REVISION GUIDE

IOCS

This revision guide is here to give you ideas on how you can prepare for the IOCS in addition to what you are doing with your teacher in class.

Individual Oral Commentary – 15%

THE BASICS

So what will happen and when?

You will have been given a time and date for your IOC – so either on Tuesday the 26th October or Wednesday 27th you will have your IOC.

  1. 10 minutes before your preparation time please wait by the stairs at the entrance to the English corridor. DO NOT ENTER THE ENGLISH CORRIDOR UNTIL YOUR ARE ASKED TO DO SO. You could interrupt the students who are preparing if you do so. So if your preparation time is at 8.50 arrive at 8.40.
  2. Just before your preparation time the supervisor will come and get you and bring you into the corridor. You will then be given an envelope with your extract in.
  3. You will take a seat and have lined paper for notes.
  4. When your preparation time starts you can annotate around the extract as it will be A3 or you can write on the separate lined paper
  1. You can also bring to the IOC highlighters/pencils and pens but in a plastic transparent bag.
  2. There will be two clocks at either end of the corridor for you to check the time.
  3. When the preparation time is finished is over your teacher will come to get you and take you to the room for the IOC .
  4. When you enter the exam room your teacher will let you get settled and explain everything to you.
  5. You should aim to comment on your extract for between 10-12 minutes.
  6. At the end of your commentary your teacher will ask you a few questions.
  7. Remember this is just a chance to show us what you know and have learnt. Try to relax we only want you to do your best .

Good Luck

NB:

IF YOU ARE ILL ON THE DAY – YOU MUST OBTAIN A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

TEXT CHOICES

Genre / Shakespeare
Text - play / Poetry or prose
Mr Astley / ‘Othello’ / S.Heaney
MS Burrows / ‘Othello’ / Wilfred Owen Siegfried Sassoon
MS Evans / ‘Othello’ / Wilfred Owen Siegfried Sassoon
Ms Hasell / ‘Othello’ / The Bluest Eye
Ms Lee / ‘Othello’ / The Bluest Eye
Ms Piavanini / ‘Othello’ / William Blake
Mr Rodgers / ‘Othello’ / Seamus Heaney
Ms Tansill / ‘Othello’ / Owen/Heaney
Ms Van Dorsselaer / ‘Othello’ / The Bluest Eye
Mr Walker / ‘Othello’ / The Bluest Eye

Contents

  1. Suggested structure for IOC -
  2. Samples IOCS to assist with revision
  3. Websites /study guides suggestions.

We also expect you of course to be making your own notes using your class notes in areas such as ......

Social, historical and geographical context of the text

Events – timelines etc more appropriate for novel/play

Character notes/character interaction

Themes/symbols/motifs

Style guides ( techniques used by each writer) – e.g. techniques used by Shakespeare such as dramatic irony or symbolism used by Morrison and Owen.

Help Sheet for Individual Oral Commentary

Generic Sheet for all texts

Opening of commentary

Start – name/candidate number. E.g.

  1. My name is Kevin Cheung and my candidate number is
  1. Locate it in the text

I have been given an extract from the play ‘Othello’. This is at the beginning of the play where Shakespeare establishes Iago’s character as
This is towards the end of novel when …….

3.Also consider what has just happened in the text and/or what is about to occur. You could consider parallel scenes within your text too.

Just before this incident Morrison has in flashback shown the reader Cholly’s first sexual experience as an adolescent. She repeatedly makes links this in the rape scene.
Shakespeare has built up a sense of expectation and tension at this point in the play by ……..

4.Give an explanation of the writer’s intention/purpose

Morrison is introducing the theme of racial self loathing by………
The reader is aware of Pecola’s role as a victim……….
Shakespeare is attempting to show the turmoil and indecision in Othello’s mind
  1. Consider how the piece has moved between the first and last line and why this is significant to the text/extract as a whole.

The beginning and end focuses on Pecola – ‘Her small back’ and ‘the pain between her legs’ . The reader is drawn
At the beginning of this extract Iago appears genuine and loyal. Yet by the end the audience has become aware of his malevolent intentions to …..

This addresses criteria 1/2

Section 2 of your commentary

If you have not already done so address one of the guiding questions. You could explain your approach e.g.

SIGNPOSTING– tell the examiner/teacher where you are going or how you will structure your talk.

My commentary will firstly explore how Shakespeare shows the development of Iago’s character within this scene.
My commentary will initially focus on Morrison’s theme of beauty and how it is illuminated within the prose.
  1. You can approach this in a variety of different ways but may students feel comfortable working through the extract chronologically. E.g. from the first line until the end of the passage/extract.

As you work through the extract try to relate your point to the questions and show your knowledge of the – e.g.

  • Text
  • Characters
  • Themes
  • writing style

This list is not exhaustive

Below are some examples of what you can say

Text –

You must know the text extremely well.
Have a sound awareness of the social, historical and geographical setting and events within the text.
Ask yourself and classmates certain questions e.g.
  • What were the social norms of the time and what were Elizabethean attitudes towards race?
  • When historically is ‘Othello’ set?
  • What is the significance of the different settings of Cyprus and Venice?
  • What was happening in the 1940s in America?
  • What does white supremacy mean?
  • How well do you know what Morrison has said about her intentions?

Characters

Ask yourself questions in the prep time

  • Does the character develop in the extract?
  • Or does the audience/reader become aware of an aspect of the character that they had not witnessed before?
  • Consider too character interaction?
  • Who is dominant/subservient perhaps?
  • Who is controlling/manipulative? Iago often flatters Othello
  • How is the dialogue structured to highlight this?
  • Consider obvious points like who talks more.
  • Consider carefully choice of language – especially with someone like Iago. Iago.
  • Consider use of pauses/question marks/exclamation marks etc
  • Consider why Shakespeare has given a character a soliloquy
  • Does their speech show their status/self image ?
  • Consider use of formal and informal language? How does Shakespeare show Iago is eloquent?
Comment – The pace of the dialogue shows how tense the characters are …..

Themes

Look carefully at the extract is there a theme or reoccurring symbol/image that appears either in the piece or elsewhere in the text?
Review your notes before the practice commentaries and the actual assessment.
Comment - The theme of a character’s mental state affecting the physical appears in this extract. Morrison repeatedly uses this in the novel to …….

Style

Below are additional ideas to help with the commentaries . If you comment on literary style never do it in isolation.

Sentence structure –

  • Consider – length
  • Clauses
  • Word order

Desdemona uses the term ‘noble’ before ‘father’ to show respect and to diplomatically flatter Brabantio before she states her new loyalty to her husband. ( Importance of word order)

Atmosphere – creation of

  • Consider
  • Suspense
  • Tension
  • Climax

At the end of this scene tension is heightened as Othello seems determined to kill his new bride.

Use of diction

Consider

  • Lexis– romantic/elaborate/graphic/vivid/colloquial
  • Standard – consider Morrison’s use of non standard American English
  • Use of colour –
  • Biblical/mythical – allusions

Morrison’s choice of lexis within the extract is intentionally confronting with phrases such as ‘He wanted to fuck her’ .

Figures of Speech

  • Metaphors/similes/personification etc
  • Symbols

Narrative

  • First/third person – styles in narrative – stream of consciousness
  • Internal monologue
  • Tone

The sarcastic tone in Morrison’s narrative , ‘He bestowed his favors on a fifteen-year-old girl’ shows her authorial perspective.

Word Sound

  • Alliteration/assonance/rhythm etc – important in all texts. Morrison uses alliteration repeatedly to draw attention to images which often show characters’ emotions.

Morrison’s use of sibilance in ‘his soul seemed to slip down’ intensifies Cholly’s feelings of self loathing and disgust ; ‘burned-out back man’.

Paragraphs/blank verse/speeches – monologues/soliloquies

  • Consider length of paragraphs for example .
  • Consider when Shakespeare uses blank verse or poetic verse.

Experimentation in Language

This is very pertinent in terms of Morrison. She uses

  • a variety of voices.
  • Accent/dialect
  • Non standard sentences

Morrison’s use of Black American English ; ‘You rich Miss Marie?’ adds to the realism of the text and here shows Pecola’s respect for the women as elders.

Revision Guide – Othello

Help Sheet for Individual Oral Commentary: Generic Sheet for all texts

Opening of commentary: name/candidate number:

  1. My name is Kevin Cheung and my candidate number is…
  1. Locate it in the text

I have been given an extract from the play Othello. This is at the beginning of the play where Shakespeare establishes Iago’s character as…
And summarise the extract.

3. Also consider what has just happened in the text and/or what is about to occur. You could consider parallel scenes within your text too.

Shakespeare has built up a sense of expectation and tension at this point in the play by...
This scene reminds of / prepares us for…
  1. Give an explanation of the writer’s intention/purpose

Shakespeare is attempting to show the turmoil and indecision in Othello’s mind…
  1. Consider how the piece has moved between the first and last line and why this is significant to the text/extract as a whole.

At the beginning of this extract Iago appears genuine and loyal. Yet by the end the audience has become aware of his malevolent intentions to …..

Section 2 of your commentary

If you have not already done so address one of the guiding questions. You could explain your approach:

SIGNPOSTING – tell the examiner/teacher where you are going or how you will structure your talk.

My commentary will firstly explore how Shakespeare shows the development of Iago’s character within this scene…
  1. You can approach this in a variety of different ways but may students feel comfortable working through the extract chronologically. E.g. from the first line until the end of the passage/extract. You must deal with the first and last lines of the passage.

As you work through the extract try to relate your points to the questions and show your knowledge of the play – e.g.

  • Text
  • Characters
  • Themes
  • Writing style

Text –

You must know the text extremely well.
Have a sound awareness of the social, historical and geographical setting and events within the text.
  • What were the social norms of the time and what were Elizabethan attitudes towards race?
  • What is the significance of the different settings of Cyprus and Venice?

Characters

Ask yourself questions in the prep time

  • Does the character develop in the extract?
  • Or does the audience become aware of an aspect of the character that they had not witnessed before?
  • Consider too character interaction?
  • Who is dominant/subservient perhaps?
  • Who is controlling/manipulative? Iago often flatters Othello
  • How is the dialogue structured to highlight this?
  • Consider obvious points like who talks more.
  • Consider carefully choice of language – especially with someone like Iago. Iago.
  • Consider use of pauses/question marks/exclamation marks etc
  • Consider why Shakespeare has given a character a soliloquy
  • Does their speech show their status/self image?
  • Consider use of formal and informal language? How does Shakespeare show Iago is eloquent?
  • Emotional Content
  • Prosodic Features – effect on audience
Comment – The pace of the dialogue shows how tense the characters are …..

Themes

Look carefully at the extract is there a theme or reoccurring symbol/image that appears either in the piece or elsewhere in the text?
Review your notes before the practice commentaries and the actual assessment.
Comment - The theme of a character’s mental state affecting the physical appears in this extract.

Style

Below are additional ideas to help with the commentaries. If you comment on literary style never do it in isolation.

Sentence structure –

  • Consider – length
  • Clauses
  • Word order

Desdemona uses the term ‘noble’ before ‘father’ to show respect and to diplomatically flatter Brabantio before she states her new loyalty to her husband. (Importance of word order)

Atmosphere – creation of

  • Consider
  • Suspense
  • Tension
  • Climax

At the end of this scene tension is heightened as Othello seems determined to kill his new bride.

Use of diction

Consider

  • Lexis– romantic/elaborate/graphic/vivid
  • Use of colour –
  • Biblical/mythical – allusions

Figures of Speech

  • Metaphors/similes/personification etc
  • Symbols

Word Sound

  • Alliteration/assonance/rhythm etc – important in all texts.

blank verse/speeches – monologues/soliloquies

  • Consider length of paragraphs for example.
  • Consider when Shakespeare uses blank verse or prose.

SAMPLE IOCS – OTHELLO

Sample 1

IAGO

O, sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him: 40

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters

Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark

Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,

That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,

Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,45

For nought but provender, and when he's old, cashier'd:

Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are

Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,

And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,50

Do well thrive by them and when they have lined

their coats

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;

And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,55

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:

In following him, I follow but myself;

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,

But seeming so, for my peculiar end:

For when my outward action doth demonstrate 60

The native act and figure of my heart

In compliment extern, 'tis not long after

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

RODERIGO

What a full fortune does the thicklips owe 65

If he can carry't thus!

IAGO

Call up her father,

Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,

Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,70

Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,

Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,

As it may lose some colour.

RODERIGO

Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud.

IAGO

Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell 75

As when, by night and negligence, the fire

Is spied in populous cities.

RODERIGO

What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!

IAGO

Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves!

Look to your house, your daughter and your bags!80

Thieves! thieves!

BRABANTIO appears above, at a window

BRABANTIO

What is the reason of this terrible summons?

Standard

  1. In what ways does this scene define the role of Iago?
  2. What is revealed about the relationship between Roderigo and Iago in this extract?

Higher

  1. How does Shakespeare convey Iago’s character though his use of language?
  2. What themes are illustrated through Shakespeare’s choice of imagery?

SAMPLE 2

IAGO

Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply 270

may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; for

even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to

mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true

taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. So

shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by 275

the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the

impediment most profitably removed, without the

which there were no expectation of our prosperity.

RODERIGO

I will do this, if I can bring it to any

opportunity. 280

IAGO

I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel:

I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

RODERIGO

Adieu.

Exit

IAGO

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; 285

That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:

The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,

And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too; 290

Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin,

But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof 295

Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,

Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong 300

That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,

If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb-- 305

For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too--

Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.

For making him egregiously an ass