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External links

• NCEA on TKI
• NZQA website

3.5 Read and respond critically to unfamiliar prose and poetry texts

Achievement criteria

You will be assessed on your ability to respond critically to ideas and language used in selected texts. You will need to communicate ideas and comments clearly and coherently using short and/or extended written responses when appropriate.

On this page: Achievement | Achievement with Merit | Achievement with Excellence

Achievement

• Read and respond critically to ideas and language features.

Make sure you:

• answer using your own words rather than paraphrasing the texts
• use terminology accurately and appropriately to describe certain language features and why they have been used
• show some understanding of writer’s craft and purpose
• look for language patterns in both texts
• respond critically to ideas and language feature the texts
• use keyword to focus your answer
• use lines provided as a guide as to how much to write for each answer
• read the whole extract before answering the questions – refer to other parts of the extract and make meaningful links between texts
• understand the literal and metaphorical meaning of the language used in the texts
• can work out the meaning of new words from the context
• are familiar with language terms and can apply them accurately to relevant quotations from the texts
• can use short relevant quotations to support your answers where appropriate
• have at least four pieces of evidence meeting the achieved criterion.

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Achievement with Merit

• Read and respond critically and analytically to ideas and language features.

Make sure you:

• reach Achievement
• answer all parts of the question in detail using a direct, clear, and concise manner
• interpret the texts on a deeper level to show an understanding of figurative, emotive/connotative language features
• clearly explain how and why the identified features of content, style, and language features work to present an overall message to a specific audience
• analyse ideas and language features by giving a detailed explanation of the effect in relation to the purpose of the texts
• use specific detail from the texts to discuss complex ideas, advanced vocabulary, and the less obvious workings of language
• evaluate and give clear reasons explaining how well the identified features of the texts work
• explain in detail links between features, audience, and purpose
• make significant connections between the features of content, style, and language
• have at least one piece of evidence meeting the achieved criterion plus two meeting merit criterion.

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Achievement with Excellence

• Read and respond critically, with sustained perception, to ideas and language features.

Make sure you:

• reach Achievement with Merit
• try to use sophisticated and mature language in your answers to explain your understanding of the texts
• use terminology confidently to discuss language features in the texts
• discuss your awareness of the subtlety of the language used such as irony and connotation and its effects in the texts
• refer to relevant and appropriate features not specifically asked for in the question to show a wider overall understanding of the texts
• show an appreciation of the overall purpose, ideas, style, tone, and audience of the texts in all answers
• make mature observations and respond personally by drawing comparisons to discuss the wider meaning of the texts
• make conclusions about how the language has been used to fulfil the purpose and reach the intended audience
• write a clear, accurate, and detailed response to the question to show a full and deep understanding of the texts
• have at least one piece of evidence meeting the achieved criterion plus two meeting excellence criterion.

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