How to Write an Igcse Empathic Writing

IGCSE Literature (English) Empathic Tasks Guidance Notes, Grade Descriptors and Sample Answers Introduction Empathic tasks (sometimes known as ‘empathetic’ or ‘creative response’ tasks) address the same assessment objectives as the essay and passage-based questions. They are intended to test knowledge, understanding and response; but they give the candidate the opportunity to engage more imaginatively with the text, by the assumption of a suitable ‘voice’, i.e. manner of speaking, for the character concerned. Empathic tasks are not set on poetry texts. Empathic tasks carry the same weighting as the other tasks on the papers. There is no requirement that candidates must answer an empathic question. (In choosing questions for the paper as a whole, candidates should check that they are fulfilling the general rubric requirements as stated in the syllabus and on the front cover of the question paper.) Knowledge Candidates will be asked to explore a specific moment through the eyes of one particular character in the set novel/ play/ short story. As well as showing knowledge of the incident concerned, depending on the particular task it may be helpful if candidates demonstrate some awareness of what has led up to it. Their identification with the character might also be conditioned by their awareness of what happens to the character later in the novel/play (if that is appropriate to the task), though this will probably not be referred to specifically. Through their responses, candidates are expected to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the text and the character; but the tasks are not invitations merely to re-tell a story. Understanding An empathic task is designed also to test the candidate’s understanding and interpretation of a character and that character’s usual responses, and will make inferences about what s/he might be thinking or feeling about a particular situation. Good answers will be conditioned by an