Structure

The structure of a text is how it is organised and how its parts fit together. Writers structure their texts deliberately to have an effect on
the reader.

Exam questions ask you to comment on how writers structure their texts to interest the reader. You should use terminology and show
that you understand how structural features introduce and prioritise information in a text.

Structural features
Feature Purpose Effect on the reader
Comment on how the writer introduces ideas and raises
openings The start of a text must interest the reader.
questions.
Analyse what is implied, eg a gloomy landscape implies an
This is what the writer focuses on as the text
focus unhappy situation - what is causing that unhappiness? What
develops.
will happen next?
Changes in ideas and perspectives, eg outside to
shifts Comment on how this change is effective, eg creates contrast.
inside.
contrast The differences between two things. Comment on the effect a drastic difference produces.
When words, phrases or ideas are repeated for Repetitive features can highlight key meanings, indicate a
repetition or patterns
effect. development or show a lack of change.
The feeling of speed in the writing – are events Ask what effect is created by altering the pace, eg a slow pace
pace and ideas revealed to the reader slowly or builds tension or suggests boredom, a quicker pace may suit a
quickly? piece about things happening at speed.
Comment on how time is used to speed up or slow down the
temporal references References to time.
pace of the text.
This could be chronological or writers might
Comment on how the order of events introduces and prioritises
order of events choose to start at the end, in the middle, or with
key ideas – and how this engages the reader.
flashbacks / flash forwards.
 Feature Purpose Effect on the reader
The conclusion of a text may be neat or leave us Think about how the reader feels at the end. Have their
endings
with questions. feelings changed since the opening?
withholding Clues and hints are given without revealing Analyse what is implied by hints – how does this build the
information everything at once. reader’s expectations?
dialogue Conversations and speech. How does dialogue move the text forward?
headings,
Divides the content of texts into topics and sub
subheadings and How do they guide readers through a text?
topics, can signal the start of new points.
questions
Bullets can summarise and simplify a range of
bullets Why does the writer summarise certain points?
ideas.
Comment on how sentence structures affect the fluency of the
Varied types of sentences, eg simple, compound
sentence structures text, eg a sudden short sentence could reveal shocking
and complex.
information.
These vary like sentences eg, to highlight Comment on how paragraph lengths affect the development of
paragraph lengths significant points or to provide a detailed the text, eg a final paragraph might summarise key points in an
account. argument.

Structure of a non-fiction text

The structure of a non-fiction piece could be:

 chronological – in date or time order

 prioritised – the most important facts first (like a news article)
 separated into blocks by subheadings – eg in a feature article
 question and answer – eg in information leaflets
 problem and solution – eg in agony aunt columns, or self-help guides
 letter structure – a salutation (Dear…) and an appropriate ending (Yours sincerely…)
 starting in the middle of an event, then providing further information to give several possible viewpoints