GCSE English Language Revision — Comparing Writers' Attitudes
Revise Comparing Writers' Attitudes for GCSE English Language with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Comparing Writers' Attitudes?
This skill involves comparing the feelings, opinions, and viewpoints of the writers of two non-fiction texts. It requires you to infer their attitudes from their language choices and tone, and then synthesise these findings to highlight both similarities and differences.
Board notes: This is the core skill for AQA Paper 2 Question 4, and is also central to the comparative non-fiction tasks for Edexcel and OCR. It requires a combination of inference, analysis, and synthesis.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
When comparing two 19th-century articles about train travel, you might note: 'Both writers express a sense of wonder at the new technology. Writer A describes the train as a 'metal beast breathing fire,' conveying a sense of awe and power. Similarly, Writer B's attitude is one of amazement, as he marvels at the 'unthinkable speed' of his journey. However, while Writer A's wonder is tinged with fear, Writer B's is purely one of excitement.'
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Common mistakes
- 1Discussing the texts sequentially instead of integrating them. A good comparison makes direct links between the texts throughout the response.
- 2Comparing what the texts are about, rather than what the writers think and feel about the topic. Focus on the attitudes, not just the content.
- 3Identifying a similarity or difference without using comparative connectives. Use words like 'similarly,' 'whereas,' 'in contrast,' and 'both' to signpost your comparison.
Comparing Writers' Attitudes exam questions
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Frequently asked questions
How do I infer a writer's attitude?
Look closely at their choice of verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. Is the language positive or negative? Is the tone sarcastic, angry, celebratory, or nostalgic? These choices reveal their underlying feelings.
How can I structure a comparative paragraph?
Start with a sentence that makes a comparative point. Then, provide evidence from the first text and analyse the writer's attitude. Finally, use a comparative connective to link to the second text, providing evidence and analysing the attitude there.