Year 10 - English
Using comparatives and superlatives to effectively compare non-fiction texts
Non-fiction: changing views
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop their non-fiction reading and writing skills. They look at a range of nineteenth century and modern texts in tandem, and practise comparing viewpoints. They then practise emulating different techniques from the texts in order to develop their speech and opinion writing.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use comparative and superlatives adjectives to produce a detailed and evaluative comparison of two non-fiction texts.
Key Notes
- A great comparison analyses how the writers convey their ideas and perspectives of the events they are describing.
- It may use comparatives and superlatives to evaluate the texts against one another.
- Comparatives use either a 'more' prefix or '-er' suffix to directly compare two texts or ideas.
- Superlatives use a 'most' prefix or 'est' suffix to form conclusions about a text in comparison to others.
- Comparatives and superlatives let us explore the relationship between the texts instead of analysing each in isolation.
Vocabulary To Learn
- overarching: something so important it affects all other areas - in English, we refer to a writer's overarching idea
- shift: when applied to perspective, this refers to a change in the writer's perspective
- superlative adjectives: words that make value judgements about two or more things (e.g. 'most' or 'least')
- comparative adjectives: words that compare two or more thing, show how one is different from the other (e.g. 'more' or 'less')
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Effective analysis writing explores the attitudes in the first text and then, in another paragraph, explores the attitudes in the second text.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
A great comparison analyses how the writers convey their ideas and perspectives of the events they are describing. It may use comparatives and superlatives to evaluate the texts against one another.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'overarching'
something so important it affects all other areas - in English, we refer to a writer's overarching idea.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Effective analysis writing explores the attitudes in the first text and then, in another paragraph, explores the attitudes in the second text. Correction: The most effective comparative analysis writing will weave comparisons of both texts together. The response will ideally move between examples from each text, weighing up and evaluating the writer's choices in each.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing and comparing language techniques in non-fiction writing Study Guide
- Considering and analysing attitude in non-fiction writing Study Guide
- Considering and analysing the use of anecdotes in a non-fiction text Study Guide
- Considering and emulating onomatopoeia and alliteration in speech writing Study Guide
- Considering and emulating the use of anaphora in speech writing Study Guide
- Considering and emulating the use of direct address in the opening of a speech Study Guide
- Considering and emulating the use of extended analogies in non-fiction writing Study Guide
- Considering and emulating the use of hyperbole in opinion writing Study Guide
- Considering and emulating the use of rhetorical questions in opinion writing Study Guide
- Considering and emulating the use of similes in non-fiction writing Study Guide
- Considering and understanding the attitude of a non-fiction text Study Guide
- Crafting an effective comparison of non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Developing reading skills and personal responses to non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Planning a speech and building your counter-argument Study Guide
- Using colons, dashes, and semicolons effectively in opinion writing Study Guide
- Using inference and embedded quotations to craft effective summaries Study Guide
- Using rhetorical devices to write an effective speech Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.