1A - Full walkthrough

 

📝 Exam Guidance: Comparative Identity Question

⏱️ Timing

  • Total exam: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Recommended time for this question:
    • 10 minutes – reading
    • 55 minutes – writing
    • Total: ~1 hour 5 minutes

🔑 Core Focus: IDENTITY

  • This section is all about IDENTITIES
  • Always label identities as:
    • Social identity
    • Personal identity
  • Keep identity at the centre of every paragraph (signpost it clearly)

🧩 Introduction Structure

Your introduction should:

  • Introduce Text A:
    • Audience
    • Purpose
    • Mode
  • Use a comparative connective (e.g. “Similarly…”)
  • Introduce Text B:
    • Audience
    • Purpose
    • Mode

🧱 Paragraph Structure (Repeat at least 3 times)

1. Comparative Topic Sentence

  • Must be comparative
  • Must link to identity

Example:

Both speakers construct identities of relatability through emotive language and informal sociolect, aiming to connect with their audiences and shape public perception in their favour.

2. Analyse Text A

  • Use quotes
  • Apply language terminology
  • Link to:
    • Identity
    • Audience
    • Purpose

Example approach:

  • Identify a method (e.g. hyperbole, colloquialism)
  • Zoom in on specific words
  • Explain how identity is being constructed
  • Explain why this appeals to the audience

3. Compare to Text B

  • Use a clear comparative phrase:
    • “Similarly…”
    • “In contrast…”
    • “Slightly differently…”

4. Analyse Text B

  • Repeat the same method:
    • Quote
    • Analyse language
    • Link to identity, audience, and purpose

📚 Using Theory (Selective & Relevant)

Only include theory if you:

  • Fully understand it
  • Can clearly apply it to the text and audience

Useful theories:

  • Giles’ Accommodation Theory
  • Fairclough’s Synthetic Personalisation
  • Goffman’s Face Theory
  • Brown & Levinson (Face Threatening Acts, positive/negative face)
  • Grice’s Maxims

✅ Don’t just name-drop — explain how the theory affects audience interpretation.

📌 Final Checklist

Make sure you:

  • ✔️ Use comparative topic sentences
  • ✔️ Include lots of evidence and terminology
  • ✔️ Maintain a clear focus on identity throughout
  • ✔️ Refer to audience and purpose regularly
  • ✔️ Make explicit comparisons between texts
  • ✔️ Write:
    • A clear introduction
    • At least 3 detailed paragraphs
    • A strong conclusion with a definite judgement

If you follow this structure consistently, you’ll produce a focused, high-level comparative response

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1B - How to make your paragraphs even stronger - Theory

Like with any section of the A-Level, your work can be improved through the addition of relevant theory. Here are a few basic theories/theorists who made observations about language change that you could easily include in your essays if the opportunity arises: Deborah Cameron Deborah Cameron argues that debates about language are often about social control rather than language itself . She suggests that criticism of language is frequently a form of “moral panic” , and she calls attempts to control how others speak “verbal hygiene.” Therefore, if you see criticism in your unseen texts of features such as the discourse marker “like”, slang, or non-standard grammar, you could apply Deborah Cameron by saying: “Deborah Cameron would argue that the criticism of ‘like’ here is an example of verbal hygiene. The negative reaction is less about linguistic decline and more about social attitudes towards young speakers, particularly young women. I agree/disagree with this because…” Penelope Ecke...
Read more

1B - Full walkthrough

  📝 Exam Guidance: Section B (Language Change) ⏱️ Timing Total exam: 2 hours 15 minutes Recommended time for Section B: 15 minutes – reading 55 minutes – writing 🧩 Introduction Structure Your introduction should: Introduce both texts Include: Audience Genre Purpose Clearly highlight key changes over time ❗ Do not analyse in detail yet 🧱 Essay Structure Introduction 3 paragraphs on Text A 3 paragraphs on Text B Conclusion ✅ Include brief comparisons throughout (AO4), even within single-text paragraphs. ✍️ Paragraph Structure (Minimum) Each paragraph should include: Topic sentence focused on CHANGE (Make sure at least some mention CONVENTIONS) Evidence + analysis Further analysis (linked to audience/purpose) A comparison to the other text 💡 Example Paragraph (Model Approach) One clear change between Text A and the modern period is its reliance on a harsh and authoritative tone, which would be seen as...
Read more