Paper 2 Section B Overview (AQA GCSE English Language)

Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences

Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts

This is referred to as content and organisation

Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation (this requirement must constitute 20% of the marks for each specification as a whole)

This is referred to as technical accuracy

D

Direct address

Writing directly to your audience is a great way of showing the examiner that you have a thorough understanding of who you are writing for and how to address them. This is especially the case if you are writing to convince your audience of something

A

Audience

Including your audience is also a persuasive technique, such as “we all know that…”

N

Not only, but also

Good for adding to your arguments. For example, “Not only would this benefit the local economy, but also has wider implications on a national level.”

F

Facts

Facts in an exam situation can be made up, but use them sparingly! Then they will have more impact

O

Opinions

If you are trying to persuade or convince an audience that your point of view is valid, then presenting your opinions as fact is one way of putting forward a strong argument

R

Rhetorical questions

Questions that do not require an answer are useful for engaging an audience, especially at the start of your piece of writing

E

Emotive language

Think carefully about your choice of language and the connotations certain words have. “Crowd” and “mob”, for example, have very different connotations, with “mob” being much more emotive (and negative). Choose your language depending on the effect you want to have on your reader

S

Statistics

Statistics, especially ones that are made up in an exam situation, should be used sparingly as part of the development of an argument. Do not over-rely on them

T

Triplets (rule of three)

Political speeches often use this technique to group together three related ideas for impact. This is not the same as just listing three things

P

Personal pronouns

Depending on the audience and purpose, make good use of “I”, “we” and “you”, which can give weight to your arguments

I

Imperatives

Commanding your audience should not be aggressive, but can be seen as a call to action. For example, “Act now or regret later.”

E

Exaggeration

Well-considered exaggeration can be used for persuasive effect, especially if the topic is one you feel strongly about