AQA English Language Paper 1: Fiction
How to answer Q4 – evaluating the statement
For this question, you have to evaluate the statement about the extract. It is very similar to an English Literature essay. Make sure you address the statement and analyse methods.
This guide is part of the English Language Paper 1 series:
Paper 1 Question 4 - evaluating the statement
Contents of this guide
Overall structure and example for this question
Steps for tackling this question
Turn the statement into questions – planning step
Decide your overall argument – planning step
Highlight and annotate evidence which you can analyse – planning step
Write an introduction summarising your argument – writing step
Write your paragraph point summarising the argument for the paragraph – writing step
Explain your reasoning using evidence and analysis – writing step
Example response
Overall structure and example for this question
Start with a short paragraph (1 or 2 sentences) which summarises your evaluation of the statement.
Example introduction
I agree that the T-Rex is terrifying in the extract, and I think Bradbury shows that Eckels’ panic was understandable in the circumstances. However, I don’t agree that Bradbury shows he was right to panic given how he presents the other members of the hunting party.
Then write at least 2 detailed paragraphs in which you evaluate the different aspects of the statement, or if there is only one aspect, you evaluate it twice using different parts of the extract as evidence. Each paragraph should have the following basic structure.
A. Topic sentence summarising your argument (P)
B. Evidence, reasoning and analysis of methods (EAEA…)
Example paragraph
[A] However, although Eckels’ panic is understandable, that doesn’t necessarily make it right, and Bradbury suggests that Eckels is an outlier in a group which has not generally panicked. [B] When Eckels starts to panic, Travis “hisse[s]” for him to “Shut up!” and “command[s]” him to turn around. Both of these verbs suggest a degree of frustration from Travis, as if he has lost patience with Eckels, something emphasised by the exclamation mark, implying that Travis does not think Eckels is right to panic. Even Lesperance, one of the other members of the hunting party, loses patience with Eckels, saying, “Don’t run … Turn around. Hide in the Machine.” Here Bradbury uses three short, imperative sentences to imply that, unlike Eckels, Lesperance has kept his cool and is still able to think clearly and rationally; he understands exactly what is needed and he orders Eckels in a calm and clear way, shown by the short sentences which all end with a calm full-stop. The fact other members of the group are able to keep their cool suggests that, though Eckels’ panic was understandable, it was not the only possible response, let alone the right one. In fact, Bradbury presents Eckels as an outlier in the group rather than as a representative of the general reaction, suggesting his panic was not the right response.
Steps for tackling this question
1. Turn the statement into questions – planning step
This is the first step in your planning and it’s very straightforward. Take whatever statement you are given in the question and turn it into one or more questions, which you will answer in your response.
This statement: “This part of the story, set in the hat shop, shows that the red-haired girl has many advantages in life, and I think Rosabel is right to be angry.”
Becomes the following questions:
Does it show the red-haired girl has many advantages in life?
Is Rosabel right to be angry?
This statement: “This part of the story, where Mr Fisher is marking homework, shows Tibbet’s story is better than Mr Fisher expected, and his reaction is extreme.”
Becomes the following questions:
Does it show Tibbet’s story is better than Mr Fisher expected?
Is Mr Fisher’s reaction extreme?
If the question uses ‘shows’ (as they generally do), include this in your question to help you focus on the writer.
Example that we will be using in this guide
Statement:‘“This part of the story, where the men encounter the Tyrannosaurus Rex, shows Eckels is right to panic. The Monster is terrifying!”
Becomes the following questions:
Does it show Eckels is right to panic?
Is the monster terrifying?
2. Decide your overall argument – planning step
This is the most important stage of the planning as it will form the backbone of your response: to what extent do you agree? Do not disagree for the sake of it. You are always going to agree to some extent – the statements are never completely false. There may be elements with which you disagree, but don’t invent a counter argument just to make your answer seem more sophisticated. This will lose you time and marks.
Instead, look for subjective words in the statement which you can evaluate. ‘Right’, for example, is highly subjective (right in what sense? Practically? Morally? Right for whom?); ‘extreme’ is also subjective and highly dependent on context.
You also need to consider the specific wording: ‘better than expected’ is not the same as ‘good’ or ‘better than other students’; it means ‘better than Mr Fisher expected from Tibbet’, so you need to evaluate that statement.
Finally, make sure you focus on what you believe the writer wants the reader to think: don’t create hypothetical, imaginary objections (e.g. maybe Mr Fisher has a mental disorder so he can’t help having extreme reactions, which would mean it’s not really extreme for him). Base your evaluation solely on what is stated or implied by the writer in the text.
For example
Does it show he’s right to panic?
It shows it’s understandable, for sure, but not right because his panicking puts the others in danger, and they don’t panic.
Is the monster terrifying?
Yes, definitely.
3. Highlight and annotate evidence which you can analyse – planning step
Once you’ve worked out your argument, you need to choose your evidence. First and foremost, your evidence needs to prove your argument. For example, you would need evidence to prove that the red-haired girl has many advantages in life, or evidence to prove that Tibbet’s story is better than Mr Fisher expected, or evidence to disprove these statements, if that’s how you feel.
In addition to proving your argument, some of your evidence must contain methods that you can analyse. You need to consider this when highlighting evidence.
4. Write an introduction summarising your argument – writing step
Now you are ready to write your response. Begin with a one or two sentence introduction summarising your argument. You will need to address all the questions you created in Step 1, using words from the statement to keep it focussed, but without evidence or analysis. It is fine to use “I” in this question but mention the writer too.
For example
I agree that the T-Rex is terrifying in the extract, and I think Bradbury shows that Eckels’ panic was understandable in the circumstances. However, I don’t agree that Bradbury shows he was right to panic given how he presents the other members of the hunting party.
5. Write your paragraph point summarising the argument for the paragraph – writing step
You now need to develop the argument from your introduction across the rest of your response.
If there are multiple sides to your argument or multiple questions asked by the statement, cover each one of these in a different paragraph; if your argument has only one side (e.g. you entirely agree with the statement) or is based on only one question, just make that argument across several paragraphs, each with different evidence, reasoning and analysis, working chronologically through the text.
Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence which links to the statement in the question.
This example would be the second paragraph of this particular response, having had one earlier paragraph arguing that the monster is terrifying which is why Eckels’ panic was understandable in the circumstances.
Example topic sentence
However, although Eckels’ panic is understandable, that doesn’t necessarily make it right, and Bradbury suggests that Eckels is an outlier in a group which has not generally panicked.
6. Explain your reasoning using evidence and analysis – writing step
The bulk of each paragraph will then be made up of the usual mix of evidence, reasoning and analysis. In this regard, the question is very similar to an English Literature essay. You will need to provide quotations from the text to support your argument, and then explain why those quotations prove your argument (your reasoning).
Make sure your reasoning is explained as thoughtfully as possible; show that you understand the subtlety of the situation in the extract.
You also need to include some analysis of the writer’s methods, with links made between the effect of those methods and your argument. This is, in effect, exactly the same as an English Literature essay.
Remember: focus on what the writer is suggesting in the passage; consider what they want the reader to think.
Example of reasoning and analysis
When Eckels starts to panic, Travis “hisse[s]” for him to “Shut up!” and “command[s]” him to turn around. Both of these verbs suggest a degree of frustration from Travis, as if he has lost patience with Eckels, something emphasised by the exclamation mark, implying that Travis does not think Eckels is right to panic. Even Lesperance, one of the other members of the hunting party, loses patience with Eckels, saying, “Don’t run … Turn around. Hide in the Machine.” Here Bradbury uses three short, imperative sentences to imply that, unlike Eckels, Lesperance has kept his cool and is still able to think clearly and rationally; he understands exactly what is needed and he orders Eckels in a calm and clear way, shown by the short sentences which all end with a calm full-stop. The fact other members of the group are able to keep their cool suggests that, though Eckels’ panic was understandable, it was not the only possible response, let alone the right one. In fact, Bradbury presents Eckels as an outlier in the group rather than as a representative of the general reaction, suggesting his panic was not the right response.
This creates the following full response
I agree that the T-Rex is terrifying in the extract, and I think Bradbury shows that Eckels’ panic was understandable in the circumstances. However, I don’t agree that Bradbury shows he was right to panic given how he presents the other members of the hunting party.
Bradbury shows how terrifying the monster is with his initial description, which is why Eckels panic is understandable… etc [evidence and analysis go here]
However, although Eckels’ panic is understandable, that doesn’t necessarily make it right, and Bradbury suggests that Eckels is an outlier in a group which has not generally panicked. When Eckels starts to panic, Travis “hisse[s]” for him to “Shut up!” and “command[s]” him to turn around. Both of these verbs suggest a degree of frustration from Travis, as if he has lost patience with Eckels, something emphasised by the exclamation mark, implying that Travis does not think Eckels is right to panic. Even Lesperance, one of the other members of the hunting party, loses patience with Eckels, saying, “Don’t run … Turn around. Hide in the Machine.” Here Bradbury uses three short, imperative sentences to imply that, unlike Eckels, Lesperance has kept his cool and is still able to think clearly and rationally; he understands exactly what is needed and he orders Eckels in a calm and clear way, shown by the short sentences which all end with a calm full-stop. The fact other members of the group are able to keep their cool suggests that, though Eckels’ panic was understandable, it was not the only possible response, let alone the right one. In fact, Bradbury presents Eckels as an outlier in the group rather than as a representative of the general reaction, suggesting his panic was not the right response.