Key Idea: Four mistakes cost the most in Paper 1: feature-spotting, summary, no focus and ignoring the reader. Each has a simple fix you can check as you write.
| Mistake | What it looks like | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Feature-spotting | Naming devices with no effect | Add the effect and evaluate it |
| Summary | Retelling the plot | Analyse choices instead |
| No focus | A device list, or vague words like 'interesting' | One thesis, precise effects |
| Ignoring the reader | Analysis in a vacuum | Link to the audience and the effect |
Check as you write
- Does every device I name have an effect?
- Am I analysing, or retelling?
- Does every paragraph prove my thesis?
If a sentence would still be true without the reader, it is not analysis yet.
Why does summary earn almost nothing? It retells the text instead of analysing it.
What is wrong with calling an image 'interesting'? It is vague. Say exactly what effect it has.
How do you fix 'no focus'? Write a thesis and make every paragraph prove it.
Which mistake is naming a device and stopping? Feature-spotting.