Music in 'Sailmaker' by Alan Spence

'Red Sails in the Sunset' - Fats Domino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgetd17XTOY




'Last Train to San Fernando' - Johnny Duncan and the Bluegrass Boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8DhjQOtzM




'Singing the Blues' - Tommy Steele
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vshFkkxXITo




'My Generation' - The Who
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH9IgJZCx4c




'Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day' - Bing Crosby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U6Vrc8RqsI




'Honky Tonk Angels' - Buddy Holly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hySwneOLEf0




'The Sash My Father Wore'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EDq26OhU5Y




'Give Me Oil In My Lamp' - The Christian Choristers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VwCm9EcUp4




'Will Your Anchor Hold' - Portlethen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhPa0vfl8kI




'Clementine' - Paul Austin Kelly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYQOaYXhtm0

‘War of the Worlds’ (dir. Steven Spielberg) – sample essay – not to be copied/plagiarised

In his thrilling science-fiction blockbuster film ‘War of the Worlds’, the director, Steven Spielberg used a variety of techniques, including characterisation, special effects, use of camera and plotting to tell the compelling story of a family who flee from an alien invasion.

Spielberg used clever characterisation so that his film made maximum impact. The opening shot is a tracking shot, which shows the New York skyline and then zooms into the cab where Ray Ferrier works as a crane operator at the docks. Ray wears a baseball cap, hoodie, leather jacket, jeans and work boots. He also has two children from his failed marriage. Ferrier was portrayed as a very ordinary man, with a very ordinary job. Spielberg has chosen this character – rather than a soldier or a policeman – to emphasise how this sort of horrendous event would affect the life of an average person and his family.

Another technique which Spielberg uses to tremendous effect at the beginning of the movie is Computer Generated Imagery (CGI). These ‘special effects’ are used very early in the film to show the emergence of the alien tripod from under the earth. The director uses a variety of camera shots and effects to give a very vivid impression of the huge machine as it is watched by an astonished crowd. It is clear that the machines do not exist in reality, but Spielberg and his technicians have succeeded in bringing a terrifying vision to life.

Also, Spielberg uses the camera to particular effect in a later section of the film when Ray and Rachel are hiding in the basement of a house with Harlan Ogilvy. The basement is dark and damp. During one sequence, the tentacle of one of the tripods enters the basement to search it. The survivors spend tense minutes evading the camera on the end of the tentacle, as it zooms through the darkness. At first we see Ray’s point of view as he looks to the point where the tentacle is coming down through the floor. Then the camera zooms in to show the large, ‘Big Brother’ style lens of the alien ‘eye’. In this scene, Spielberg used the camera very skilfully to make the atmosphere in the basement as scary and claustrophobic as possible. There was almost unbearable tension as the survivors scrabbled about in the shadows, pursued by the sinister mechanical snake.

Towards the end of the film, Spielberg cleverly uses plot to capture the attention of the audience. Earlier in the film, Ray has been criticised by his son for being cowardly and not trying to fight the tripods. His son runs off to join the army. However later, Ray and Rachel are swept up by a tripod and deposited in the cage dangling beneath it, where it stores people for food. Then, Ray allows himself to be lifted up and inserted into the alien’s ‘mouth’. Before he has been pulled back out again, by the desperate efforts of the other people in the cage, he manages to leave hand grenades, which explode inside the alien and kill it. This act showed that, far from being cowardly, Ray was a true hero and would stop at nothing to protect his cherished daughter from the tripods. It was a clever turning point in the film, when Spielberg used the character of Ray to suggest that even the most ordinary human being can be quite heroic when placed in a dreadful situation.

There is no doubt that Steven Spielberg is one of the world’s most skilled directors. His version of ‘War of the Worlds’ was hugely exciting and his use of characterisation, computer generated imagery, camera and plotting provided the audience with a real spectacle of a film, which also explored some interesting themes.

Added Value Unit - Advertisements 2015

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Johanssen Dolce & Gabbana
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Coca Cola
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Innocent Smoothie
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Mitsubishi Shogun
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National 5 - Discursive Writing

Here is a link to the BBC website on discursive writing. It gives a reasonable summary of what you can do.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zw8sgk7/revision


Here are some other links to documents on school websites to help you.


http://www.eyemouthhigh.org.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/Introduction%20to%20Discursive%20Writing_0.doc


http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=16&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEEQFjAFOApqFQoTCIezqrS-iskCFQe8FAodKV0ATw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdallison1983.edublogs.org%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F09%2FNational-5-persuasive-essay-2lxnmpp.ppt&usg=AFQjCNEoqy-vooHY5R-4T9UM00ZqPHQe-w&sig2=qz7O0jW7SQxUUvhpObwXNg


Also, the shortcut below takes you to an SQA PDF, which gives you information, in a grid at the end of the document, about how the discursive essay is marked


http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/GAInfoNational5EnglishPortfolio.pdf

Recent SQA Higher 'Prose' questions

New Higher

2015

 

Part B — Prose Fiction

Answers to questions on Prose Fiction should refer to the text and to such relevant

features as characterisation, setting, language, key incident(s), climax, turning point, plot,

structure, narrative technique, theme, ideas, description . . .

 

4. Choose a novel or short story in which the method of narration is important.

 

Outline briefly the writer’s method of narration and explain why you feel this method

makes such a major contribution to your understanding of the text as a whole.

 

5. Choose a novel or short story in which there is a moment of significance for one of the

characters.

 

Explain briefly what the significant moment is and discuss, with reference to appropriate

techniques, its significance to the text as a whole.

 

6. Choose a novel or short story which has a satisfying ending.

 

Discuss to what extent the ending provides a successful conclusion to the text as a whole.

 

Old Higher

Prose Fiction

Answers to questions on prose fiction should address relevantly the central concern(s)/

theme(s) of the text(s) and be supported by reference to appropriate techniques of prose

fiction such as: characterisation, setting, key incident(s), narrative technique, symbolism,

structure, climax, plot, atmosphere, dialogue, imagery . . .

 

2015

5. Choose a novel in which a central character’s ambitions are thwarted by the behaviour of

others and/or by circumstances beyond his or her control.

 

Explain how the character’s ambitions are thwarted and discuss how the character’s

reaction influences your understanding of character and/or theme in the novel as a whole.

 

6. Choose a novel or short story in which betrayal or deception or naivety plays an

important part.

 

Show how the writer explores this idea in a way which adds to your understanding of

the central concern(s) of the text.

 

7. Choose a novel in which one incident acts as a turning point in your understanding of

a central character.

 

Describe the incident and discuss how it influences your understanding of the character

and of the novel as a whole.

 

8. Choose a novel or short story in which, despite the bleakness of much of its content,

you can discern an optimistic or uplifting message.

Show how the writer achieves this.


2014


5. Choose a novel in which loyalty or bravery or trust plays an important part.

Show how the writer explores the idea in a way which adds to your understanding of the central concern(s) of the text.

 

6. Choose a novel in which the vulnerability of a central character is apparent at one or

more than one key point in the text.

 

Explain the situation(s) in which the character’s vulnerability emerges and discuss the

importance of the vulnerability to your understanding of character and/or theme in the

text as a whole.

 

7. Choose a novel in which a character makes a decision which you consider unexpected

or unwise or unworthy.

 

Explain the circumstances surrounding the decision and discuss its importance to your

understanding of character and theme in the novel as a whole.

 

8. Choose a novel or short story in which ideas and/or characters and/or incidents

appear to be designed to shock the reader.

 

Explain what you find shocking about the text and discuss to what extent this enhances
your understanding of the text as a whole.


2013

5. Choose a novel in which envy or malice or cruelty plays a significant part.

 

Explain how the writer makes you aware of this aspect of the text and discuss how the

writer’s exploration of it enhances your understanding of the text as a whole.

 

6. Choose a novel in which a character is influenced by a particular location or setting.

 

Explain how the character is influenced by the location or setting and discuss how this

enhances your understanding of the text as a whole.

 

7. Choose a novel or short story in which there is an act of kindness or of compassion.

 

Explain briefly the nature of the act and discuss its importance to your understanding

of the text as a whole.

 

8. Choose a novel in which the death of a character clarifies an important theme in the

text.

 

Show how this theme is explored in the novel as a whole and discuss how the death of
the character clarifies the theme.


2012

5. Choose a novel or short story which explores loss or futility or failure.

 

Discuss how the writer explores one of these ideas in a way you find effective.

 

6. Choose a novel in which a main character refuses to accept advice or to conform to

expectations.

 

Explain the circumstances of the refusal and discuss its importance to your understanding

of the character in the novel as a whole.

 

7. Choose a novel in which a particular mood is dominant.

 

Explain how the novelist creates this mood and discuss how it contributes to your

appreciation of the novel as a whole.

 

8. Choose a novel or short story in which there is a character who is not only realistic as a

person but who has symbolic significance in the text as a whole.

Show how the writer makes you aware of both aspects of the character.


2011


5. Choose a novel in which friendship or love is put to the test.

Explain briefly how this situation arises and go on to discuss how the outcome of the

test leads you to a greater understanding of the central concern(s) of the text.

 

6. Choose a novel in which a central character is flawed but remains an admirable figure.

 

Show how the writer makes you aware of these aspects of personality and discuss how

this feature of characterisation enhances your appreciation of the text as a whole.

 

7. Choose a novel or short story in which the writer explores feelings of rejection or

isolation or alienation.

 

Explain how the writer makes you aware of these feelings and go on to show how this

exploration enhances your appreciation of the text as a whole.

 

8. Choose a novel in which the narrative point of view is a significant feature in your

appreciation of the text.

Show how the writer’s use of this feature enhances your understanding of the central
concern(s) of the text.

'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/g/the-great-gatsby/the-great-gatsby-at-a-glance


http://www.gradesaver.com/the-great-gatsby