## **Learning Outcomes**

By the end of this revision, you should be able to compare two writers’ perspectives clearly and precisely, and analyse how language choices and structural decisions shape those perspectives, using accurate subject terminology and well-selected quotations.

## **AQA GCSE English Language 8700 Syllabus**

Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks) focuses on how writers present viewpoints in non-fiction and literary non-fiction, and how you can compare those viewpoints across two texts.

- AO2: Analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers
- AO3: Compare writers' ideas and perspectives, and how these are conveyed, across texts
- Paper 2 Question 4: Compare perspectives and methods across both sources (16 marks, ~20 minutes) — the highest-value reading question

## **Test Your Knowledge**

_Answer without looking back at your notes first._

1. What is the difference between a writer’s _perspective_ and their _purpose_?
2. Name three language methods that often reveal viewpoint in non-fiction.
3. Name three structural methods that can shape a reader’s response.
4. What does AO3 require you to do that AO2 does not?
5. Why are short quotations usually better than long ones in Paper 2 answers?

## **Introduction**

In Paper 2, you are often comparing a modern non-fiction text with a 19th-century literary non-fiction text. The key is to compare both the _ideas_ (what each writer thinks) and the _methods_ (how they communicate it). Examiners reward answers that stay focused on the question, use precise evidence, and explain effects on the reader.

> **Key Term: perspective**
> A writer's viewpoint, attitude, or way of seeing an issue.
>
> **Key Term: method**
> A language or structural technique a writer uses to convey meaning or influence the reader.
>
> **Key Term: tone**
> The mood or attitude expressed through a writer's word choices (e.g. angry, reflective, humorous).

A strong comparison sounds like: _Source A presents X as… whereas Source B presents it as… This difference is created through…_ You are not just spotting techniques: you are explaining how those techniques _shape viewpoint_.

## **Understanding perspective: what to compare (AO3)**

AO3 is about comparing the writers' viewpoints and attitudes. Before you write anything about methods, get clear on the "big message" of each text.

A quick way to plan:

- Write one sentence summarising Source A's perspective.
- Write one sentence summarising Source B's perspective.
- Decide whether the perspectives are mainly similar, mainly different, or mixed.

For example, one writer might present poverty as physically exhausting, while another presents hardship as morally strengthening. That's a perspective difference you can compare directly.

### **Worked Example 1.1**

Imagine Source A describes being poor as “heavy”, linking it to constant “rain” and “cheap shoes”. Source B (a 19th-century letter) might describe hardship as a test of character, using moral language like “duty” or “virtue”.

A comparison point could be:

- Source A’s perspective is personal and embodied (poverty _felt in the body_), while Source B’s is moral and judgement-based (hardship _framed as character_).

Then you move to AO2: _how_ do they create that?

### **Exam Warning**

Do not write two separate mini-essays (all of Source A, then all of Source B). Paper 2 Question 4 rewards _direct comparison_: both sources must appear in every paragraph for top-band marks (Level 4, 13–16 marks). Aim to link the texts in almost every paragraph using comparatives such as "whereas", "however", "similarly", and "in contrast". Examiners also warn against "feature-spotting" — naming a technique without explaining how it shapes the writer's viewpoint is one of the most common reasons answers stay in the lower bands.

## **Language methods that shape viewpoint (AO2)**

Language choices reveal attitude: they show whether the writer is angry, detached, amused, nostalgic, or persuasive. Focus on methods that _signal bias or stance_.

Key language areas to compare:

- Emotive language vs neutral language
- Figurative language (metaphor/simile) to frame an issue
- Rhetorical devices (direct address, rhetorical questions)
- Modality (must/should/might) to show certainty
- Register (formal/informal) to shape authority or friendliness

### **Worked Example 2.1**

If a writer calls an action "repulsive and shameful", the emotive adjectives create an angry, condemning tone. If another writer reports facts in a detached way (e.g. "investigators have confirmed"), the perspective feels objective and authoritative.

A strong comparison might be:

- Source A uses emotive adjectives to push the reader towards moral outrage, whereas Source B uses a detached register to appear factual and trustworthy.

Zoom in on _connotations_:

- "shameful" implies wrongdoing and guilt
- "confirmed" implies evidence and certainty

### **Worked Example 2.2**

Conversational style can also shape viewpoint. A travel writer who says they were "a tad… cheesed off" sounds informal and humorous, making complaints feel relatable. Compare that with impersonal phrasing like "customers are advised", which creates distance and authority.

Comparison sentence:

- Source A's informal phrasing ("cheesed off") builds a chatty, personal perspective, while Source B's impersonal register ("are advised") constructs an official, controlled viewpoint.

### **Revision Tip**

Use a simple analysis pattern to keep your paragraphs sharp:

- Point (perspective + method)
- Evidence (short quote)
- Explain (effect on reader + link to viewpoint)
- Develop (compare to the other text)

This P.E.E.D.-style approach stops you retelling content and keeps you analysing. Aim for 90–130 words per paragraph and include a "synthesising sentence" comparing across sources. Three strong paragraphs outscore five weak ones.

## **Structural methods that shape viewpoint (AO2)**

Structure is how the text is built to guide the reader's focus. Writers choose what to reveal first, what to hold back, and how to end.

Structural features to compare:

- Opening focus (setting, anecdote, statement, description)
- Shifts in focus (from personal to general, past to present, problem to solution)
- Order of arguments (building intensity, saving strongest point for last)
- Perspective shifts (zooming in/out, individual vs society)
- Sentence variety (short sentences for impact, longer ones for detail)

### **Worked Example 3.1**

Consider an opening that starts with sensory description: "frosty winter mornings", "steam curling". This places the reader into a calm scene, shaping a reflective perspective. If another text opens with a blunt judgement, it creates urgency.

Comparison point:

- Source A opens descriptively to create a reflective mood, whereas Source B opens assertively to establish a forceful viewpoint immediately. The descriptive opening encourages trust; the assertive opening encourages agreement.

### **Worked Example 3.2**

A writer might structure a complaint by building a list of places ("Village B, River C, Swamp D"), creating escalation and frustration. Another writer might structure ideas logically with ordered points, shaping a rational perspective.

Comparison sentence:

- Source A uses an escalating list to dramatise inconvenience, while Source B uses a logical sequence to present its viewpoint as measured and reasonable.

## **Putting AO2 and AO3 together in a comparison paragraph**

The best answers blend AO3 (what they think) with AO2 (how they show it). A useful paragraph frame:

- Both writers present… However, Source A suggests… whereas Source B implies…
- Source A conveys this through… (quote + method + effect)
- Source B uses… (quote + method + effect)
- Overall, this shows…

### **Worked Example 4.1**

Point: Both writers present difficult experiences, but their perspectives differ in tone and purpose.  
Evidence + AO2: Source A describes poverty as “heavy”, using metaphor to make hardship feel physical and unavoidable.  
Compare: Source B uses formal, authoritative phrasing (e.g. “are advised”), creating distance and presenting the viewpoint as objective rather than emotional.  
Effect + AO3: This means Source A positions the reader to empathise with lived experience, while Source B positions the reader to accept guidance or judgement.

Notice how the comparison stays focused on _perspective shaped by method_, not just technique spotting.

## **Summary**

To score well on Paper 2 Question 4 (16 marks), you must compare both writers' perspectives (AO3) and the language/structure methods used to convey them (AO2). Build paragraphs around direct comparisons with both sources present, use short quotations (1–6 words), and always explain how a method influences the reader's view of the topic. Examiners reward depth and precision over the number of points made.

## **Key Point Checklist**

_Use this before you hand in any Paper 2 comparison answer._

- I summarised each writer’s perspective in a clear sentence before analysing methods
- I made direct comparisons throughout (not two separate text summaries)
- I analysed language choices (tone, connotations, rhetoric, register)
- I analysed structural choices (openings, shifts, sequencing, sentence impact)
- I used short, precise quotations and explained their effects
- I used accurate subject terminology and linked it to viewpoint

## **Key Terms and Concepts**

- perspective
- viewpoint
- attitude
- tone
- register
- emotive language
- connotations
- modality
- rhetorical question
- direct address
- metaphor
- structural shift
- sequencing
- sentence variety
- ao2
- ao3


Comparing perspectives and methods - How language and structure shape perspective