Common Mistake - Summarising Instead of Analysing
The mistake: spending half your answer retelling the story rather than analysing how and why the writer creates meaning.
Weak example (summary):
"The Inspector tells the family they are responsible for Eva's death."
Better example (analysis):
"The Inspector's speech in An Inspector Calls highlights social responsibility by acting as Priestley's moral mouthpiece, forcing both the characters and the audience to confront collective guilt."
Why This Destroys Marks
GCSE English is not about telling the story. It is about breaking the text down, exploring deeper meanings, themes, and techniques.
If your answer sounds like a plot recap, you will be capped at lower marks because you are not showing how the writer constructs meaning.
Quick Recap
- Summary = retelling the story.
- Analysis = explaining how and why meaning is created.
- Always focus on writer's methods, not just what happens.
