IGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE RESOURCE: READING NON-FICTION TEXTS

IGCSE English Language Resource

General Tips: Key Things to Consider

 The heading or title - this should help you decide on the main subject of the text

 Audience - who is the text aimed at (e.g. men or women, adult or youth)?

 Purpose - what is the text trying to do (e.g. inform, persuade, argue or advise)?

 Vocabulary - the kinds of words (nouns) used to give information will also indicate a
particular subject. For example, an article about global warming will include words such as
"environmentalist, carbon footprint, greenhouse gasses and sustainability".

 Attitude - adjectives and intensifiers should tell you what the writer thinks about their
subject. Look for words like "totally brilliant, absolutely ridiculous, complete nonsense,
straight forward common sense".

 Argument - the author will use points to develop their argument. Look for discourse markers
- phrases such as "on the contrary, what is more, and another thing, as a result, in
conclusion".

Remember GAP

Genre/Audience/Purpose

Answering these questions briefly will help:

 Words-Why has the writer used particular words?

 Sentence-Why is the writer using long/short sentences?

 Paragraphs-What is the topic sentence of this paragraph? If I had to give this paragraph a
title, what would it be?

 Meaning of the whole text- Are there any connectives that show me how ideas are linked in
this text?-Does this piece present itself in the usual way for a text of this type or does it do
things differently?-What other writing does it remind me of, or contrast with?-Is there any
other meaning ‘between the lines’ that I have to work out for myself?-What is the character
thinking or feeling? What would I think/feel if I were them?-What does the writer want me
to think at this point?

 Evaluation-Why do I like/dislike what I am reading?-Do I agree with the writer’s point of

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IGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE RESOURCE: READING NON-FICTION TEXTS

Identifying Writing Techniques

 Words: are they simple or difficult, formal or informal?

 Sentences: are they short or long?

 Paragraphs: are they short or long? Are they all the same length, or do some stand out for
emphasis or dramatic effect?

 Personal pronouns: does the text use the personal pronoun 'you' or 'we' to address the
reader? Using 'we' is a technique the text could use to create a close personal relationship.

 Persuasive techniques: does the writer use rhetorical questions (e.g. "Have you ever
wondered what it would be like to be a billionaire?"), groups of three (e.g. "The good, the
bad and the ugly...") or alliteration (e.g. "sizzling sunshine")? These can all be used to
persuade the reader to feel a certain way about something.

 Discourse markers: does the writer use casual, chatty discourse markers (e.g. "anyway, you
know what I mean, so") or more formal ones (e.g. "nevertheless, therefore, however")?

 Emotive vocabulary: are the words colourful (e.g. "extraordinary, teeming, resplendent") or
plain (e.g. "good, full of, organised").

 Exclamations: does the writing sound angry and argumentative (e.g. "This must stop..." or
"We must think again...") or is the writing more thoughtful (e.g. "probably, it might be, on
the other hand").

 Facts and opinions: does the text use lots of facts and statistics or are there more opinions?
Is the text intended to inform or to persuade, review and entertain?

Non-Fiction Writers methods to create effects

 They use language that sounds convincing - this is called rhetorical language.

 They use language that affects your emotions - this is called emotive language.

 The use of the personal pronoun 'you' is called the direct address pronoun: it can be used to
add a personal touch and engages the reader; it sounds friendly, inviting and even confiding
(e.g. 'Have faith in us; you just know it makes sense')

 When used as an inclusive pronoun, 'we' can make the reader seem to be a part of a special
group of people (e.g. 'We're all in this together, aren't we?') ; as an exclusive pronoun it can
separate groups of people (e.g. 'We're working for a better world. Will you help?').

 The use of interesting, short anecdotes adds interest and engages the reader's attention
(e.g. 'Let me tell you about John, a poor beggar in Ethiopia...').

 The use of hyperbole can create a persuasive impact (e.g. 'This earth-shattering event will
blow your mind away!').

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IGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE RESOURCE: READING NON-FICTION TEXTS

 Description creates imagery that can be very engaging and involving, even persuasive. It can
be made very vivid and used to create mood and emotion (e.g. 'Like a sliver of shiny steel,
the white crescent moon cut a gash in the heavens'). Look for the use of effective
metaphors, similes and emotive language.

 Facts and opinions are used to support a writer's point of view or argument, but you must be
able to separate worthwhile from biased facts and facts from factually stated opinions,
always recognising how reasonable and effective the evidence really is.

 Rhetorical questions imply their own answer engage and help to persuade the reader. They
help make a point in a more powerful and emotional way.

 Repetition and lists of three can be effective persuasive devices.

 Personal viewpoint or 'direct address' (when I... / We... speaks to you...) can create a friendly
tone and involve the reader.

 Structure allows an effective build-up of a persuasive series of points.

 Tone - a formal tone can add authority and sound authentic or sincere; an informal, or even
conversational tone can add warmth and fun - it can be very persuasive, too.

 Quotations and evidence from expert sources are used to provide support and create added
authority.

 Sentence style can be varied to add interest - and a very short sentence can add real impact.

Defining Style

 Style describes the ways that the author uses words — the author's word choice, sentence
structure, figurative language, and sentence arrangement all work together to establish
mood, images, and meaning in the text. Style describes how the author describes events,
objects, and ideas.

 Informal -"Nothing like that ever happened," Tony replied.

 Formal-"With great fortune, that happenstance did not become a reality," Tony stated.

 Journalistic-"It did not happen," Tony said.

 Archaic-"Verily, it was a circumstance, to be noted, that appeared not to so much have been
a reality as to have evolved as a thing that had not yet come to be," Tony impelled.

Other Features

 Sentence-structure/length: simple, compound, complex.

 Punctuation: excessive use of commas or semi-colons for pauses; exclamation or question

 Typescript: italics, change of font, capitalisation.

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IGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE RESOURCE: READING NON-FICTION TEXTS

 Voice: first and third are the most common- I, me, my; he, she, they...or a name; second
person is possible- you, singular or plural.

 Use of dialogue: look at ‘said’ words that suggest how the speaker is feeling- e.g.: ‘Stop it!’
he snarled; ‘Stop it!’ she pleaded.

 Detailed description: especially use of adjectives, adverbs or more general evocation of the
senses.

 Use of vocabulary: simple/straightforward, complex, academic, jargon- i.e. vocabulary

 Standard (formal) or non-standard language: slang, colloquial- ordinary or familiar

 Use of paragraphing: how is this related to structure? How does this help develop the line of
argument?

 Grammar: use of verbs, prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, connectives, participles- e.g.:

 Use of tense: present, past, future, in particular. If this changes, why has this been done:
what is the effect?

 Syntax: arrangement of words in a sentence, sometimes inverted for emphasis- e.g.: Rough
was the weather that night; If I were to tell you my secret, you’d faint!

 Literary/ figurative techniques: exactly the same as for an analysis of literature. There are
obviously lots of these, but familiarise yourself with: simile, metaphor, alliteration, sibilance,
pun, personification, onomatopoeia, assonance, hyperbole- as the principal ones!

 Tone/mood: this is of the writer! Is this persuasive, angry, sarcastic, appreciative, sad, happy
etc? How is this mood conveyed? Does the mood change- and if so why? If a passage is
particularly amusing, what sort of humour is it? Eg: ironic, situational, straight, black?