Language Skills
Analysis Questions Introduction
Questions about Questions
Before you start to answer any question in a Close Reading passage,
there are three questions you should consider:
1. Where should I look for the answer to the question?
• This will mean you only have to focus on a small section of the
passage when you are attempting to answer the question.
• If your answer doesn’t come from the part of the passage you have
been told to look in, you won’t get any marks for it, no matter how
good it is.
2. How many marks is it worth?
• This will give a rough indication of how much effort, time and
writing you should devote to each answer.
• This may also offer more specific clues about how to answer the
question.
3. What type of question is it: Understanding, Analysis or Evaluation?
• This will give an indication of the particular strategies you should
use to attempt to answer the question.
Analysis Questions
• (U)nderstanding questions focus on what the writer has
said.
– This type of question tests your ability to demonstrate
an awareness of some of the main ideas and
important details included in the passage.
• (A)nalysis questions focus on how the writer has said it.
– This type of question tests your ability to identify and
explain the language features the writer has used to
put his/her ideas across.
Analysis Questions – Language Features
There are four main types of technique or language feature
you will be asked to comment on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Structure, especially Sentence Structure
Word Choice
Imagery
Tone
Questions about Analysis and
Evaluation Questions
1. Where should I look for the answer to the question?
2. How many marks is it worth?
3. What type of question is it: Understanding, Analysis or
Evaluation?
4. Which language features am I being asked to comment on
(sentence structure, word choice, imagery and/or tone)?
Spot the Difference
Read these two questions over carefully. In what way(s) are they
different?
1. Look carefully at the section beginning “The first is mighty spectacle
….” (line 4) to the end of the paragraph.
How does the author effectively use language to help make his
points about the five qualities required to make a historical epic?
(You should refer to sentence structure and word choice in your
answer.)
2. Look carefully at the section beginning “The first is mighty spectacle
….” (line 4) to the end of the paragraph.
How does the author effectively use language to help make his
points about the five qualities required to make a historical epic?
(You should refer to sentence structure or word choice in your
answer.)
Analysis Questions - Structure
When writing an answer to an analysis question, it is
helpful to apply the following structure:
1. Identify the language feature you have chosen to
focus on, quoting it where necessary.
2. Explain what the feature you have identified
contributes to the passage.
For Example:
1. The writer uses repetition: “The boy was really,
really tired.”
2. The repetition of the word “really” is used to
emphasise the point that the boy was extremely
tired.
Close Reading
Analysis Questions:
Word Choice
Word Choice
Word Choice questions focus on the way the writer has used
particular words to put his/her ideas across.
When considering a writer’s word choice, there are two types of
meaning that should be considered:
1.
2.
Denotation: The most specific or direct meaning of a word.
Connotation: An additional suggested meaning which can
be taken from a word.
When asked to comment on word choice, you should re-read the
section of the passage the question directs you to, attempting to
find examples words that carry interesting connotations which
will help to answer the question you are answering.
Connotations
The connotations of a particular choice of word can imply a wide range
of meanings. Here are just a few:
Strong emotional involvement:
•
Domestic violence is a particularly disgusting crime.
A degree of formality / informality:
•
Some people might consider it mad to spend five hundred pounds on
Christmas presents for their children.
Additional information about the way an action is carried out:
•
“Stopped careering through the corridors!” the teacher shrieked at the
bemused pupil.
Word Choice - Structure
When commenting on the use of effective word choice, it can be
helpful to consider doing the following:
1. Identify the specific word being used – quote it.
2. Explain what the word you have identified contributes to the
passage, by stating its connotations (what it suggests).
For example:
“The Syrian government’s attitude towards the violent acts that have
taken place in the country is an utter travesty!”
“travesty” suggests the writer’s disgust at the way the Syrian
government has dealt with recent violence in Syria.
1. Imagery – Class Examples
Comment on the writer’s use of imagery in the paragraph you have been
given.
2. Word Choice – “Blackberry-picking”
Consider the following extract from the poem:
Round hayfields, cornfields and potato-drills
We trekked and picked until the cans were full,
How does Heaney’s word choice illustrate the great lengths the children
went to to gather the berries?
3. Word Choice – “Nineteen Eighty-Four”
Re-read from page 83 “For the rest of the morning…” to 84 “…that he was
able to think continuously.”
Comment on Orwell’s word choice, explaining how it helps to show
Winston’s emotional state at this point in the novel.
Word Choice – Example 1
Comment on the writer’s use of word choice in the following
extract:
I staggered to my feet and lugged my bags over my shoulder
before stumbling homeward, while my dogs eased themselves to
their feet, yawned luxuriously and wandered after me.
Word Choice – Example 2
Comment on the writer’s use of word choice in the following
extract:
Miller leaned forward and began to talk.
I’ve listened to your twisted mouthings till I’m sick to the guts.
What you did sickened and revolted the whole of civilised
mankind and left my generation a heritage of shame to live
down that’s going to take us all the rest of our lives.