What person is the text written in (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and why?
Which tense is the text written in and why? How is this useful in terms of audience and purpose?
Can the piece be described as 'above the line' or 'below the line'? Give evidence to support your answer.
How do the verbs, nouns and adjectives chosen tell you about the subject being discussed?
Identify the different language levels used in the piece and comment on their effect. (formal, colloquial, descriptive, specific and non-verbal)
What can be said about the form of the lexis in the text? (shape and sound)
Can you identify any semantic fields within the text? Are there any examples of a particular semantic field being used to describe another?
Can you identify any ways in which the producer of the text has used sound patterns for effect? (e.g. alliteration, assonance, rhyme, tone, onomatopoeia, slang and taboo language)
Identify the tenor of the discourse. How are the relationships being developed throughout this discourse? (e.g. friendliness, objectivity and solidarity) Are the power relationships present within the discourse symmetrical or asymmetrical?

	Created by Summer Pearce over 8 years ago

According to the AQA A-level English Language and Literature assessment objectives

Guide to Analysing Texts