repeated connective 'and'. And the alliterative 'mice and monkey adds a satisfying and pleasurable sensation for the audience.
- Make sure your commentary paragraphs are packed with relevant terminology and comments about the effect of your language choices.
Paragraph 2 - Purpose[s]
- Be very clear, simple and direct when stating your general purpose - to entertain, persuade, instruct or inform and your specific purpose - to raise awareness on a specific subject, to get people to join a political party, to tell people how they can save the planet or to make your audience laugh.
- Follow this by quoting a word or a phrase that shows your purpose. For example, 'I used a rhythmic list of three repeated short rhetorical questions with emotive lexis to persuade my audience to join the Green Party. For example, 'Do you want to live in a cemetery planet? Do you want to eat rat and toad? Do you want your children to live in cages?'
- If there is a very clear and definite secondary purpose then write a second paragraph on the second purpose in a similar way as you did the first paragraph on purpose. You could make this paragraph slightly shorter.
- And don't forget to show how these language features link to your specific purpose and comment on the intended effect on your audience.
Paragraph 3 - Genre
- Again be very clear, simple and direct when referring to the genre. How's this as an example, 'Because I was writing a leaflet I decided to use headings and sub-headings, short, simple interrogatives followed by slightly longer declarative passages to answer the questions. I also used low frequency, subject specific lexis because of the limited word count one finds in leaflets.
- Follow this up by quoting a word or phrase that shows you are writing within a specific genre. 'So how can I calculate my mortgage repayments?'
- And don't forget to show how these language features link to your specific purpose and comment on the intended effect on your audience.
Paragraph 4 - Attitude to topic
- In general I think it's a good idea to exaggerate your adopted attitude in your recasting text. Sometimes it might appear over the top but at least you will have something strong to write in your commentary. But always be sure your response is appropriate and relevant to the task. So rather than being irritated be angry. Rather than being happy be ecstatic in your tone.
- An example might be, 'Dear Editor I am shocked and appalled by your constant use of the indefinite article in your editorial on the existence of God. We still live in a monotheistic country and therefore I expect, no demand the use of the definite article whenever God is referred to.'
Paragraph 5 - Miscellaneous
Remember that your analysis must include language and literary frameworks. I've only referred to one literary framework above. Which one is it?
