Where can I practise my close reading skills?

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The following news websites may have some articles of interest. They also have free apps for mobile or tablet.


https://www.theguardian.com/uk


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/




Remember that you should be reading regularly in order to practise for the exam. Five or six longer articles a week would be reasonable, which will boost your vocabulary and your ability to identify language features.

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Walt Kowalski - character development in 'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood

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The following item gives an account of the development of the character of Walt Kowalski in 'Gran Torino'. Reading it may be useful in understanding the sorts of things you could explain in a critical essay. Also, the development of the character of Walt is important in the film, because it goes hand in hand with the development of his relationship with Thao and the development of the theme of respect. Clearly, since this is taken from the internet, it cannot be copied. This would be plagiarism.. A film in which there is a character who becomes a hero is ‘Gran Torino’, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The story is set in modern day Detroit, where the central character, Walt Kowalski, a retired car plant worker and Korean War veteran, struggles to come to terms with the changes in his community. In particular, the plot revolves around his unlikely friendship with Thao, a teenage boy from a Hmong immigrant family. The first time we see Walt is a close up of h
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'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood - analysis of 'sacrifice' sequence

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Below is an example of how someone wrote about 'Gran Torino'. It is an old essay, it answers a specific question, it does not use the PEAR paragraph and it is also very long - you only have forty-five minutes - nonetheless, it may be useful to have a look at it, to get some ideas. Remember that, because this essay appears on the internet, copying it is plagiarism. . Choose a scene or sequence from a film which is particularly dramatic. Describe what happens in the scene or sequence, explaining how the film makers effectively use techniques to create drama. A film in which there is a particularly dramatic sequence is ‘Gran Torino’, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The story is set in modern day Detroit, where the central character, Walt Kowalski, a retired car plant worker and Korean War veteran, struggles to come to terms with the changes in his community. In particular, the plot revolves around his unlikely friendship with Thao, a teenage boy from a
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'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood - 'sacrifice' sequence 'screenplay'

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Evening – It is dark. Low level shot of gang’s flats. Virtually Walt’s point of view. Reverse shot of Walt approaching flats. Sound of crickets, dog barking and people within buildings. Closer shot of flats. Blind moves. Smokie exits door to top of steps, followed by Spider. Smokie and Spider’s point of view shot of Walt.             WALT            Any swamp rats in there? Long shot from behind Walt           SMOKIE           I didn’t think your ass would have came...           WALT           Shut up, gook!   Medium shot of Smokie and Spider Low angled long shot of Walt. Reverse shot – another door opens. Back to low angle reverse shot of Walt.                      WALT           I got nothing to say to you, shrimp d**k midget like you.   Walt’s point of view of Smokie and Spider. Spider pulls his PISTOL. Shot of someone watching from shadows of a balcony. Low angle long shot of Walt.             WALT           Yeah, yeah. Watch out for your boyfriend  
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