1
Narrating or 'telling the story' of a poem or novel instead of analysing the writer's methods
“Weaker candidates tended to narrate or simply ‘tell the story’ of the poem. These responses did not develop much past the idea of the speaker’s anger or frustration at their neighbours and/or did not explore the writer’s methods in support of their explanations.”— 4ET1 Paper 1, June 2023
How to fix: Never write what the speaker, character or plot does in chronological order. Instead, plan 3–4 selected moments that illuminate the question's key word and analyse HOW the writer creates the effect. Each paragraph: name the writer's method (imagery, dialogue, stage direction, structural shift, narrative viewpoint), embed a short quotation, then zoom in on a specific word and explain its effect. After every paragraph, ask: 'Have I retold what happens, or have I analysed how the writer presents it?' If you have only summarised, rewrite.