P A L L Analysis of Non-Fiction and Media Texts

For Paper 1 Section A you will need to quickly identify and be able to comment on the Purpose, Audience, Language and Layout of the text(s) given.

To help prepare for this part of the exam, I suggest you regularly do a PALL analysis of texts you can get your hands on. The more often you do it, the more comfortable and confident you will be with identifying features and commenting on writers’ intentions.

To do a PALL analysis of any texts, just stick a  media or non-fiction text into the middle of the page and start annotating using the prompts below. I will posts media and non-fiction texts on here so that you can conduct a PALL analysis. I’m more than happy to look at work that you do independently in preparation for the exam.

PALL Analysis (Purpose Audience Language Layout)

Form

(TIP: On the front of the insert you will be told what the texts are and where they come from)

 What type of text is it?

Leaflet/Poster/ Magazine advert/Newspaper article/

 Purpose

 What does the writing aim to do?

Argue/Persuade/Advise/Inform/Explain/Describe/Analyse/Review/

Comment/Instruct?

 Audience

 Who is the text written for?

Teenagers/Women/Men/Pensioners/Parents/People with particular interests

 Language

(TIP: Always explain the effect of choices made. What is the writer’s intention?)

 Consider the formality of the piece.

Formal/Informal

 What’s the mode of address?

1^st person (I)/2^nd person (you)/3^rd person (he/she/they)/personal/ impersonal/detached

 What types of words or phrases are being used?

Technical/scientific/descriptive/informative/factual/emotive/serious/ humorous

 What linguistic devices are being used?

Fact/Opinion/Rhetorical questions/hyperbole (exaggeration)/irony/ anecdote/puns

Layout

(TIP: Always explain the effect of choices made. What is the writer’s intention?)

 How is the text presented?

Headlines/Sub-headings/Slogans/Itallics/Bullet points/Bold text/Photos/

Diagrams/Logos/Colour/Captions/Columns/Boxes/Cartoons/Grids