Reading Question 4
Understanding and writing about
presentational features
In groups of three
You have 5 minutes to discuss and draw a rough
sketch of the front cover for a World Wildlife, a
charity, that is launching a campaign to save
leopards.
Think about:
• The purpose of the leaflet
• Who the leaflet is aimed at
• How you get your message across
• The presentational features you should include
Learning objective: to learn how to plan an
effective answer to reading question 4
All: to plan a top band 2 answer
Most: to plan a band 3 answer
answer
Some: to plan a 12 point answer
To get full marks for this question you must:
• Be able to identify presentational features.
• Give clear examples of presentational features.
• Explain the effect of the features.
• Compare presentational features in two different texts.
A typical question 4 would look like this:
Now look again at Source 1 and Source 3. Compare the
way that both texts use presentational features for effect.
Remember to: write about the way the sources are
presented explain the effect of the presentational features
compare the way they look. (12 Marks)
Why are presentational features used?
Mood
Memory
Clarity
Pictures
Fonts
Colour
Bold text
Headlines and sub
headings
Bullet points
Diagrams, maps and
illustrations
Bold text
Bullet points
Sub-headings
Paragraphs
Colour
Images and captions
Task 1
You will be looking at a range of non-fiction text types that you
may be given in your exam.
For each example, identify the presentational features and
note them down on the grid. You have 4 minutes per example.
There are 5 examples.
Another way to think about the effect of the features is to
imagine why the designer put them there. Think back to why
you chose to design your leaflet cover in the way you did.
Effect
For high marks, you need to be specific about the job the
feature is doing in this particular example. A general comment
on an image may be:
The text has two images of Rachael Latham which shows the
reader what she looks like and what the article is about.
A specific comment would be:
The text has two photographs of Rachael Latham, one of her
her in the pool training and the other of her sitting on her bed
dressed casually and surrounded by clutter. They show the
two different sides of her life explained in the text: determined
elite athlete and typical student. The image of Latham in her
room makes her seem more ‘normal’ and could help teenage
readers relate to her.
Effect
Another example:
The website uses lots of white space which makes it clean
and easy to read.
A specific comment would be:
The copy on the web page is surrounded by white space
making the main message (how it’s fun and easy to take part)
clear for the reader to identify and read, by separating it from
other parts of the page. This is important as many features of
the page, such as the navigation bar and banner, could
distract the reader’s attention if they were too close together.
Task 2
Using texts 1 and 3, write the first part of an answer
comparing at least two features in each text.
Different
…unlike…
…whereas…
…in other words…
…on the other
hand…
…alternatively…
…instead…
Similar
…equally…
…in the same
way…
…similarly…
…likewise…
…as with…
Top Tips
• Choose 3 presentational features used in both texts and
compare them. Write a lot about a little.
• Describe the feature clearly, using correct terms.
• Say what is in the picture and what it is putting across,
(denotation and connotation).
• Make a developed comment on the feature’s effect in that
particular text.
• Go for the obvious: images, graphics, titles, colour, font,
logo.
Mark scheme
Band 3 (9 – 12 marks)
• clear evidence that the texts are understood in relation to
presentational features
• clear comparison of presentational features
• clear analysis of/developed comment on the effect of the
presentational features in both texts
• relevant and appropriate examples of presentational features
Band 2 (5 – 8 marks)
• some evidence that the texts are understood in relation to
presentational features
• attempts to compare presentational features
• some comment on the effect of presentational features in
both texts
• some appropriate examples of presentational features
Feature
Logo
Description
Effect
Blue circle surrounding a drop of water
in the centre.
Colour fits with water theme.
Drop of water reminds reader it
can be a scarce resource.
Cool in the pool
• The traditional Daily Mail logo is reduced to Mail and
placed alongside Online in a more modern font
• The headline Cool in the Pool! uses an exclamatory and
a rhyme. It uses the pun ‘making a splash’ to refer to her
swimming
• The intro paragraph in bold gives the context for the
interview
• The interview is structured in a Question and Answer
format using the girls’ initials after the first Q and A
Questions are presented in a bold font to separate them
visually from the answers
• The two colour photographs show the two sides to
Rachael Latham – as a professional swimmer in her kit,
with a look of determination and as a typical student,
casually dressed, in her bedroom to help make a
connection – possibly with younger readers
•uses the Sport Relief logo based on the recognisable Red Nose
• the colour red is mirrored in the subheading ‘Rise to the Challenge’ and is
also used to highlight which page of the menu we are on and in the boy’s
costume. This links to mention of the red and white theme in the text
• the subheading ‘the training ground’ links sport with school and is presented
in multi colours a sky blue and white is used as the background with shapes
implying clouds
• Each activity title has a fun icon attached to it to appeal to younger people –
the zig zag line uses an arrow to indicate which page the reader is currently
on
• There are pictures of children on the webpage, male and female, black and
white, in costume and in uniform, perhaps to show how everyone is invited to
take part.
• The costume looks fun and imaginative.
•The text is presented in a soft grey on white background with blue
subheadings. This is less harsh than a black font and has less of a
demanding feel.
•There is lots of white space so that the information is not dense but
emphasises the short punchy structure of the paragraphs and sub headings.
• Separate boxes are used at the bottom of the page to provide key
information and links. Two use graphics to illustrate but the middle section
uses a photograph of a real project at work with Sport Relief funds, and
pictures school age children similar to the boy in fancy dress.