AQA English Language Unit One

Understanding and Producing Non-Fiction Texts

QUESTION 4

Main menu: overview of question four what is CLIF? modelled example using CLIF how to plan your answer question 4 exemplar skills checklist mini-assessment

Overview

Question 4 involves comparing the presentational features used in two sources of your choice. This is question where you should be able to pick up a lot of marks if you make sure that you have the right focus and only write about presentational features.

You are being assessed on identifying presentational features and commenting on their effects on the audience.

Key information

only write about the two sources referred to in the question

this question is worth a total of 12 marks

you need to score a minimum of 8 marks to gain a C grade

make sure you write about Colours Layout Images Fonts (CLIF)

spend about 20mins on this question, including planning

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What is CLIF?

CLIF is a useful way of remembering to write about the four main presentational features used in most texts.

It stands for:

Colours – are there contrasts? Are there connotations? What is the impact on the audience? How do colours match the message?

Layout – how is the information arranged on the page? Are there any sections? Are bullet points used? What is in the background?

Images – are real photographs used? What are the picture of and why? Can you comment on what is shown and its effect?

Fonts – what colour, shape, style and size are the fonts and what is the effect on the reader? (you can simply describe the style)

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Modelled example using CLIF

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The following text is adapted from the June 2011 Foundation Level exam.

Look at how the CLIF is used to provide an analysis of the presentation.

Colour

Blue links wit the water theme

Layout

Children in background show long distances or contact details are separated

Image

Children chosen to create sympathy

Font

Large ‘O’ like a story being told or first words also in blue

How to plan your answer

In order to make sure that you have covered the main aspects of presentation, write out a brief comparative plan.

The plan should be used to help you structure your answer.

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Comparison Source 1* Source 2*

Colours – contrasts, connotation

e.g. blue links in with water theme

Layout – size, boxes position, background

e.g. contact details helpfully separate

Images – pictures, photographs

e.g. children shown to create sympathy

Fonts – colour, style, bold

e.g. first letter ‘o’ like a story being told

* You choose sources to compare

Activity: choose another source to complete the table

Question 4 exemplar

Activity: Write two more Point Evidence Comment paragraphs that explain how the writer uses language to describe.

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Choose 2 sources

Use bullet points to help Source 1 uses the colour blue several time in the advert.

The title heading ‘Wateraid’ is in light blue and so is the picture

of the two children. This colour helps to link in with the theme of

water and to remind the audience that in some parts of the world

it is difficult to get fresh water. In contrast, source ______ uses

the colour _______

Skills Checklist

What you need to do:

plan using CLIF headings

make 3-4 points about presentation features

give 3-4 comments on effects of devices

use 3-4 comparisons or links made

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January 2012Time Allowed 20mins

Look again at Source 1 and Source 3. Compare the way that both texts use presentational features for effect.

Remember to:

write about the way the sources are presented explain the effect of the presentational features compare the way they look.

(12 marks)

Assessment practice

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