Important points for Comparison of Texts

 Genre – Biography / auto-biography / fact / fiction / non-fiction / formal newspaper report /

interview / personal account /
 Tone – enthusiastic / melancholic / sad / happy / nostalgic / sarcastic / humorous / ironic /
encouraging / discouraging / formal / informal / curious / personal / confusing / optimistic /
pessimistic / satiric etc.
 Person – 1st Person (I / We), 2nd Person (You), or 3rd Person (he / she / it / they) account
 Style – Descriptive / Narrative / Persuasive / Discursive / Informative
 Purpose – to persuade / to convince / to encourage / to evaluate / to describe / to warn / to inform
/ to advice / to exaggerate / to communicate / to narrate / to entertain etc.
 Text structure – Short / long sentences, short / long paragraphs, difficult / easy words, colloquial
/ complicated language, use of inclusive pronouns (you/we), factual information, reassuring style,
chatty style, details about something specific, personal comments, dramatic, some description
from the texts, surety / probability, points made about differences / difficulties in both texts,
covers a short period / long period, limited characters / a number of characters, how texts present
what will be learnt e.g. no compulsory lessons / independent learning, descriptions of building
e.g. old / modern; city / country, descriptive language, use of repetition, direct speech, reflective /
analytical account, about famous person, impact of technology, ends on a positive note, personal
story included, mentions positive/negative aspects of __________, refers to studies and experts,
anecdotes (a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person ), ends on a negative
note, more pessimistic, points made about isolation, more distant – it is not personal experience,
address the reader directly, adult / child’s perspective, male / female’s perspective, less details
about _____ / more details about ______, detailed description about many familiar features to
help the reader feel included, he conveys how he is overwhelmed by ‘………….’, broken by sub-
headings making it easier to read, Sense of excitement / fun / thrills / danger / achievement,
 Author’s point of view – Subjective / Objective / intrinsic / extrinsic / mature / immature
character’s point of view / he conveys an experience that quickly deteriorates (become
progressively worse) – figures of speech with examples / the way he lists his ideas, feelings and
behaviour / how he describes his mixed feelings at the end / the use of negative language
throughout conveys the unpleasant experience the writer had /
 Thoughts and feelings – The writer is initially sad / happy / excited / enthusiastic / curious /
frustrated / amused / anguish etc. about… , the writer feels that … , by the end of the passage the
writer