Paper 2 Question 2: Model Answer (AQA GCSE English Language): Model Answers
7/8 Answer
Both sources reveal that poverty is a challenge for people. Source A portrays 'the growing numbers of homeless people living rough', and Source B demonstrates that they were clothed with 'tattered indescribable things.' Source A clearly shows that the number of homeless people who are 'living rough', displays that the conditions of poverty are very difficult to abide by. The fact that the numbers are then 'growing' suggests that society is becoming an economically demanding place, as more people suffer from it. Similarly, Source B mimics this message as they are clothed in 'indescribable things.' Evidently, the consequences of poverty mean they can not afford luxuries, such as clothes, developing a sense of neglect from society. Furthermore, the 'things' they wear are not even clothes, implying that they are surviving on scraps on the streets and are probably suffering during cold temperatures.
Another similarity would be how both sources show how the places impoverished people live in are unsafe. Source A displays how 'tens of thousands' live 'on the streets or in hostels', meaning that so many people are living in places that lack security and warmth. We can infer that because 'the exact figures are uncertain', growing numbers of homeless people have no aid in their struggles, hence why they resort to living in the dangerous 'streets' of the city. Likewise, Source B demonstrates how the mud-larks live 'in some court alley in the neighbourhood of the river', where a repeated sense of insecurity is alluded to. The fact that they live in 'some court alley' therefore suggests that they are unable to find safety anywhere else. With there being 'boys and little girls', as well as 'old men […] and many old women', further exemplifies this sense of struggle, as even grown adults have nowhere to turn to and the children perhaps were brought up in such vile conditions.
Feedback:
| Strengths | Areas for Improvement |
|---|---|
| Clear comparison of the portrayal of poverty in both sources | Expression could be more concise and clear |
| Effective use of quotations from both sources | Some repetition in the explanation of points |
| Coherent analysis of how the evidence reflects the challenges of poverty | Could delve deeper into the implications of the evidence provided |
| Insightful inferences about the conditions and struggles of impoverished people | More varied analysis needed to avoid redundancy |
| Well-organized structure with a clear introduction to each point and logical progression of ideas | Expand the depth of analysis by discussing psychological effects of living in such conditions |
More details:
| Aspect | Feedback |
|---|---|
| Comparison | Clear comparison of the portrayal of poverty in both sources |
| Use of Evidence | Effective use of quotations from both sources to support points |
| Analysis | Coherent analysis of how the evidence reflects the challenges of poverty |
| Inferences | Insightful inferences about the conditions and struggles of impoverished people |
| Structure | Well-organized structure with clear introduction to each point and logical progression of ideas |
| Expression | Some phrases could be more concise and clear (e.g., "conditions of poverty are very difficult to abide by" could be streamlined for clarity) |
| Repetition | Some repetition in the explanation of points (e.g., discussing 'growing numbers' and lack of security and warmth in both sources) |
| Depth of Analysis | Could delve a little deeper into the implications of the evidence provided, such as discussing the psychological effects of living in such conditions |
| Varied Analysis | More varied analysis needed to avoid redundancy, which would improve the overall quality of the response |