1
Feature-spotting — listing poetic and dramatic techniques without showing how they shape meaning
“There is a tendency for some candidates to identify poetic techniques (such as the ubiquitous asyndetic listing, enjambment, caesura, and rhyme scheme) as if these in and of themselves convey meaning. There is a need for candidates to explain clearly why these techniques are significant and to consider whether or not they actually matter in terms of shaping meaning.”— 9ET0 Paper 3, June 2023
How to fix: For every technique you name: (1) anchor it in a precise quotation, (2) explain the effect on meaning in relation to the question. Naming caesura or enjambment without showing how it shapes the poem's argument earns no credit. The best answers, examiners note, identify how techniques 'help to convey the overall message of the poem' rather than just listing them.