S1/ S2
Close
Reading
This booklet will take you through the skills that are needed for
Close Reading, and will also give you a good grounding for
National 5 and Higher English.
It’s a good idea to keep your booklet for reference all
through Senior School!
Below is a checklist of all the different skills you will learn about.
When you feel comfortable with a skill, tick the box next to it. If an
assessment is approaching, and there is something you are still not
sure of, you can ask your teacher and they will be able to give you
specific help with the sections with which you need more practice.
Questions which assess your understanding of ideas:
 Using Your Own Words
 Summarising
 Context
 Linking Questions
Questions which assess your ability to analyse language:
 Word Choice
 Contrast
 Imagery
 Sound
 Sentence Structure
 Tone
 Purpose and Audience
1
UNDERSTANDING QUESTIONS
Questions which check your understanding of the passage are best
answered in bullet points.
Using Your Own Words
You will often be asked to “answer in your own words”. This
means that you need to find the answer to the question in the
passage, but change the main words (Locate and Translate). Your
own words do not need to be better that the ones in the passage;
this simply shows that you understand the writer’s ideas.
Quick practice:
1. I am feeling sad.
________________________________________________________
2. I am very happy.
________________________________________________________
3. The boy ran like a cheetah.
________________________________________________________
4. The girl was beautiful.
________________________________________________________
5. He hated being alone, as it made him miserable.
________________________________________________________
2
Challenge: change as many as you can of the words below into
your own words!
1. I found the whole idea of the costume ridiculous. The fluorescent
colours, the huge, hideous shirt and of course those disgusting shoes!
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. I was so exhausted that I could no longer remain on my feet.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. Her angry outburst had rendered him speechless.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. She crouched silently in the darkness, terrified that someone might hear
her breathing.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. He was over the moon to hear the good news of his daughter’s rescue.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3
6. I strongly disliked the man. He would scream at the top of his voice if he
needed assistance and he was so ungrateful when he received it.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
A few exam-style questions:
1. I wanted to get into the shade quickly, where I wouldn’t be so visible.
In your own words, what reason does the person give for getting into the
shade quickly? (1 mark)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Don’t expect to make any fortunes. What you will do is recycle a truly
astonishing amount of junk, give an amazing amount of pleasure to all kinds of
people, observe all human life wandering past your table, and come home with
a modest profit.
The writer believes several benefits can be gained from car boot sales. In
your own words, explain two of them. (2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. Father and daughter chatted brightly as they strolled hand in hand down the
street heading for school. She was a talkative child and he would egg her on in
her prattle for his own amusement.
In your own words, explain what the man enjoyed about the walk to school
with his daughter. (2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4
4. I’m nocturnal. I love the moonlight, the shadows, the dark places, the
dappled murk. I’m not being poetic. I’m simply being true to my nature, my
nocturnal nature. Like all tarantulas.
In your own words, explain in what way the speaker is “like all tarantulas”.
(1 mark)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. Many of the commentators I hear on television expressing their opinions
about football games leave me cold. I cannot be bothered with their illinformed, pompous and often irrelevant contributions. I usually watch the
games with the sound turned down.
In your own words, explain two reasons why the writer does not like football
commentators. (2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5
Summarising
You may also be asked to summarise ideas from a section of the
passage. This means that you need to write down the main
ideas that are shown in this section of writing in your own
words. The number of points you need to make will be the same as
the number of marks the question is worth, but you can add more to
be on the safe side.
Advice:
1. Read the section of the passage all the way through to be
sure you understand it.
2. Check to see if there are topic sentences at the start of
paragraphs to help you see what the main ideas are.
3. Highlight key ideas.
4. Write down the main ideas in your own words, making sure
that you do not give too much specific information.
For example:
The duo of magicians made a staggering £100,000 in the first month,
but this fell as the show continued because the rabbit escaped from
the hat, the white doves flew away, one assistant broke her leg, and
another sprained an ankle.
Question: Summarise the problems the magicians faced. (3 marks)
Answer: Both performers made a lot of money in the first few weeks, but
began to lose money (1) because props disappeared (1) and employees
became injured. (1)
6
Some questions might ask you to just state the main ideas in a
section of text. For example:
In your own words, summarise what this text is about:
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be
worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were
made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943
copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny.
These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have
overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch
$25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
Incorrect Answers:
1. This text is about pennies.
 This response is too short.
 It does not include key ideas
2. The 1943 copper penny is worth a lot of money. Copper was hard to
get during the war so there aren’t many of them. The 1955 double
die penny is worth a lot too. These pennies were stamped twice on
accident.
 Too much unnecessary information.
 Main idea is not clear.
Correct Answer:
This text is about two very rare and valuable pennies: the 1943
copper penny and the 1955 double die penny.
 Includes key information.
 Doesn’t include unnecessary information
7
Now it’s Your Turn!
By 1984, NASA, the United States space programme, had carried out many
successful flights of the space shuttle. In fact, Americans were beginning to
take the whole NASA programme for granted. Then, the President announced
that the next shuttle would carry a school teacher into space. Hundreds of
teachers from all parts of the country applied for the job. They all wanted to be
“the first teacher in space.” During the next year, these adventurous educators
were tested and examined and trained. At last, the choice was announced. A
teacher from New Hampshire, Christa MacAuliffe, would be the first teacher
astronaut.
Summarise the paragraph above in 4 points:
1. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Many months of preparation and training followed the announcement. First,
Christa went through intensive physical training. She had to be in top
condition for the flight. Then she learned how to operate some of the delicate
instruments on the Challenger space shuttle. Christa planned special lessons,
which she would teach from space. Finally, she trained with the astronauts, so
they could work as a team in space.
Summarise the paragraph above in 4 points:
1. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
8
3. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Many people know what happened on that terrible day in January, 1986. Early
in the morning, the Challenger crew had a good breakfast and discussed their
plans. They made sure they understood all of the work they would be doing
during the flight. Later, they boarded a special van, which carried them to the
shuttle. The weather was rather cold, and some NASA officials wondered if
they should put off the flight. After some discussion, they decided to go
ahead. The Challenger took off over the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. Minutes
later, it exploded in the air. All the crew members died in the crash.
Summarise the paragraph above in 4 points:
1. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
9
Context Questions
These questions will specifically ask you the meaning of a
word which it is unlikely you will have seen before. You have to
work out what it means by looking at the surrounding words
(the context).
These questions are worth 2 marks:
 Correctly identifying what the word means: 1 mark
 Explaining how you worked the meaning out from the
surrounding words: 1 mark.
You can use the formula below to help you structure your
answer:
The word ____________ means ______________________________________.
Its meaning can be worked out from the context, where the word(s) ___________
_______________suggest(s) that _____________________________________
________________________________________________________________.
Questions for Practice:
Using the context formula, explain how you are able to work out the
meaning of the underlined word.
1. Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did
not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10
2. In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Mark found a fifty pound note
on the back seat of the bus.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Though Magda never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite taciturn.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. Megan's friends stupidly cajoled her into drinking too much.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5. John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the enmity
between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. When I arrived twenty minutes late to class, I fabricated some excuse
about my pet hamster being ill.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
11
7. Why should indolent children, who can't be bothered to even pick
themselves up off the sofa or pour themselves their own juice, be
rewarded with a trip to a theme park?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
8. Because we were novices at archery, our instructor decided to begin
with the basics.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
9. John is a real maverick and always likes to do things his own way.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10. It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night because the city
presented us with myriad possibilities of endless fun.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
11. The ornate and delicate work on the bride's gown was a product of
meticulous handiwork.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
12
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
12. The banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
13. Alasdair got along with absolutely everybody because he was a really
amiable sort of guy.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
13
Linking Questions
These questions ask you about the function of a sentence in
the structure of the writer’s argument.
You might be asked about:
 A topic sentence at the start of a paragraph, and how it links
with previous ideas, and/ or ideas in the rest of the paragraph.
 A sentence in the middle of a paragraph, and how it links with
ideas that come before and/ or after.
 A sentence at the end of a paragraph, and how it links with
previous ideas and/ or ideas which come after.
How you structure your answer will depend on the wording of the
question, but below is a formula to help you. This formula deals
with linking back and forward, and you can simply adapt it to suit
your question.
In this sentence, the word(s) “_________________” link(s) back to the idea(s)_______
_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________in the previous section, and the word(s) “__________”
link(s) forward to the idea(s) ______________________________________________
________________________________________________________in the next lines.
A Little Advice:
Words like “but” or “however”
always indicate a change in
argument, so this will help you
gain one mark for the link
forward, if you explain ideas
clearly.
14
Questions for Practice:
Worked Example:
He worked hard when he was young, always putting in long hours. After so many
backbreaking years he wanted to take it easy. In his old age he spent most of his
time fishing.
Q: How does the underlined sentence above perform a linking function? (2 marks)
A: In this sentence, the words “many backbreaking years” link back to the idea that
the man worked tirelessly before retirement in the previous section, (1 mark) and the
words “wanted to take it easy” link forward to the idea that he spent most of his
retirement time relaxing in the next lines. (1 mark)
1. When the sun sank down it was a luxury to sit in the perfumed air and
forget that there was any world but these enchanted islands. It was
such ecstasy to dream, and dream – till you got a bite. A scorpion
bite. Then the first duty was to get up out of the grass and kill the
scorpion; and the next to bathe the bitten place with alcohol and the
next to resolve to keep out of the grass in the future.
Q: How does the underlined sentence above form a linking function? Link forward
and back in your answer, for practice. (2 marks)
A: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. At school, John had shown exceptional promise. He had excelled as a
scholar, as a musician and on the games field; his popularity and talent
had made him an obvious choice for head boy in his last year.
However, his university career made a sad contrast to the years as a
golden boy. A baffling lack of commitment saw him fail his first year
exams, and after a nervous breakdown early in his second year, he
dropped out altogether
Q: How does the underlined sentence above perform a linking function? Link forward
and back in your answer, for practice. (2 marks)
15
A: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Mary Queen of Scots was indeed a beautiful woman. Fine featured with
perfect skin, she matched the beauty found in her portraits. Small and
petite, she fitted perfectly into how women of the period ‘should look’.
Not only her appearance, but her character too, made her perfect queen
material. She was extremely well educated, charming and inspired many
writers.
Q: How does the first sentence of the second paragraph above perform a linking
function? Link forward and back in your answer, for practice. (2 marks)
A: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. She had more life in her than any woman I had ever known of that age.
She could outrun teenagers half her years, and seemed to be always on
the go. That’s what made it all the more shocking when the heart attack
occurred, and her health was lost. From then she became the wizened,
frail old woman she’d always hated.
Q: How does the underlined sentence above perform a linking function? Link forward
and back in your answer, for practice. (2 marks)
A: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
16
5. She was surrounded by well-wishers who told her how beautiful she
was. Everyone seemed to want to take her picture and comment on how
stunning she looked, what a perfect bride she was. Yet inside she had
never felt so alone. No-one asked her how she felt, no-one noticed the
fixed smile and longing gaze.
Q: How does the underlined sentence above perform a linking function? Link forward
and back in your answer, for practice. (2 marks)
A: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
17
ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Word Choice
If you are asked about word choice in a Close Reading paper, then
you need to look for specific words which convey a certain
meaning. It will help if you think about:
 Why has this word been used, rather than another?
 What are the connotations of the word (what does it
suggest), and why is it effective here?
Try to use the formula below to help you structure your answers on
word choice:
The word _________ has connotations of _________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
This adds to the writer’s idea that ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
A Little Advice:
1. You will normally get one
mark for quoting a good
example of word choice, and
one for a good explanation.
2. If your answer is detailed,
you may be able to pick up
more marks!
18
Quick Practice:
What do the words in bold tell us about each character, that the words “walked” or
“sat” would not?
1. Jack limped up the path.
________________________________________________________
2. Alice stormed up the corridor.
_______________________________________________________
3. Joe slumped in the chair.
_______________________________________________________
4. Angie fled from the room.
_______________________________________________________
5. James escaped down the stairs.
_______________________________________________________
6. Rebecca collapsed into the chair.
_______________________________________________________
7. Amanda bounded up the stairs
_______________________________________________________
More Practice:
The following sentences look similar, but the words in bold have
different connotations. Write down the connotations of each word:
1. The jumper was snug.
Connotations: ______________________________________________
2. The jumper was tight.
Connotations: _______________________________________________
19
The following words all denote (mean) a “young person”, but each
has different connotations. What do the following words suggest to
you?
1. Brat
Connotations: _________________________________________________
2. Cherub
Connotations: _________________________________________________
3. Little One
Connotations: _________________________________________________
In the following examples, write down the connotations of the
underlined word, and explain why you think the writer has used
that particular word.
1. After the explosion, I slunk off.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. The air was filled with smoke, and I blundered out of the room.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. There was a lonely boy reading next to a small fire.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. Timothy cowered as Mr O’Brien loomed over him.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5. I felt as though I had not eaten in weeks, and gnawed desperately on
the tough steak, not caring about its texture or flavour.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
20
Now for some practice using the word choice formula:
1. The cold weather revived Kestrel, and she began to kick. Forcing herself
to the surface, she gulped air. Then she saw the low roof of rock
approaching, and ducked back down under water, and was sucked
through the hole.
How does the writer’s word choice show that Kestrel was struggling?
(2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Daniel and Iain walked on through the ghostly whiteness of the frost and
it seemed to them that the night had turned much colder and also more
threatening. There was no noise even of flowing water, for all the
streams were locked in frost.
How does the writer use word choice to create a frightening atmosphere?
(2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. I could have burst into tears at that moment but I managed to control my
feelings. Half an hour afterwards I slunk back to the stable yard with a
sinking heart.
How does the writer use word choice to show that the character is
embarrassed? (4 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
21
4. My guest was lying sprawled on his back. There was a long knife
through his heart which skewered him to the floor.
How does the writer use word choice to show that there has been a violent
attack? (2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. Joanna looked across the classroom at Rosalyn’s new hairstyle and
muttered a sniggering comment to her friend.
What does the writer’s word choice suggest about Joanna’s character?
(2 marks)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
22
Contrast
This is when you will see two opposite things in a sentence. The
writer will put them close to each other to highlight just how different
they are. If you are asked about this, you must comment on both
sides.
For example:
1. The baby was tiny, but it made an awful noise if it was upset.
The contrast here is that a tiny baby, which we would expect to make a small
amount of noise, actually makes a great deal of sound.
Quick Practice:
Explain the contrast in each example:
1. It was a beautiful day outside, but I felt cold and gloomy.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Jack was tall, slim and handsome, but his girlfriend was short and
stalky.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Harry was a fighter. Johnny, on the other hand, was a coward who
would run at the first sign of trouble.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
23
Imagery
If you are asked about imagery, look out for the following
techniques:
o Simile: when two things are compared using the words
“like” or “as”.
 My brother eats like a pig.
o Metaphor: instead of suggesting that one thing is like
another, a writer might suggest that one thing is another.
This kind of comparison is called a metaphor.
 My brother is a pig.
o Personification: this is when a non-human object is given
human qualities.
 The trees waved merrily in the wind.
There is a formula you can use to deconstruct and explain
the effect of an image. This will help you to gain full
marks in a question which asks about this:
This is an example of a simile/ metaphor/ personification. Here, ________
____________________ is being compared to _____________________.
Just as _________________________________________________, so too
the writer is suggesting that ______________________________________.
A Little Advice:
You can usually gain three
marks for one well-explained
image. Check how many
marks your question is worth
before answering, so you
know how much you need to
write.
24
Practice Questions: Group Task
Using the imagery formula, explain how each of the following
images is effective. How quickly can your group finish? Write
your answers on a separate piece of paper.
1. The man came lunging towards me, swinging his hands like a bear.
2. She was running around like a headless chicken.
3. The old car coughed and spluttered into life.
4. The wind roared through the forest.
5. He was as white as a sheet.
6. Your room is a pigsty.
7. She shot daggers from her eyes.
8. I had butterflies in my stomach.
9. I felt like a fish out of water.
10. He just sits around all day. He’s a couch potato!
11. The microwave timer told me it was time to have my dinner.
12. Love is blind.
13. That man is an ogre!
14. That boy was as timid as a mouse.
15. The dark haunted house glared at me with evil eyes.
16. The wind sang her mournful song through the falling leaves.
17. The video camera observed the whole scene.
18. The flowers danced merrily in the wind
19. The woman was simply green with envy.
20. That girl is such an airhead!
Now, think of a few examples of imagery, personification and
metaphor of your own, write them down and swap with another
group to see if they can deconstruct them effectively.
25
Some exam-style questions:
1. He would never have a party again. They descended upon the house,
almost instantly consuming everything in their path, before leaving it
bare and lifeless after they departed.
How does the writer use imagery to show how unpleasant an experience the party
was?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Many people dislike living near schools today . Adults who are
unfortunate enough to wander by one when the bell goes for lunch, find
themselves forced to cower against a wall, as hordes of savage
barbarians charge into the streets, claiming new territory in their
endless campaign to turn the world into a lawless, noisy mess.
How does the writer use imagery to effectively describe how some school children
are viewed by the general public?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. He slithered up to the bar, and hissed into the beautiful blonde woman’s
ear.
How does the writer use imagery to create an unpleasant image of the man?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
26
Sound
Sometimes, a writer will use sound to draw your attention to certain
words, to emphasise an idea, or to help you feel more involved in a
scene. If you see a writer using a sound technique, it might be
worthwhile commenting on it.
Alliteration: this is when two or more words in a sentence begin
with the same sound.
E.g. six sausages sizzled in the pan.
Why are the following examples of alliteration effective?
1. The snake slithered through the slimy undergrowth.
This example is effective because __________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Over the cobbles he clattered and crashed.
This example is effective because __________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Onomatopoeia: refers to the sound of a word imitating the
meaning. It helps the reader to imagine the sounds of a situation,
as well as sights.
E.g. bang, crash, boom
Write down a few examples of your own in the box below:
27
Sentence Structure
Techniques:




Commas
,
 Can separate items in
a list. This will usually
be to highlight how
much there is of
something.
Inverted Commas
“
”
Can show that someone
is speaking
Title
Sarcasm
Quotation
Ellipsis
…
 Creates a pause
 Can create suspense
 Can make the reader
wonder what will
happen next…
Parenthesis
(
) - ,
,
 Can be shown through
brackets, a pair of dashes, or
a pair of commas.
 This is used to add in some
extra information which is
interesting, but the sentence
would still make sense
without it.
28
Exclamation Marks
!
 These show strength of
feeling
 You will need to explain what
feeling they are getting
across. E.g. surprise/ anger/
indignation.
Question Marks
?
 Obviously, these indicate a
question being asked.
 A rhetorical question is one
which does not expect an
answer; it is asked so that
the reader can consider an
idea or viewpoint further.
Semi Colons
;
 These can separate phrases
in a list
 TheySs
can also be used to link
two similar phrases together.
 They can highlight a balance
or a contrast between two
phrases.
Colons
:
These can introduce:
 A quotation
 A list
 An explanation of a statement
 An elaboration of a point or
statement made.
You can use the following formula to help you structure your
answers to questions which ask about sentence structure:
The writer has used ______________________ here. This is
effective because ___________________________________.
Practice Questions:
1)
It was now well into rush hour: traffic gushed by or fretted at red
lights and urgent pedestrians commanded the pavements and
crossings.
Underline the function of the colon in the sentence: (1 mark)
a. Introduce a quotation
b. Elaborate on an idea
c. Introduce an explanation
2)
The girl’s father leaned down to give her a kiss goodbye. She didn’t
mind the ritual but not outside the school gates: her friends might
see and that would be too embarrassing.
29
The writer uses a colon in the sentence above to: (1 mark)
a. Introduce a quotation
b. Elaborate on an idea
c. Introduce an explanation
3)
We were in Dracula’s castle – sited on the remote Tihuta mountain
pass where the Victorian Gothic novelist Bram Stoker based the
home of his fictitious vampire – two days carriage ride from Bristrita
in northern Transylvania.
Why does the writer use dashes in this sentence? (1 mark)
_____________________________________________________________
4)
Secretly, he loved to hold his baby sister although he would never
admit that out loud to anyone. No way!
Look at the last sentence in this extract. Using the sentence structure formula,
explain how the writer shows the boy’s strong feelings through:
a. The structure of the sentence? (2 marks)
________________________________________________
b. Punctuation? (2 marks)
________________________________________________
5)
That’s it. I am never going to speak to her again.
Why does the writer put the word “never” in italics here? (1 mark)
_____________________________________________________________
6)
I was so frightened. I opened the door and peered slowly around
it…there it was.
How does the writer use sentence structure here to emphasise fear? Use the
formula in your answer. (2 marks)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7)
I love eating pizza (I have at least two slices every day.) My favourite
kind is pepperoni and I always ask for extra cheese.
30
How does the writer use sentence structure effectively here? Use the formula in
your answer. (2 marks)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
8) “How do I look?” asked Shona eagerly.
“ You look…ummm… your dress is, how can I put this… “beautiful” said
Jane cruelly.
Shona began to cry.
How does the writer use sentence structure to help us understand Jane’s
personality? Use the formula in your answer. (2 marks)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
9)
I crept silently down the stairs.
Silently, I crept down the stairs.
The second sentence above has been inverted. Why do you think the writer has
done this, and what effect does it have? (2 marks)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10) It would take me years to live down the disgrace. In the meantime I
must hurry home as fast as my dismounted legs could carry me. If
only I could catch sight of the wretched horse eating some more
grass by the roadside! If only I hadn’t let him go! If only I could
begin my ride all over again! How careful I would be!
Show how the author uses sentence structure to emphasise the narrator’s
sense of shame and panic at losing his horse. Use the formula, and discuss
two examples. (4 marks)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
31
Some Extra Practice:
In the following examples, identify one feature of sentence
structure, (1 mark) and explain its effect (1 mark), using the
sentence structure formula.
1) Dripping down the inside of the car – covering the seats in a sticky
mess – was what I most dreaded to see…blood.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2) I love you he had said. Yeah right! If he loved me he would never
have gone off with that girl!
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3) I walked slowly down the hall (it seemed so wide and long at the
time!) When I finally found the door I was looking for I knocked,
“Hello…is…is anyone there?” I asked nervously.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4) As I turned the corner I suddenly remembered what he had said to
me, whatever you do don’t turn to your left.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5) That “high fashion” handbag is really nothing special. It is
oversized, ugly, impractical and a hideous colour!
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
32
6) It was a dark night (it always gets dark early at this time of year)
and I heard a soft rustling behind me. When I turned around there
it was…
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7) This is what he meant: there are lots of people in the world with
the same problems as us – some even worse – but we just have to
get on with things!
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
8) The restaurant looked awful – the paint was coming off the walls,
the floor hadn’t been swept, the tables hadn’t been cleaned – there
was no way I was going in there!
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
9) There was only one girl, not from David's Tutor Group, in his class.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10) We went on the ghost train; then we rode on the giant roller coaster; we
even braved the rocket launcher.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
11) I have to buy groceries, birthday candles, a cake, and even a new outfit.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
33
12) Terrified, I inched closer to the cliff's edge.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
13) Mr Birling felt justified in his actions; his daughter, however, was
wracked with guilt.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
14) Every day, I heard the same terrible noise: it was a screech so loud it
was almost deafening.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
15) There was nowhere to run…nowhere to hide.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
34
Tone
If you are asked about the writer’s style of language, you should
think about tone.
The tone can be formal or informal. Here are the indicators of
formal and informal language:
•
•
•
•
•
Formal
No abbreviations (do not/
is not/ cannot)
Complicated vocabulary
Tends to be factual
Standard English is used
A more objective view is
given on a situation.
•
•
•
•
•
Informal
Abbreviations (don’t/ isn’t/
can’t
More ordinary, everyday
words are used.
May include the personal
feelings of the author.
Colloquial/ slang words are
used
Might directly address the
reader (“you”/ “we”)
Quick Practice
Look at the following examples, and note down whether you see
formal or informal language being used, and how you know.
1. “Many people feel that it is a travesty. The floods have caused
widespread devastation.”
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. “D’ye know whit you are mate? Yer just a wee Ned!”
“No, I most certainly am not! I object to such a statement! I am merely
an individual on the cusp of society, expressing my alienation through
violence and antisocial behaviour.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
35
3. I don’t know what to do anymore! She just won’t do what she’s told at
all; what a brat!
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. At the end of the path, about 300 yards from the church, stands a
magnificent oak tree. It is over 200 years old and has withstood
countless storms.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5. How many times have I told you no tae dae that?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
A writer can also show tone through using:
• First person: this is where the writer is talking about
themselves. A personal stance can often be informal and
emotive (trying to stir up an emotional response in the reader)
E.g. I, we, us
• Second person: this is where a writer addresses the reader
directly. This is an example of informal language.
E.g. you should try it.
• Third person: this is when either a person’s name or a
pronoun is used to discuss people other than the writer or
reader themselves. This might be formal or informal.
E.g. they, he, she, it, naming the person concerned (Jack/
James)
36
Quick Practice
Are following examples written in the first, second or third person?
1. We are happy to come over on Tuesday.__________________
2. I’ve told you a million times: don’t do that! __________________
3. John marched with determination towards the door._________________
4. You take three ounces of flour, and mix it together with three ounces of
butter.__________________
5. I don’t want to go to school today. __________________
6. It was a cold, blustery day and Lily did not want to go outside. ________
7. Why do I have to do that? __________________
8. If you rearrange things, you can still make it tomorrow. ______________
9. Can you please make five cups of tea? __________________
10. It happened yesterday. __________________
37
The tone of a piece of writing tells us a lot about the attitude of the
writer to the subject they have chosen to write about.
For example, imagine how someone might say the words:
“Thank you very much”
– If you had been given a lovely gift.
– If someone stood on your toes by accident.
Here are some examples of tones that a writer might use:
Friendly
Aggressive
Sarcastic
Commanding
Patronising
Sincere
Accusing
Cheerful
Enthusiastic
Nervous
Defiant
Affectionate
Confident
Pleading
Outraged
Annoyed
Insulting
Sad
Conversational
Surprised
Flattering
Sympathetic
Questioning
Warning
Angry
Excited
Bitter
Persuasive
Humorous
Emotive
Informal
Formal
Serious
Ironic
Positive
Negative
38
Paired Task:
Pick five tones from the list on the previous page and write a
sentence or two for each, showing the tone. Swap with a partner
and see if you can identify the tones you have both used.
1. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
39
Practice Questions:
For each of the following examples, write down the tone being
used, and explain which words helped you to work it out.
1. I just couldn’t believe the nerve of the man, and my face reddens
whenever I think of it. How dare he speak to me like that, with such a
condescending tone of voice. Who gave him the right to treat anyone
like that? He really made my blood boil.
Tone: ______________________________________________________________
I know this because: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Well dear readers, If I told you what sort of a week I’ve had you just
wouldn’t believe me. You get so used to reading about my dysfunctional
relationships and disastrous dating life that if I told you I’d actually had
some success in that area you might fall off your chair in shock…
Tone: ______________________________________________________________
I know this because: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. What in God’s name can be done about the way the public highways are
frequently abused, contaminated and defiled by that lowest breed of life
– litter louts! When I see a stinking, decaying chip paper or a slimy,
germ-infested cigarette carton it makes me so angry that I could
immediately seize the person concerned and stuff them bodily into the
nearest litter receptacle. When I think of the way these ‘people’ treat our
country…
Tone: ______________________________________________________________
I know this because: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. Today, as I wander around the village, it is easy to imagine how people
lived and worked two centuries ago. New Lanark has been beautifully
restored as a living, working community where visitors are welcome. In
40
the Visitors’ Centre there’s a truly fascinating trip back in time called the
‘Annie MacLeod Experience.’ It’s a chair ride, twisting through history
itself, with a surprise at every corner. Children love it!
Tone: ______________________________________________________________
I know this because: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
41
Purpose and Audience
The purpose of a text is the reason the author writes about a topic
or writes in a specific way. They might be writing to:
 Inform the reader (to give information on a subject)
 Entertain the reader
 Persuade the reader to agree with their point of view
The audience of a text are those who are intended as readers of it.
When answering on this, think about:
 The age group the text is aimed at
 The kind of people it would interest
When you are answering questions on audience and purpose, you
should use the following formula, and always give and explain
evidence from the text to back up your ideas.
The audience/ purpose of this text is _______________________________. I know this
because the writer: ________________________________________________ This shows
that:______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
42
Practice Questions:
Identify the purpose of the following, using the formula.
1. Cloning human beings should never be legal; we have no right to play
God.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Parents should not be allowed to strike their children.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Last night, a robbery took place in the local supermarket.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. I wrote a song about a tortilla. Well actually, it’s more of a wrap.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Below are two of the passages that you worked on for tone. Now,
identify an audience and purpose for each of them, and explain
your answer using the audience/ purpose formula.
1. Well dear readers, If I told you what sort of a week I’ve had you just
wouldn’t believe me. You get so used to reading about my dysfunctional
43
relationships and disastrous dating life that if I told you I’d actually had
some success in that area you might fall off your chair in shock…
Audience:__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Purpose:___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Today, as I wander around the village, it is easy to imagine how people
lived and worked two centuries ago. New Lanark has been beautifully
restored as a living, working community where visitors are welcome. In
the Visitors’ Centre there’s a truly fascinating trip back in time called the
‘Annie MacLeod Experience.’ It’s a chair ride, twisting through history
itself, with a surprise at every corner. Children love it!
Audience:__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Purpose:___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
44