Reading: Comparing Texts

FS Level 2AQACity & GuildsEdexcelHighfield QualificationsNCFEOpen Awards

Comparing Texts

Having one text will not always provide a full picture of the issue.

As a result, using more than one text can be a great way to gain this extra information.

Make sure you are happy with the following topics before continuing:

Reading: Text Types
Reading: Presentational Features
Reading: Language Features
Reading: Fact or Opinion?
Reading: Types of and Navigating Sources
Reading: Styles of Writing and Voice
Reading: Point of View and Line of Argument
Writing: Grammar
Writing: Assessing Audience

But, what do we compare?

When comparing more than one text, you will need to weigh up the similarities and differences.

For example, you could choose to compare the information they provide.

However, the information in each text may not always be enough to compare.

Instead, you may also need to identify techniques such as:

Bias
Opinions
Formality
Tone
Text Type
Presentational features
Facts
Linguistic features

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Quoting

You may also be asked to extract evidence from given texts.

This will require finding a sentence, word, or theme in the text, which answers the question or strengthens previous answers.

For example:

”Provide a quotation from Text A and Text B which show that the writers are fed up with the behaviour of their next door neighbours.”

Potential answers may be:

“Text A: ‘My children are not getting any sleep’.”
“Text B: ‘It is never-ending stress’.”

Example: Comparing Texts

Let’s compare these two texts about alcohol, look closely!

They have the same topic, audience and aim

One uses more persuasive language – e.g., using an instruction word

They have different presentational features – e.g., one includes a bullet pointed list.

They use different levels of bias – One of the texts is clearly biased

Can you identify which text each of these comparisons belong to?

See what else you can find!

Additional Resources

Exam Tips Cheat Sheet

FS Level 2

Open

Specification Points Covered

L2.11 – Identify the different situations when the main points are sufficient and when it is important to have specific details

L2.12 – Compare information, ideas and opinions in different texts, including how they are conveyed

L2.13 – Identify implicit and inferred meaning in texts

L2.14 – Understand the relationship between textual features and devices, and how they can be used to shape meaning for different audiences and purposes

L2.15 – Use a range of reference materials and appropriate resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes, including to find the meanings of words in straightforward and complex sources

L2.16 – Understand organisational features and use them to locate relevant information in a range of straightforward and complex sources

L2.17 – Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias

L2.18 – Follow an argument, identifying different points of view and distinguishing fact from opinion

L2.19 – Identify different styles of writing and writer’s voice