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#9

Integrating context without bolting it on (AO3)

AQA English · Skills

Key steps (method)

  • Start with meaning from the text first (AO1/AO2), then add context to deepen it.
  • Use context as a “because”:
    • This matters because… (Jacobean beliefs / Victorian society / post-war politics)
  • Link context to writer’s purpose (what are they criticising / warning / promoting?).
  • Keep context specific and relevant (one sharp sentence beats a mini-history lesson).

Common mistakes

  • Dumping context at the end of a paragraph with no connection to the quote.
  • Being vague (“back then women had no rights”) without linking to the moment in the text.
  • Getting context wrong or mixing time periods (e.g. confusing 1912 vs 1945 for AIC).
  • Making AO3 the main point and forgetting to analyse the language.

Support videos

Notes