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Analysing Non-Fiction (OCR)
Understanding Non-Fiction Texts
Non-fiction texts are based on factual information and aim to inform, persuade, or describe real events, people, and ideas. They are distinct from fiction, which is imagined or invented.
Purpose: Non-fiction texts are written with a specific purpose in mind. Common purposes include:
To Inform: To provide facts, explain ideas, or give instructions. (e.g., news reports, articles, textbooks, instructions)
To Persuade: To convince the reader to agree with a particular viewpoint or take action. (e.g., opinion pieces, speeches, advertisements, reviews)
To Describe: To create a vivid picture of a person, place, event, or idea. (e.g., travel writing, biographies, descriptive essays)
To Advise: To offer guidance or recommendations. (e.g., advice columns, self-help articles)
To Entertain: While primarily factual, some non-fiction can also be entertaining. (e.g., humorous essays, travelogues)
Audience: Writers consider their intended audience when writing non-fiction. The audience can influence:
Language: Formal or informal, complex or simple vocabulary.
Tone: Serious, humorous, critical, supportive.
Content: Level of detail, background information provided, types of examples used.
Form/Genre: Non-fiction comes in many forms. Understanding the form helps you analyse the text:
Articles: News reports, features, opinion pieces, reviews.
Speeches: Political speeches, persuasive talks, presentations.
Letters: Formal letters, open letters, personal letters (if used for non-fiction purposes).
Autobiographies/Biographies: Accounts of a person's life.
Travel Writing: Accounts of travel experiences.
Essays: Formal or informal discussions of a topic.
Websites/Blogs: Online content, often with a specific purpose and audience.
Leaflets/Brochures: Informational or persuasive documents, often for a specific organisation or cause.
Key Analytical Skills for Non-Fiction
When analysing non-fiction, focus on these key elements:
Purpose: What is the writer trying to achieve? (Inform, persuade, describe, advise, entertain?)
How to identify purpose: Look at the overall message, the type of text, the language used, and the intended audience.
Audience: Who is the text written for?
How to identify audience: Consider the publication/source, the language level, the content, and any direct address to the reader.
Context: When and where was the text written? What are the surrounding circumstances or events?
How to identify context: Look for dates, locations, references to events, and consider the historical, social, or cultural background.
Form/Genre: What type of non-fiction text is it? (Article, speech, letter, etc.)
How to identify form: Consider the layout, structure, typical features of the genre, and where you found the text.
Language: How does the writer use language to create effects and achieve their purpose? Consider:
Vocabulary: Formal/informal, specialised, emotive, descriptive.
Sentence Structure: Short/long sentences, varied sentence types (declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, imperative).
Figurative Language: Similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, irony, etc.
Rhetorical Devices: Rhetorical questions, repetition, parallelism, lists of three, direct address.
Tone: The writer's attitude towards the subject and audience (e.g., serious, humorous, sarcastic, angry, passionate, objective).
Bias: Is the text presented in a balanced way, or does it favour a particular viewpoint?
Structure: How is the text organised? How does the structure contribute to the writer's purpose? Consider:
Headings and Subheadings: How do they guide the reader and organise information?
Paragraphing: How are paragraphs used to develop ideas?
Topic Sentences: Do paragraphs have clear topic sentences?
Chronological Order: Is the text arranged in time order?
Logical Order: Are ideas presented in a logical sequence (e.g., cause and effect, problem and solution)?
Opening and Closing: How does the text begin and end? What effect do these sections create?
Tone and Viewpoint: What is the writer's attitude and perspective?
How to identify tone: Look at word choices, sentence structure, and overall feeling conveyed.
How to identify viewpoint: Consider the writer's background, stated opinions, and what perspective is presented (or omitted).
Bias and Objectivity: Is the text objective and balanced, or does it present a biased perspective?
How to identify bias: Look for loaded language, selective use of evidence, emotional appeals, and consider if alternative viewpoints are acknowledged or dismissed.
Specific Techniques and Devices
Familiarise yourself with these common techniques used in non-fiction writing:
Rhetorical Questions: Questions asked for effect, not requiring an answer, to engage the reader and make them think.
Example: "Surely, we can all agree that education is important?"
Repetition: Repeating words, phrases, or sentence structures for emphasis and to create a memorable effect.
Example: "We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them on the landing grounds, we will fight them in the fields and in the streets..."
Parallelism: Using similar grammatical structures to create a sense of balance and rhythm, and to emphasise ideas.
Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
Lists of Three (Tripling): Presenting ideas in groups of three for emphasis and memorability.
Example: "Friends, Romans, countrymen..."
Direct Address: Speaking directly to the reader using "you" or "we" to create a personal connection and engage them.
Example: "You might be wondering..."
Emotive Language: Words and phrases that evoke emotions in the reader (e.g., anger, sadness, joy, fear).
Example: "The heartbreaking scenes of poverty shocked the nation."
Statistics and Facts: Using numerical data and verifiable information to support claims and add credibility.
Example: "Studies show that 80% of teenagers..."
Anecdotes: Short personal stories used to illustrate a point and make the text more relatable.
Example: "Let me tell you about a time when I..."
Expert Testimony/Quotes: Using the words or opinions of experts to lend authority to an argument.
Example: "According to Dr. Smith, a leading scientist..."
Humour/Irony/Sarcasm: Using humour, irony (saying one thing but meaning the opposite), or sarcasm (bitterly mocking) to engage the reader or make a point.
Imagery and Figurative Language: Using similes, metaphors, personification, etc., to create vivid images and make abstract ideas more concrete.
