2. Section A Reading non-fiction

3. Hints and tips Spend about 50 minutes on this section 40 marks for 4 questions. Therefore 10 marks for each question – each point you make should gain a mark highlight key words in questions use brief quotations from the text to support your answers try to gauge the tone of the text – serious, sympathetic, supportive, antagonistic, cynical, mocking, satirical, ironic never make vague, generalised comments about pictures and layout eg. ‘ The headline is in bold to make it stand out. ’

4. Types of question Pair of texts (1 non fiction, 1 media) Non fiction texts may include: factsheets, leaflets, letters, extracts from autobiographies, biographies, diaries. Media texts may include: advertisements, reports and articles from newspapers, magazines, brochures. Visual material will always be included.

5. Skills being tested Listing points selected from texts Explaining viewpoints and attitudes found in texts Analysing persuasive techniques Cross-referencing information and ideas

6. Finding/listing information According to the article, what are the attractions and benefits of_______? According to the factsheet, what are the effects of_______?

7. Explaining and summarising What impressions does the article create of_______? What are the writer ’ s attitudes to_____? What kind of person is this advertisement aimed at? What evidence can you find to support your views?

8. Analysing persuasive techniques What attitudes to______ is the article trying to encourage? How does it try to encourage these attitudes? How does the brochure try to persuade the reader to_______? What image of _________is presented in the factsheet? How is this image created?

9. Comparing texts Compare the way the two texts tell you about___. Which do you think is the more convincing: the article or the advertisement – and why? Which aspects of these texts do you find effective in influencing your views on_____?

10. Irony and satire In non fiction texts, irony often sounds like mocking or sarcasm. Satire is the use of ridicule, irony, sarcasm etc. specifically to expose/attack an individual or organisation. Get used to spotting these – engage completely with the text to get a ‘ feel ’ for the tone.

11. Fact and opinion Quick reminder – facts can be proven (most obvious is use of statistics, figures etc.) whereas opinion cannot. Sometimes the differences can be blurred: “ The London Marathon is the world ’ s greatest marathon. ” “ The London Marathon boasts the largest number of entrants of all leading marathons. ” It is important to be able to say how facts and opinions are persuasive in different ways e.g. facts lend authenticity and authority to an argument whereas opinions can appeal to the reader ’ s sense of obligation, emotions etc. Opinions can be just as emphatic (powerful) as facts.