Topic 4.1: Understanding Paper 2 Questions

Warm up first — what Paper 2 asks

A quick starter — thinking comparatively

Take it step by step — spotting a comparative opportunity between two works

One step at a time — turning observations into woven comparative points

Answer on Paper 2 comparison. (Exam-style practice.)

Answer on comparative thinking. (Exam-style practice.)

Write a comparative essay in response to the following general question. QUESTION: ‘Compare how the two works present the idea of holding on to the past.’ Use the two short original works provided below as if they were works you have studied (in the real exam you would use your own two studied works, closed book). Make ONE woven comparative argument.

Write a comparative essay in response to the following general question, weaving the two works together throughout. QUESTION: ‘Compare how the two works present ambition and the idea of ‘enough’.’ Use the two short original works below as if you had studied them (in the exam, use your own two works, closed book).