Sample Notes: The Conventions of A Wide Range of Written Textual Forms

AS Level English Language – Knowledge and Understanding of Textual Forms

Overview

This section develops students’ ability to recognize, analyse, and emulate the conventions of a wide range of written and spoken textual forms. These are essential for both Paper 1 (Reading) and Paper 2 (Writing), as well as the coursework component.

Key Concepts to Understand for All Textual Forms

• Purpose: What is the text trying to achieve? (e.g. inform, persuade, entertain, explain)
• Audience: Who is the intended reader/listener?
• Tone and Style: How formal/informal is the language? What is the voice/persona adopted?
• Structure and Layout: Headings, subheadings, paragraphing, introductions, conclusions, dialogue, narration, etc.
• Linguistic Features: Use of figurative language, register, word classes, sentence types, syntax, phonology, cohesion.

1. Advertisements, Brochures, and Leaflets

Purpose: Persuade, promote, inform

Conventions:

• Direct address (“you”)
• Imperatives (“Buy now!”)
• Emotive language
• Hyperbole
• Positive lexis
• Repetition
• Rhetorical questions
• Visually organized with bullet points or sections
• Brand-oriented phrases, slogans

2. Editorials and Opinion Pieces

Purpose: Express an opinion, influence reader’s viewpoint

Conventions:

• Formal to semi-formal tone
• Persuasive techniques (ethos, pathos, logos)
• Balanced argument with a clear stance
• Anecdotal evidence or real-life cases
• Structured logic: thesis → evidence → conclusion
• Lexis of reasoning (e.g. “therefore”, “however”, “consequently”)

3. News Stories and Articles

Purpose: Inform (objective), sometimes entertain or explain

Conventions:

• Inverted pyramid structure: most important info first
• Factual tone and objective language
• Use of statistics and quotes
• Third-person narration
• Time and location markers
• Headline + subheading

4. Reviews (Books, Films, Products)

Purpose: Evaluate and inform, influence consumer choices

Conventions:

• Blend of objective facts and subjective opinions
• Use of evaluative adjectives
• Star rating or scoring system
• Clear structure: summary → positives → negatives → verdict
• May include direct address or rhetorical questions

5. Blogs and Online Personal Commentary

Purpose: Share personal opinions, narrate events, entertain

Conventions:

• Informal, chatty tone
• Use of anecdotes
• Emoticons/emojis or hashtags (optional depending on audience)
• Rhetorical questions
• First-person narrative
• May address audience directly

6. Investigative Journalism

Purpose: Expose, inform, provoke change

Conventions:

• Formal, serious tone
• Extensive research and factual backing
• Use of interviews and sources
• Balanced tone, though may imply judgment
• Often narrative in approach but heavily evidence-based

7. Letters (Formal and Informal)

Purpose: Varies (complaint, request, response, personal message)

Conventions:

• Conventional letter format (address, date, salutation, sign-off)
• Formal/informal tone depending on purpose
• Clear structure (intro, body, conclusion)
• Polite lexis (in formal) or emotive lexis (in informal)

8. Podcasts and Scripted Speech

Purpose: Inform, entertain, persuade, reflect

Conventions:

• Spoken features: contractions, pauses, fillers, tag questions
• Scripted but conversational tone
• May include rhetorical strategies (repetition, triads, anecdotes)
• Clear topic focus with progression and transitions

9. (Auto)Biographies, Diaries, Travel Writing

Purpose: Reflect, narrate, record, entertain

Conventions:

• First-person perspective
• Chronological structure or flashbacks
• Descriptive and emotive language
• Use of figurative language (metaphors, imagery)
• Focus on personal insights or experiences
• Diary may include date stamps, fragmented structure

10. Essays (Discursive or Analytical)

Purpose: Explore or argue a viewpoint systematically

Conventions:

• Formal academic tone
• Logical structure: introduction, argument development, conclusion
• Use of evidence, examples, counterarguments
• Discourse markers and cohesive devices
• Clear paragraphing with topic sentences

11. Narrative and Descriptive Writing

Purpose: Entertain, evoke imagery, explore character/theme

Conventions:

• Narrative: structured plot (exposition, conflict, climax, resolution)
• Descriptive: snapshot of a moment in time
• Use of imagery, sensory details
• Show-not-tell techniques
• Figurative language
• Dialogue (in narrative)

Reminders for Exam Application

• Identify genre and audience before analyzing.
• Use specific terminology (lexis, syntax, semantics, register, cohesion).
• Evaluate how form supports function and message.
• When producing writing (Paper 2), replicate the stylistic and structural features of the specified form.
• Use connective commentary when analyzing unseen texts: explain how and why language choices have been made.