Key Vocabulary (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes

Key Vocabulary

Types of Texts

• Discursive/Informative: Texts that discuss or provide information.
• Narrative/Aesthetic: Literary or artistic texts.
• Visual: Texts with significant visual elements.

General Expectations

• Literature Piece: Excerpts from novels, poems, articles, interviews etc.
• About Literature/Author: Texts discussing literature or the author's experiences.
• Blend of Visual and Written: Combination of images and text.
• Speech or Article: Based on a specific theme.

Mark Breakdown

Question	Marks	# of PQEs
(i) Comprehension	15	3
(ii) Personal Reflexion	15	3
(iii) Style	20	4

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Question (i)

• Basic Comprehension:
• Summarising main arguments or points.
• Example prompts:
• "Outline, in your own words, the insights the writer shares about…"
• "Based on your reading of TEXT 2, what do you learn about…"

Answering Question (i)

• PQE steps:
• Point: Answer the question in the first sentence. Prepare the appropriate number of points/ideas required by the question.
• Quote: Support your Point or argument with a short and relevant quote from the text.
• Explain/Evaluate/Analyse: Expand on your Point and offer possible counterarguments. draw conclusions or observations from your evidence to support your Point. At the end of your paragraph, provide a sum-up sentence answering the question again.

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Question (ii)

• Personal Response:
• Analyse the question carefully
• What universal truth did you learn from each of your chosen points? What overarching message did you learn?
• Focus on the quality of your reflexion.
• Show you know your chosen text well and quote/make close reference to prove your points.
• Show personal engagement with the text and the question.

Answering Question (ii)

• Use PQE Structure:
• Write a short plan.
• Ensure each point answers the question and is unique.
• Use your own words; keep quotes short and relevant.
• Use link words and phrases between paragraphs.

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Question (iii)

Style Question:

• Recognise style questions with prompts like:
• "How does the writer convey…?"
• "Do you agree that this extract is both skilfully written and perceptively observed…?"
• Approach with a "shopping list" of language features (e.g., rhetorical questions, metaphors).

Answering Question (iii)

Use PQE structure:

• Discuss one technique per paragraph.
• Use quotations in your sentences.
• Use descriptive verbs (e.g., suggests, evokes).
• Explain why words or phrases are effective.
• Consider the authors overall goal of the piece.
• Avoid generic and empty statements like:
• 'This engages the reader and makes them want to read the rest of the text'.

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General Rules for Language

• Factual Information: Informs, supports, clarifies, shows.
• Rhetorical Questions: Provokes, engages, interests.
• Emotive Language: Moves, provokes, persuades.
• Anecdotes: Amuses, interests, engages.
• Descriptive Language: Creates, captures, suggests.