Read the following text, which is an article promoting 'forest bathing' from National Geographic website. The secret to mindful travel? A walk in the woods Visit these four destinations to practice the Japanese art of forest bathing. Whether you call it a fitness trend or a mindfulness practice (or a bit of both), what exactly is forest bathing?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] Mark according to the levels of response marking criteria in Table A.
2. [10] Additional guidance: The comments below are illustrative and are not intended to be exhaustive. Candidates may makeother valid comments that should be credited.
3. [10] Responses might feature the following: form, audience, purpose, style, conventions, language and structure will be appropriately adapted to suit task; content may include personal thoughts, feelings and reflections; tone will be used to have an impact on the reader and to create an effect.
4. [15] Mark according to the levels of response marking criteria in Table B.
5. [15] Additional guidance: The comments below are illustrative and are not intended to be exhaustive. Candidates may make other valid comments that should be credited.
6. [15] Candidates may organise their response in any appropriate way. They are not required to focus on form, structure and language in separate sections.
7. [15] Candidates might compare and analyse the following Form: the typical text conventions used in the original article and the candidate's own blog post; the ways in which the different purposes affect the content and style of the two texts; the ways in which the article and the blog post appeal to their respective intended audiences, e.g. through the tone and register used in each text; any other relevant aspects of the form of the two texts.
8. [15] Candidates might compare and analyse the following Structure: the ways in which headings and short/long paragraphs or sections are used in each text; beginning the article with a question and answer (hypophora) in the title; the way in which the article is structured around a general informative introduction and four sections each detailing a different location for the practice of forest bathing any other relevant structural features in the texts.
9. [15] Candidates might compare and analyse the following Language: the use of direct address of the reader; inclusive first person plural narrative voice/point of view; factual information about forest bathing and each of the highlighted locations, e.g. 2000 miles of hiking trails; lexical fields of health (antioxidants, vitamin C, essential oils, mindfulness); forests (evergreens, balsam, pine, fall foliage, rainforest, Kauri, cedars); environments (Rift Valley, safari, remote island location, Arenal Volcano, Lake Placid, hiking trails); adjectives used throughout (unforgettable, sacred); vocabulary choices to enhance how beneficial the practice can be in such places – paradise, sensory immersion, ample room, rich in, award-winning, protected forest reserve; language of reassurance about safety – certified forest therapy guides; the Local Tips section; alliteration - living legends, fall foliage; any other relevant language features used in the text.