1. Year 11 revision day
Foundation Tier paper
Reading – question 2a and 2b
Presentational features and Language focus

4. Question 2a
How do headings and pictures contribute to the
(dramatic impact) of the article?
refer to the presentational features
in other words…
discuss
– the way headings help in the presentation of the
article
– the way the pictures contribute to the meaning
– how both of these reflect what the text is about

5. The examiner wants you to know the
reasons for using presentational
features in media texts
Make a list of the typical presentational features
likely to be used in a media text…
Headings However, you MUST pay
Subheadings
Images attention to what you’re
Bullet points being asked to comment on.
Text boxes
Bold font READ THE QUESTION
Large font CAREFULLY!
Colour
etc

6. Headings and subheadings
Headings and subheadings are used to… Why do writers use
headings and
subheadings?
• They guide the reader through the text What do they ‘add’
to the text?
• They help link sections of text
• They sum up what the article is about or the views of
the writer
• They highlight important points made by the writer

7. Images (pictures and captions)
Why do writers use
The images are used to… images? What do they
‘add’ to the text?
• They often show the tone of the text (emotive,
powerful, sympathetic)
• They link to the text’s content
• They are often varied and carefully chosen for the
purpose and effect

8. Your turn…
• Look at the article and write two paragraphs
detailing the impact (the reason why they are
used) of the:
• headings and subheadings
• Images (pictures)
Share your ideas

9. Question 2b
The question will have bullet points to help you respond.
You must follow the advice of the bullet points!
e.g.
How does the newspaper article convey the power of the
incident and its effects?
In your answer you should write about
– information used in the article
– Some of the words and phrases used in the article
Do NOT write about headings or pictures in your answer.

10. Question 2b
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

11. Typical questions that the examiner
uses for question 2b…
• How does the article convey power of ….. and
its effects?
• How does the article convey sympathy
towards… and its effects?
• How does the article display the strong
feelings of the writer?

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. Look for words and phrases that will
show you understand the purpose and
tone
• The purpose of the article is to….
• The tone is….
How do you know?
What words and phrases will you choose
to respond to question 2b,
How does the article convey…?

16. Your turn…
Question 2b
How does the article convey the writers strong
feelings and the effects?
• Look for two phrases that show this article is…
• argumentative
• Controversial
• Emotive

17. 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.