English Structure Features GCSE Flashcards
The start of a text must interest the reader.
Comment on how the writer introduces ideas and raises questions.
openings
This is what the writer focuses on as the text develops.
Analyse what is implied, eg a gloomy landscape implies an unhappy situation - what is causing that unhappiness? What will happen next?
focus
The differences between two things.
Comment on the effect a drastic difference produces.
contrast
When words, phrases or ideas are repeated for effect.
Repetitive features can highlight key meanings, indicate a development or show a lack of change.
repetition or patterns
This could be chronological or writers might choose to start at the end, in the middle, or with flashbacks / flash forwards.
Comment on how the order of events introduces and prioritises key ideas – and how this engages the reader.
order of events
The conclusion of a text may be neat or leave us with questions.
Think about how the reader feels at the end. Have their feelings changed since the opening?
endings
Clues and hints are given without revealing everything at once.
Analyse what is implied by hints – how does this build the reader’s expectations?
withholding information
Conversations and speech.
How does dialogue move the text forward?
Makes the reader feel they are listening to the conversation- make them feel part of the action.
dialogue
Divides the content of texts into topics and sub topics, can signal the start of new points.
How do they guide readers through a text?
headings, subheadings and questions
Varied types of sentences, eg simple, compound and complex.
Comment on how sentence structures affect the fluency of the text, eg a sudden short sentence could reveal shocking information.
sentence structures
These vary like sentences eg, to highlight significant points or to provide a detailed account.
Comment on how paragraph lengths affect the development of the text, eg a final paragraph might summarise key points in an argument.
paragraph lengths
