2. Learning Objectives
To understand the common mistakes after an
comprehension answer has been written.
To be able to justify that an answer is correct –
grammatically and accurately.
This lesson completes the whole range of skills
needed for comprehension success.
3. Introduction
Now that you have understood the text, applied
your vocabulary and general knowledge to
solve the questions, you get the marks right?
WRONG!
At this stage, it is by no means GUARANTEED
that you will earn the marks. At least not yet.
You still need to apply Error Analysis to your
answers.
4. After you have written your ans...
Your answers still need to be analysed for two
main points:
Whether you have fullfilled the requirements of
the question AND,
that you have answered in grammatically correct
language.
Only after you are satisfied that you have fulfilled
the above requirements would you stand a
chance for earning that well-deserved marks.
5. Importance of Error Analysis
It is all too common to see students' answers
hitting the right key words . . . almost.
In this case, as there're no half-mark (½ M)
awarded for any comprehension answer, you
will be given zero instead!
So, it will be a waste to see your efforts go to
waste of you do not practice error analysis.
Fortunately, error analysis takes little time and
can be completed in less than 10 mins for all Q.
6. Error Analysis Skills
You have learnt about the 4 question types. As a
recap of their requirements:
1)D – answers text-lifted, minimal changes needed
2)K – general, vocab knowledge & inference
3)V – Text's key points paraphrased
4)L – figurative language's literal and its application
as literary device explained. Association and some
paraphrase needed.
7. Error Analysis Skills – Step 1
Check whether you have fulfilled the unique
requirements of each question type
For e.g., if you do not use your own words
when answering V(I) questions, you know that
you will not get your marks.
Or when a Q question asks you for a word and
you quoted two, zero marks will be awarded.
So, remember these requirements. Of course,
identifying them early helps. The guideline is to
write the Q Type down BEFORE answering
them to remind you of their requirements.
8. Error Analysis Skills – Step 2
Now that you're sure that the answers fulfill the
Q's requirements, you need to check for
language errors.
These are the most common mistakes:
1)Tenses,
2)Spelling,
3)Subject-verb agreement (SVA) &
4)Punctuation (in this order)
9. Error Analysis Skills – Step 2
Tenses – as a general guideline, the tenses
depend on the question's tense itself. IF a
question is worded in past tense, your answer is
expected to be in the past as well.
Spelling – in hastiness, you may spell words
wrongly.
SVA – check that all your subjects agree with
the verbs ('The author is' not 'the author were')
Punctuation – Quoting something from the text
requires a comman, then quotation marks “ ”
(For e.g., The word is, “tonic”.)
10. Learning Activity
Read the answer below & correct it to suit the
question.
Beads of sweat were rolling down Oscar's forehead,
and into his eyes. This was the third time in three
days that he was late for school. His classmates had
just started strolling into class. Scanning around, he
inched his way along the windowsill, waiting for the
right time to slide into his seat.
What does the expression 'scanning around' tell us
about Oscar's movements? (2 marks)
a) He was careful and quiet.
11. Learning Activity Answers
Beads of sweat were rolling down Oscar's forehead,
and into his eyes. This was the third time in three
days that he was late for school. His classmates had
just started strolling into class. Scanning around, he
inched his way along the windowsill, waiting for the
right time to slide into his seat.
What does the expression 'scanning around' tell us
about Oscar's movements? (2 marks)
a) He was being quiet and careful in his movements
as he was trying to avoid detection.
(Inference not fully applied)
12. Discussion
How do we check our answers?
When can we be satisfied with our answers
knowing that we have tried our best?
13. Discussion
We check our answers:
To see whether it fits the requirements of the
question type. Some of the requirements are
whether to copy and paste (D), paraphrase (V),
infer (K) or associate (L).
We also check for language errors.
We can be satisfied after these two are properly
checked.
14. In summary
Error analysis skills is the final step to ensure
that all your answers have met the questions
requirements as well as as having proper
language.
Mistakes in this stage, after having the correct
answer, will prove disastrous as you will be
penalised for language or half-correct answers.
Depending on the severity of your language
errors or missing points, zero marks may be
awarded.
