COMPONENT 1B - POWER

Remember, you will be given a choice of THREE questions, and you should only answer ONE.

You have been taught the following three subjects, and so you should identify which of the three questions you are able to answer:

*Language and Power
*Language and Situation
*Standard and non-standard English

You must NOT ANSWER any questions about CHILD LANGUAGE ACQUISITION or questions which focus around how small children use language. You have NOT been taught this.

So, what might come up?

Language and Power - Things that could come up

*A transcript of a conversation where POWER is an important factor.
*A transcript of a political speech or another type of speech where POWER is an important factor.
*A transcript from a courtroom/parliament where POWER is being exerted.
*An advert, or a transcript from an advert where the company exerts influential POWER.
*A charity leaflet.
*An extract from a contract or legal document which exerts instrumental POWER.
*An extract showing somebody's opinions about power in conversation.

Basically, any text where POWER is important.

Whatever comes up, you need to write around 2-3 paragraphs (a third of your essay) on the different ways power is being displayed within the extract. Once you have done this, you need to refer to you own wider reader on a similar topic, and write at least 4 paragraphs explaining how power is displayed in your wider reading.

However, this MUST be on a similar type of power,

Eg:

If your extract is a political text - your wider reading must all refer to political power
If your extract is from an advertisement - all your wider reading must be about power in advertising
If your extract is from a spontaneous conversation - all your wider reading must be about power in conversation.

Understood?

Because of this, it is essential that you do enough wider reading on all of the possible branches of POWER so that you will be prepared for whatever comes up.

So...

1. Ensure you research and memorise at least SIX really powerful adverts, and ensure you are able to discuss how power works within them.
2. Do the same for around FOUR political speeches.
3. Do the same for around FIVE conversational transcripts.
4. Do the same for around FIVE examples of legalese.
5. Do the same for around THREE transcripts from school/workplace etc.

All of the above can be things you have found yourself. Really, this is in your own hands. Although, we have looked at more than enough stuff in class, so you need to refer to your files/notes.

So then, if you get a POWER question on Power in Advertising, all you need to do is write 2 PGs on the extract, and then 4 on all the other adverts you have revised/memorised.

If this doesn't make sense to you, please let me know.

Nick