Reading and Comprehension: Reading for Meaning: Paper 2: AQA: GCSE

Adverb

Adds information to a verb

Determiner

a word that introduces a noun. It always comes before a noun, not after, and it also comes before any other adjectives used to describe the noun.

Stative verb

Describes a state rather than an action.

Noun

A person, place or thing

Pronoun

Replaces a name (he, she, it, them, their, your etc)

Abstract Noun

A thing that does not physically exist like 'love'

Adjective

Describes a noun

Preposition

Shows relation of one thing to another - on, at, in, by

Conjunction

Joins word and clauses: 'and' 'so' 'where' etc.

Present Participle

Verb ending in 'ing' - Walking, talking and jumping and so on

Quantifier

Indicates the amount of the object in the sentence -

"all", "none", "only", or "some"

Modal Verb

A verb that expresses a need or possibility - "must", "should" "will".

Dynamic Verb

Describes an action rather than a state. e.g run, jump, hide.

First Person

A character tells the story and lots of personal pronouns are used.

Second Person

Told from the reader's point of view using "you". Not commonly used by writers.

Third Person

The story is being told by the narrator - she, he and they are used.

Third Peson Limited

The description of events is focused on one character.

Third Person Omniscient

The narrator knows all of the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters.

Unreliable Narrator

The description of events can't be trusted - they may not know the full picture or only choose to portray a certain side to the character.

Observer Narrator

Describes the actions of the characters without displaying knowledge of their interior thoughts and emotions.

Epistorlary

Uses a series of letters and other documents to convey the plot of the story

Stream-of-Consciousness

Narration that attempts to replicate the flow (or jumble) of thoughts and sensory impressions that pass through the mind of a character.

Descriptive Narrative

Narration conveys time and place, mood and tone.

Viewpoint Narrative

Narration is given through the eyes of character.

Historical Narrative

Narration shows the sequence of past events, cause and effect.

Linear Narrative

Narration given in chronological order - the order in which they happened.

Non-Linear Narrative

Narration shows events out of sequence - can jump forwards and backwards in time.

Declarative Sentence

Statements that give information. "This is a piece of paper"

Imperative Sentence

Statements that give orders. "You will stop what you are doing and listen".

Interrogative Sentence

Statements that ask questions. "What time is lunch?"

Exclamative Sentence

Statements that exclaim something with an exclamation mark. "Look at the clock! It's lunch time!"

Short Sentence Length

Create a dramatic effect such as tension in a sentence.

Long Sentence

Used to add lots of descriptive detail in a sentence.

Embedded Clause

Adds detail and description to a sentence using brackets, commas or hyphens.

Simple Sentence

Sentence with one subject and one verb. "The cat purred"

Complex Sentence

Main clause and a subordinate clause is joined with a connective - the subordinate clause doesn't make sense without the main clause. "The big dog barked when I knocked on the door"

Compound Sentence

Two main clauses that are joined with a connective. Both clauses make sense by themselves. "I like bananas and I like grapes"

Topic Sentence

Summarises the information in the paragraph.

Minor Sentence

A single word, phrase or clause that functions as its own sentence.

Subject, Verb, Object Order

The basic word order of main clauses and subordinate clauses in present-day English

Advertisements

Specific messages designed to persuade an influence an audience

Reviews

A critical appraisal of a book, play, film, etc. published in a newspaper or magazine.

Letters

Written communication from one person to another

Diary

A personal, daily account of an individual's experiences and feelings

Blog Post

An individual article entered in a blog with a time and date stamp.

Newspaper Articles

Focuses on one topic or main idea. This might recount and inform of an event, or persuade an audience of the writer's opinions. Usually formal.

Information Leaflet

A printed sheet of paper containing information or advertising and usually distributed free.

Magazine Article

Focuses on one topic or main idea. It's usual purpose is to persuade an audience of the writer's opinions. Usually informal.

Speech

The formal communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words.

Essay

A short piece of writing on a particular subject.

Biography

Story of a person's life written by another person

Autobiography

An account of a person's life written by that person

Travel Writing

A narrative recollection of the insights and valuable experiences of the author during a journey.

Minimum features of a letter

- An Indication that someone is sending the letter to someone -Paragraphs

More detailed features of a letter

- Use of addresses - Date -Dear Sir/Madam - Yours Sincerely/Fathfully

Minimum features of an article

- Use of a title - Paragraphs

More detailed features of an article

- A strapline (seperate to title) - Subheadings for paragraphs - Topic sentences - Counter-argument

Minimum features of a leaflet

- Use of a simple title - Sections or paragraphs

More detailed features of a leaflet

- Bullet points - Inventive subheadings - Sequenced paragraphs

Minimum features of a speech

- Simple introductory address to an audience - Final address to an audience

More detailed features of a speech

- Linked paragraphs - Direct address to the audience - Clear sign of e.g. "thank you for listening"

Minimum features of an essay

- Simple introduction and conclusion - Paragraphs

More detailed features of an essay

- Effective introduction - Convincing conclusion - Sequenced ideas in paragraphs

Minimum features of a review

- Give personal opinion with confidence - Use evidence to support ideas - Paragraphs

More detailed features of a review

- Focuses on strengths and weaknesses - Draws a conclusion saying whether it will be useful/interesting for the audience

Argue

Challenge or debate an issue or idea with the purpose of persuading or committing someone else to a particular stance or action.

Inform

Communicate ideas and information to the audience

Entertain

Use language in a humorous way. Usually combined with explaining, informing or arguing.

Explain

Gather facts and combine with experience to clarify who or what something is.

Persuade

Use appeals of logic, emotion and character to prove a point and influence the audience to think or do something.

Evaluate

Specific kind of argument that argues for the merits of a subject and judges it fairly.

Examples of writing to Inform

newspaper articles, encyclopedia articles, manuals

Examples of writing to explain

Essays, newspaper and magazine articles, information leaflets.

Examples of writing to persuade

Advertisements, debates, speech, letter

Examples of writing to argue

Letter, article, speech

Purpose

The reason why the text is written

Audience

Who the text is intended for

Format

The type of text that has been written

Alliteration

Words that start with the same letter or sound is repeated. Emphasises the point in the sentence.

Anecdote

A personal story or experience as proof.

Anaphora

Repeated start to a sentence "I have a dream... I have a dream"

Facts

A statement that can be proven to be true. "The earth is round"

Opinions

A statement that cannot be proved but is believed by the writer - "English is the best subject"

Rhetorical Question

A question that isn't intended to be answered.

Emotive language

Words that are used deliberately to make you feel a certain way

Statistic

Numbers used as facts and proof to support a point. "there are 191 students in year 7"

Three

The use of using 3 words, or repeating something 3 times to build an image/idea. "We will be brave, we will be strong, we will be faithful"

Declarative

A statement that is declared - "I am a student"

Imperative

A statement that commands you to do something - "You will be quiet!"

Noun

A person, place, thing or emotion

Pronoun

The use of 'I' or 'We' to make a speech personal

Superlatives

Exaggerating something - "the best" or "the worst"

Modal Verbs

A verb that expresses a need or possibility - Must, shall, will, should, could, can, may and might.

Expert Opinions

An opinion or statement that if given by a professional in that field that makes the statement more persuasive. "Dr. Smith says we should eat 5 vegetables a day"

Adjective

Words that describe a noun or pronoun. "The blue door"

Pun

A funny play on words

Oxymoron

Putting two opposite words together

Openings

The start of a text must interest the reader

Focus

This is what the writer focuses on as the text develops

Shifts

Changes in ideas and perspectives, eg outside to inside