The Question Format
Question 3 asks: "How has the writer structured the text to interest you as a reader?"
Worth 8 marks, spend about 10-12 minutes on this question.
What "Structure" Means
Structure refers to:
- Sequencing - order of events, flashbacks, time shifts
- Focus shifts - what the writer zooms in/out on
- Pace - speed of narrative (slow/fast moments)
- Sentence forms - short vs. long sentences
- Perspective changes - whose viewpoint we follow
- Beginning and ending - how the text opens and closes
- Paragraph structure - one-sentence paragraphs for emphasis
The Method
Track Through the Extract
Write about:
- The beginning - How does it open? What's established?
- The middle - How does focus/pace shift?
- The end - How does it conclude? What effect does this create?
Model Paragraph
Question: How has the writer structured the text to interest you as a reader?
"At the beginning of the extract, the writer establishes a calm, peaceful atmosphere through long, flowing sentences that mirror the gentle movement of the river. The focus is wide, describing the broader landscape, which creates a sense of tranquility. However, midway through the extract, there is a sharp structural shift: a single-sentence paragraph—'Then I saw it.'—jolts the reader and creates tension. The pace accelerates as sentences become shorter and more fragmented, reflecting the narrator's panic. This structural contrast between the peaceful opening and the tense conclusion maintains reader interest through unexpectedness."
Structural Features to Discuss
Opening Techniques
- In medias res (starting in the middle of action)
- Establishing setting/atmosphere
- Introducing a narrative voice
- Creating mystery/intrigue
Development Techniques
- Shift in focus (place to person, wide to narrow)
- Change in pace (dialogue speeds up, description slows down)
- Flashback or time shift
- Contrast (past vs. present, hope vs. reality)
Ending Techniques
- Cliffhanger
- Cyclical structure (returning to opening image)
- Resolution
- Revealing twist
Sentence-Level Structure
- Short sentences for impact/tension
- Long sentences for description/reflection
- One-sentence paragraphs for emphasis
Sentence Starters
- "At the beginning of the extract..."
- "The writer opens by focusing on..."
- "As the extract develops..."
- "There is a shift in focus from... to..."
- "The pace accelerates/slows when..."
- "Towards the end..."
- "The extract concludes by..."
- "This structural choice creates..."
Common Mistakes
- Writing about language instead of structure
- Just identifying structural features without explaining effects
- Not tracking through the whole extract
- Focusing too much on the beginning
- Forgetting to discuss the ending
Checklist
- [ ] I've discussed the beginning, middle, and end
- [ ] I've identified specific structural features
- [ ] I've explained the effect on the reader
- [ ] I've tracked how the writer maintains interest
- [ ] I've avoided analyzing language techniques
Struggling with structure analysis? Book a consultation to practice identifying and analyzing structural choices.