Free Functional Skills and Skills for Life resources
GCSE Reading A2 Analyse language & structure
GCSE English Language
A2. Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views
The video gives an opportunity to listen for gist and detail, and is followed by a focus on sentence stress and intonation.
The article gives an opportunity for learners to analyse the purpose of the text and look at persuasive techniques, and is accompanied by a vocabulary from context exercise.
Level
L1
L2
GCSE L1-5
English
L2.1 Identify relevant information from extended explanations or presentations
L2.2 Follow narratives and lines of argument
FE L2.11 Identify the different situations when the main points are sufficient and when it is important to have specific details
FE L1.13 Use reference materials and appropriate strategies (e.g. using knowledge of word types) for a range of purposes, including to find the meaning of words
FE L1.17 Read and understand a range of specialist words in context
L2.14 Understand the relationship between textual features and devices, and how they can be used to shape meaning for different audiences and purposes
A L2 reading lesson around the optimism of Spring, and Easter and pagan traditions, especially suitable for the start of the Summer term, as a springboard to setting intentions for the rest of the course. Suitable for ESOL or Functional Skills courses.
Editor's note
Fully mapped to the reformed FS content - and GCSE English. Also includes a vocabulary consolidation task for the next lesson.
An answer sheet will be available shortly - for resource contributors only.
Level
L2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L2.11 Identify the different situations when the main points are sufficient and when it is important to have specific details
L2.14 Understand the relationship between textual features and devices, and how they can be used to shape meaning for different audiences and purposes
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
L2.19 Identify different styles of writing and writer’s voice
This set of steps (taken from Coady & Nation (1988)) with a worked example shows students one process for doing a ‘best guess’ of what to do when they come across a new word. Followed by a set of 10 exercises with some lovely, unusual words.
Editor's note
Fully mapped to GCSE and the new 2018 Functional English content
Level
E3
L1
L2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE E3.11 Use effective strategies to find the meaning of words (e.g. a dictionary, working out meaning from context; using knowledge of different word types)
FE L1.17 Read and understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
I created this activity for my ESOL students but it would also work well for Functional English.
The idea is taken from Laura Jeffrey Kiiza’s text types mind map drag and drop activity (L1) – see link below under See also.
Aimed at Functional Skills Level 2 learners, this resource is also suitable for the new 9 -1 GCSE requirements (Reading A2 and A3).
It is designed to be done towards the end of a unit on reading skills as it draws together skimming, scanning, information retrieval skills and the ability to collate information.
