Language and Structure Techniques
Language techniques are your toolkit for understanding how writers create impact. Look out for striking vocabulary choices - writers carefully pick nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to create specific effects.
Imagery and phonology work together to make texts memorable. Spot onomatopoeia (crash, bang, whisper) and alliteration that creates rhythm. Writers also use facts and statistics to convince you, whilst rhetorical questions make you think without expecting answers.
Don't miss figurative language like metaphors and similes that paint pictures in your mind. Pay attention to whether the writer uses dialogue or expert voices to add credibility, and notice if they choose emotional or scientific language depending on their purpose.
Structure is equally important - writers use contrast and juxtaposition to highlight differences. Check sentence types (questions vs statements), repetition for emphasis, and how paragraph length affects pace. The chronology and sequence of information can completely change how you understand a text.
Quick Tip: Always ask yourself - why has the writer made this choice? What effect does it have on me as a reader?
