GCSE English

Reading Non-fiction

An introduction to non-fiction

GCSE English

Reading Non-fiction

Lessons 1&2

LO: Can I explain what I know

about non-fiction?

Key words: Purpose, Audience, Style

Kinds of

non-fiction

text

News webpage

Political speechBillboard advert

Purposes of

non-fiction

texts.

Examples?

Argue

Inform

Amuse

Delight

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

IN PAIRS•Purpose(s)? Why were the texts created?

•Audience(s)? Are they specific? Can you tell?

http://www.youtube.com

/watch?v=_zHcX9gGCHc

http://www.youtube.com/wa

tch?v=qTkVKifAfmc

http://www.yo

utube.com/wa

tch?v=4cVrjFlt4

hI

http://www.

youtube.com

/watch?v=Ihu

HeI4H00U

http://vimeo.c

om/8758279

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

IN PAIRS •Purpose(s)? Why were the texts created?

•How do they achieve their purpose?

IN GROUPS

Jessica Ennis

autobiography

Information poster

for spectators

•A news report of the event

•A passage from Usain Bolt’s autobiography

describing the victory

•A TV interview with Usain Bolt at the finish line

•A congratulatory announcement by sponsors

•The front page of a newspaper (include a headline,

sub-headline, image and caption)

•A Jamaican novelist’s internet blog describing

watching the race in Bolt’s hometown

IN GROUPS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/oly

mpics/18907995

GCSE English

Reading Non-fiction

Lessons 3&4

LO: Can I comment on language and

presentation in non-fiction texts?

Key words: Summarise, Analyse, Link

Common linguistic devices

• 1st, 2nd or 3rd person

(narrative viewpoint)

• Directly addressing the

reader

• Imperatives (commands)

• Rhetorical questions

• Register - formal/informal

language

• Diction - simple/complex

vocabulary

• Figurative language &

imagery: similes/metaphor/

personification etc.

• Word play & puns

• Alliteration

• Rhyme & rhythm

• Anecdote & allusion

• Slogan & catchphrase

• Statistics & facts

• Exaggeration & hyperbole

• Repetition

• Humour

• Sensory language

• Emotive language

• Punctuation type

• Expert advice

• Short sentences

• Superlatives

• Lists

Kinds of non-

fiction text

and language

features

Inform, Explain, Describe

Analyse, Review, CommentArgue, Persuade, Advise

Explore, Imagine, Entertain

IN PAIRS

You are going to summarise the article.

In pairs, read the article once, then note down the ‘gist’ of it – the main points

you can remember. Concentrate on what you do learn and understand – don’t

worry about what you don’t!

Then, read the article again, and add any information you missed to your notes.

This is a long piece, written about a historical event, using at times complex or

unusual vocabulary. What might help us summarise what we learn from the

article?

Text 1

IN GROUPS

You are going to comment on how the headline, sub-headline and image of this article are effective,

and how they link to the text itself.

Think about…

Headline / sub-headline

•What do headlines always do? What’s their purpose?

•How are they presented? Think about position,

font, size etc. Why?

•Are there any language devices in this headline? What kind of effect might they have?

Image

•What do images do? What’s their purpose?

•How is this image presented? Think about position,

size, colour etc.

•How does the image support a reader’s understanding

of the article?

Text 2

Extension: Can you select 1-2 short quotes from the

article which clearly link to the headlines / image?

ON YOUR OWN

Thought / feeling Quote / explanation

Excitement and fear

Confidence

Uncertainty

Discomfort

Text 3