Comprehension / How to Form an Argument
Method
Paragraphing
In the Junior Certificate exam, it is a general rule of thumb that 5 marks are given for a point made that is backed up by evidence from the text (i.e. one paragragh). This means that a 10 mark question should have two paragraphs, a 15 mark question three, etc.
Structure
The basic structure of a paragraph is as follows:
Sample Question
Read the following passage and the answer the question which follows:
Peter Beardsley has played soccer for Newcastle, Liverpool, Everton and England. In this extract he reflects on a 1988 Liverpool versus Tottenham match which decided the league.
Saturday 23 April
Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (Barclays League Division One)
This was the game that finally made the championship certain. I scored the only goal after 34 minutes but we never really hit our best form. It was disappointing but we had played well in 30 of our 35 previous games, so it was not a bad record, and at this stage of the season, results are more important than performance.
It was my first medal as a professional and a moment to savour as we did a lap of honour after the match. The fans were magnificent all season and once again they stayed on to give us a marvelous reception. My only disappointment was that John Barnes was injured and missed the game. He was so influential throughout the season it seemed a terrible shame for him to miss the moment of glory.
Q. What are the feelings of Peter Beardsley towards the 1988 deciding match?
[10 marks]
Sample Answer
The writer has mixed feelings about the 1988 deciding match. On the one hand he is happy that he ‘scored the only goal’ to secure Liverpool victory over Tottenham. This is every footballer’s dream. However, his happiness is tinged with disappointment as he claims his team did not play well on the day. He is clearly more pleased than disappointed as he understands that ‘results are more important than performance’.
The writer is also very proud of his achievement:
‘It was my first medal as a professional and a moment to savour.’
He is particularly pleased that the Liverpool fans stayed on after the match to give him and his team-mates ‘a marvelous reception’. Once again, however, he shows disappointment that another player on his team, John Barnes, missed the game through injury and lost out on a moment of footballing history. It is with such mixed feelings that Peter Beardsley remembers the day.
Breakdown
Paragraph 1 -
1. Make a point:
The writer has mixed feelings about the 1988 Cup Final.
2. Back it up with evidence from the text. Evidence can be in the form of a quote or a specific reference:
On the one hand he is happy that he ‘scored the only goal’ [QUOTE] to secure Liverpool victory over Tottenham. This is every footballer’s dream. However, his happiness is tinged with disappointment as he claims his team did not play well on the day. [REF.]
3. Conclude your point:
He is clearly more pleased than disappointed as he understands that ‘results are more important than performance’.
Paragraph 2 -
He is particularly pleased that the Liverpool fans stayed on after the match to give him and his team-mates ‘a marvelous reception’. Once again, however, he shows disappointment that another player on his team, John Barnes, missed the game through injury and lost out on a moment of footballing history. [REF.]
Questions about Style
Often a question asks about the style of the writer. When answering such questions, consider some of the following points:
We did a lap of honour after the match. The fans . . . stayed
on to give us a marvelous reception.
- Read the passage carefully.
- Read the questions which follow, underlining the key word(s) or phrase(s) in the question.
- Read the passage again, marking where the answers to the questions are found. Underline any possible quotes you may wish to use in your answer.
- Plan your answer briefly.
- Answer the questions.
Paragraphing
In the Junior Certificate exam, it is a general rule of thumb that 5 marks are given for a point made that is backed up by evidence from the text (i.e. one paragragh). This means that a 10 mark question should have two paragraphs, a 15 mark question three, etc.
Structure
The basic structure of a paragraph is as follows:
- Make a point.
- Back it up with evidence from the text. Evidence can be in the form of a quote or a specific reference.
- Conclude your point.
Sample Question
Read the following passage and the answer the question which follows:
Peter Beardsley has played soccer for Newcastle, Liverpool, Everton and England. In this extract he reflects on a 1988 Liverpool versus Tottenham match which decided the league.
Saturday 23 April
Liverpool 1 Tottenham 0 (Barclays League Division One)
This was the game that finally made the championship certain. I scored the only goal after 34 minutes but we never really hit our best form. It was disappointing but we had played well in 30 of our 35 previous games, so it was not a bad record, and at this stage of the season, results are more important than performance.
It was my first medal as a professional and a moment to savour as we did a lap of honour after the match. The fans were magnificent all season and once again they stayed on to give us a marvelous reception. My only disappointment was that John Barnes was injured and missed the game. He was so influential throughout the season it seemed a terrible shame for him to miss the moment of glory.
Q. What are the feelings of Peter Beardsley towards the 1988 deciding match?
[10 marks]
Sample Answer
The writer has mixed feelings about the 1988 deciding match. On the one hand he is happy that he ‘scored the only goal’ to secure Liverpool victory over Tottenham. This is every footballer’s dream. However, his happiness is tinged with disappointment as he claims his team did not play well on the day. He is clearly more pleased than disappointed as he understands that ‘results are more important than performance’.
The writer is also very proud of his achievement:
‘It was my first medal as a professional and a moment to savour.’
He is particularly pleased that the Liverpool fans stayed on after the match to give him and his team-mates ‘a marvelous reception’. Once again, however, he shows disappointment that another player on his team, John Barnes, missed the game through injury and lost out on a moment of footballing history. It is with such mixed feelings that Peter Beardsley remembers the day.
Breakdown
Paragraph 1 -
1. Make a point:
The writer has mixed feelings about the 1988 Cup Final.
2. Back it up with evidence from the text. Evidence can be in the form of a quote or a specific reference:
On the one hand he is happy that he ‘scored the only goal’ [QUOTE] to secure Liverpool victory over Tottenham. This is every footballer’s dream. However, his happiness is tinged with disappointment as he claims his team did not play well on the day. [REF.]
3. Conclude your point:
He is clearly more pleased than disappointed as he understands that ‘results are more important than performance’.
Paragraph 2 -
- Make a point:
- Back it up with evidence from the text. Evidence can be in the form of a quote or a specific reference:
He is particularly pleased that the Liverpool fans stayed on after the match to give him and his team-mates ‘a marvelous reception’. Once again, however, he shows disappointment that another player on his team, John Barnes, missed the game through injury and lost out on a moment of footballing history. [REF.]
- Conclude your point:
Questions about Style
Often a question asks about the style of the writer. When answering such questions, consider some of the following points:
- Does the writer write in a formal or informal way? Does he/she directly address the reader at any point?
- Does the writer tell any anecdotes? (Anecdotes are short stories about incidents or people. In the above question, the following is an example of an anecdote:
We did a lap of honour after the match. The fans . . . stayed
on to give us a marvelous reception.
- Are any literary devices used? For example: similes, metaphors, contrast, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, etc.?
- Is repetition used to persuade the reader of the writer’s purpose?
- Does the writer ask any questions, rhetorical or otherwise? (A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect rather than an answer. For example, the Tottenham manager may have asked his team at half-time: Have you no pride?)
- Are quotations, statistics or facts used?
- Does the writer use appealing imagery?
- If the writer is giving an opinion, does he/she examine both sides of the story or is he/she biased in any way?
- Does the writer like to shock or amuse readers?
- What is the tone of the writer?