Reading non-fiction texts: questions

There are four types of question you might have to answer. These questions ask you to find information, explain your choice, discuss presentational techniques and compare texts.The question on looking for informationThe first type of question tests your understanding of a text.To answer this well you need to do two things:Find the information the question asks for.

Explain why the information you have chosen answers the question.

The key skill tested here is how to summarise an argument. For this you need to identify what the text is about and then decide if the writer thinks the topic is a good or a bad thing.You can do this by looking at:The heading or title- this should help you decide on the main subject of the text.

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".

Tips and trapsWhen reporting what a writer says in a text you should summarise what they say and how you know. Do this by quoting a line of text and saying where it is from.The main points a writer makes tend to come at the end of each paragraph. A good way of checking the overall argument is to compare what the writer says at the end of the first paragraph with what is said at the end of the last one.Be careful about quotations. Lines that are reported and spoken by other people will not always be the opinions of the writer. Look at the adjectives and intensifiers the author uses to work out if the writer agrees or disagrees with the people quoted.

The question on identifying presentational devicesA hand writing the start of an essayThe second question relates to the way the text looks. To get all the marks on this question you need to do two things:Listthe presentational devices the text uses.

Explainwhy these devices are used and what effect they have.

To answer the first part of the question you need be able to recognise presentational devices such as:Headings (titles) and sub-headings

Photos

Pictures

Illustrations

Font size and style (bold, italic etc)

Colour

Layout features (bullets, boxed text)

Structure (short or long paragraphs)

Quotations (things people said either in quotation marks or highlighted in the text)

A good way of revising is to analyse any text you see or read. Pick up a magazine and look at a page at random. You should be able to spot a whole range of devices being used.Why presentational devices are usedThe devices used depend on:Purpose- what the text is trying to do (eg inform, advise, persuade).

Audience- who it is trying to talk to (eg children, adults, men, women).

Choices in layout (such as the use of pictures, diagrams and lists) are made tomeet a specific purposeandcommunicate with a specific audience. Choices in colour and font, for example, can be made to appeal to a specific target group. You might use lively colours and playful fonts in a text for kids and more serious fonts and colours for adults. Different presentational devices create different effects.

Remember: there are three main reasons for using presentational devices: mood, memory, clarity.

MoodA piece of writing will always try to express feelings. The mood created could be fun and excitement (eg in a brochure for a theme park) or perhaps fear and concern (eg in an advice sheet about road safety). The feelings should always be in tune with the target audience.Devices to look out for in mood:Pictures

Fonts

Colour

Quotes

MemoryIf the main purpose of a piece of non-fiction writing is toinform, then it is important that readers find and remember key bits of information. These can include website addresses or phone numbers, advice or statistics.Devices to look out for that are used to aid memory:Bold text

Headlines and sub headings

Bullet points

Diagrams, maps and illustrations

ClarityMost non-fiction texts are written for people in a hurry, so it is important that the purpose and audience of a text is clear. This will make the right people pick it up and read it. The information within the text also needs to be clearly presented otherwise people will stop reading.Devices to look out for to aid clarity:Bold text

Bullet points

Sub-headings

Paragraphs

Colour

Images and captions

Quotes

The question on your understanding of a textLike the first type of question, this question tests your understanding of the text, but while the first type asks for information given in the text (eg facts that you can quote), this kind of question asks you for ideas or feelings that are implied by the text (eg attitudes which are not necessarily clearly stated).You therefore have toinfer meaning, which means reading between the lines, so you need to decide what someone thinks fromhow they say things, not just from what they say.Inferred meaningWe use this kind ofindirect languageeveryday, to give our words a certain effect. An example is when we are sarcastic:"'Mmm, delicious,' she said looking at the solitary sandwich on the table."Even without any context (like where this is happening or who the person is) we know the person does not think the sandwich is delicious. The clue is in the single adjective"solitary". It makes us see the sandwich on its own and suggests the person involved would much rather see several. We might infer the person is hungry or doesn't like sandwiches.The key to understanding the attitude of a text is to consider how the writer feels about the subject.Do they feel good or bad about this subject?

Is it funny or serious?

Are they happy or sad?

When inferring meaning, you might simply know what the writer feels. If it is not clear, then you need to look closely at detail and similes.DetailsWriters often use indirect language. Rather than just describing a scene, they might engage readers by describing how you would see or feel the scene. Feelings will therefore come from the kind of things being described (eg colourful, interesting descriptions with positive associations or used, broken objects with negative associations).SimilesSimiles and metaphors are common techniques for suggesting feelings or attitudes. For example,"He looked like a lion fresh from the jungle". This statement suggests a positive feeling, because we think of lions as big and strong, the kings of the jungle. So the writer is impressed by the person being described.

The question on comparing writing techniquesThere are three steps to answering this question.You need to identify writing techniques used in a text.

You need to say what effects these techniques have - why are they used?

You then need to do the same for another text, saying which techniques and effects are similar and which ones are different.

This means in your answer you will have to write at leastfourparagraphs describing:which writing techniques are used

why these techniques are used

how these are similar or different from writing techniques from another text

why these similar or different writing techniques are used in the other text

Your marks will be spread evenly across these four sections.Identifying writing techniquesThe question is similar to question 2, but instead of identifying presentational devices, you will be identifying and comparing writing techniques. You therefore need to know what writing techniques to look for and why each of them is used. Different techniques will be used to appeal to different audiences or meet different purposes.These are the techniques you should be able to identify: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 (eg"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a billionaire?"), groups of three (eg"The good, the bad and the ugly...") or alliteration (eg"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 (eg"anyway, you know what I mean, so") or more formal ones (eg"nevertheless, therefore, however")?

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

Exclamations: does the writing sound angry and argumentative (eg"This must stop..."or"We must think again...") or is the writing more thoughtful (eg"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?

Exam wisdomWhen you sit down to do the exam, try to remember this checklist:Read through the whole paper (all questions and all three items) before you start writing.

Before you answer each question, read through the related text again. If you are answering more than one question on a text, read the text before answering question 1, then read it again before answering question 2.

Note how many marks you get for each question and use this as a guide for how many points to make in your answer to each question.

Know exactly what the question is asking - which of the four types of question is it? Remember the question will either be aboutfinding information, presentational devices, inferring meaning or explaining language techniques.

Always put your explanations inyour own words. Don't just repeat what a text says or point out the presentational devices used - you must saywhyorhow you knowthis about the text.

Always give evidence to support your explanations - ie, choose the right quotation, presentational device or language technique and quote it in full.

Always link your point to the writer's intention - ie, say how a device or technique meets both the text's purpose and audience.

Princess Islam