This book is a superb all-in-one guide to success GCSE English Language and English Literature - GCSE English 2003

Warm-up Questions
Section Nine — Media and Non-Fiction Questions

People often find non-fiction and media texts tricky to write about until they have seen how to go about the task and are equipped with some nifty technical terms. Remember though - almost all non-fiction and media questions will want you to talk about the language and format used in the article. If you learn all of the terms used in the section off by heart, then you should have lots of impressive things to talk about in the exam. Go through these quick questions, and look up any answers you're not sure of. Keep on going over it until you don't have to look any of the answers up - then you'll know you've got enough information to sound knowledgeable in the exam.

Warm-up Questions

1) Media and non-fiction questions are great because you don't need to quote from the text to back up your answers.

True or false?

2) Is it best to read the question before or after you read the text? Why?

3) Why is it a good idea to underline key words in the question?

4) Why should you use impersonal language in your answer?

5) How can you make it really obvious that you're answering the question in your first sentence?

6) Which of these questions would help you think about the argument in a media text? a) Roughly how long is the piece?

b) What's the point being made?

c) Is the piece written by a man or a woman?

d) Is the piece from a newspaper or a magazine?

e) Does the idea make sense?

f) Is there any evidence in the piece backing up the ideas?

7) Apart from the actual text, what else do you have to think about and write about with media texts?

8) Write a definition for each of these words:

a) headline

b) caption

c) lead story

d) feature

e) editorial

f) human interest story

9) Would you say that the layout of the random article shown on the right is intended for a teenage audience or for an older audience? Explain why.