1. Year 11 revision day
Higher Tier paper
Reading – question 2 and 3
Language and presentation focus

4. Today, we’re only working with one text as we
don’t have time to deal with two.
In the exam you will have two texts, one text for
question 1 and 2, and the second text for
question 3.
Read the first text and answer question 1 and 2.
Only then should you read text 2.
Read text 2 and answer question 3.

5. Reading for purpose, audience and
tone
Why was the text Who was it written for?:
written?: • One particular person
• To persuade • A group of people
• To entertain Remember • Young people
a text can
• To inform have a • Parents
• To advise primary and • The retired
secondary
• To explain purpose • Families
• To describe
• To argue

6. Tone…
Think tone…
Powerful or weak What is the
Sarcastic or serious tone of the
Light hearted or honest article you are
Hostile or friendly reading?
Informative or argumentative
Emotive or factual
Controversial or reasonable
Is the tone obvious or subtle?
How is the tone achieved?

7. Question 2 (about 22 minutes)
Explore how the article (portrays/conveys)…something!
refer to the presentation and content
in other words…
discuss
– the presentation/tone of the article
– the content/language
– the way the article has been presented
• This will be a media text so you will want to discuss how
images and headings also contribute to the tone and
presentation of the article.
However, DON’T just discuss presentational features! That is not
what the examiner is looking for!

8. Question 2s focus should revolve around
the tone and purpose of the article
You will be expected to write about:
• The tone of the article conveyed through words
and phrases
• The tone of the article conveyed through the
heading/subheadings
• The tone of the article conveyed through the
images
and how each ties in with the purpose

9. Typical questions that the examiner
uses for question 2…
• How does the article convey power of …..?
• How does the article convey sympathy
towards… ?
• How does the article display the strong
feelings of the writer?
The question may direct you to discussing the
presentation and content of the article.

10. Read your text!
Read the passage to the end
Formed a view of what it is about
Considered some of the ways the
writer has tried to communicate
his/her point of view
Plan your response

11. What is the How do you know?
What words and phrases will you choose
to respond to question 2,
How does the article convey the writer’s
viewpoint and ideas ?

12. The purpose of this article is to argue the writer’s strong
opinions about the threat of extinction of various species of
animal. Clarkson has a rather argumentative and sarcastic
tone revealed in language such as ‘Eco-mentalists’. This
play on words displays his contempt for eco-friendly
campaigners who would fight to save whole species such as
the tiger.
He uses images of the tiger to reflect his thoughts that these
animals do not need any further help from humans as there
are still plenty of tigers in the west to keep them from
extinction. The images show the tiger as a strong, powerful
creature in its natural habitat which supports Clarkson’s
view that these animals are strong enough to survive
without us.
The heading uses a colloquial phrase which again displays
Clarkson’s contempt of the conservationists argument and
fight to stop poachers from killing off these creatures, ‘Stuff
the tiger – long live extinction’ is very controversial and
emotive and will engage all types of readers who will
probably be angered by his attitude.

13. Quick draw…
Draw yourself a few images to help you
remember to consider PURPOSE, AUDIENCE
and TONE
e.g. some emoticons to help you remember
tone might include  or 
friendly emotive
5 minutes only

14. Question 3 (about 22 minutes)
How does the writer convey…
This question is based on the language used to
convey something,
thoughts/feelings/emotions etc.
You must only focus on the language used.

15. Question 3
How does the article convey…
– What words and phrases have been used to get across
the message
The question wants you to look for words and
phrases that help convey the tone
e.g. powerful, exciting, terrifying,
sympathetic, emotive, moving, etc.
The question wants you to look for words and
phrases that help convey a particular meaning

16. The text has used a sarcastic tone shown
through …
The purpose of the article is to shock the reader
by…
A controversial tone is conveyed
The purpose is to entertain conveyed through
the humorous and light hearted language…

17. Your turn…
Question 3
How does Clarkson convey his strong thoughts and
feelings about the extinction of species?
• Look for two/three phrases that show this article is…
• argumentative
• Controversial
• Emotive

18. The article is controversial because Clarkson states that
the ‘only creatures that matter are those in our social
group’. This will make a lot of people, especially
conservationists, angry and they will want to argue
back. Clarkson is deliberately using language to create
a response from the reader to think about
conservation and what they believe to be right.
He uses phrases such as ‘Eco-mentalists’ and ‘there’s an
awful lot of sentimentality around the concept of
extinction’ which makes fun of people concerned with
the environment and which will anger those who feel
extinction of a whole species is a dreadful thing.