A2 LL - 3 WAY COMPARISON - SOME BASICS

A2 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
ELLA 3 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND TEXT PRODUCTION
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS – SOME BASICS

Planning the three way comparison commentary

I suggest the following planning process to write a successful three way comparison commentary.
 
Firstly, read text one and identify - this means underline quotations - on the audience, purposes, features of genre and attitudes to the main topic of the question. On this first reading of the first text you should also identify the sub-topics of the first text. Expect to identify between 4 to 6 sub-topics.
 
Secondly read text two and identify  - this means underline quotations - on the audience, purposes, features of genre and attitudes to the main topic of the question. On this first reading of the second text you should also identify the sub-topics. Some of these will have been presented in text one. Look out for these especially. They will form the basis of your commentary. Expect to identify between 4 to 6 sub-topics.
 
Thirdly read the third text and identify  - this means underline the quotations - on the audience, purposes, features of genre and attitudes to the main topic of the question. On this first reading of the third text you will have a good idea of what the sub-topics will be because they were presented in text one and text two. Expect to identify between 4 to 6 sub-topics. These comparative sub-topics along with comparative audience, purposes genre and attitudes to the main topic will form the basis of your commentary.

Once you have done this you should read the texts again. Focus on the quotations you have already identified and identify language and literary features along with the effect of these features on an audience.

Now you are ready to begin writing your commentary.

See below for a recommended structure for your commentary.

Below is a table of the key features you must address in your three way comparison.

FEATURE	COMMENT	EXAMPLE
Mode	Identify whether the text is spoken or written
Register	Identify quickly the register of the text. Observe its formality / informality.  Identify also if the texts have a semantic field.
Subject	Identify specific comparative sub topics present in each text. There may be 4 - 6 sub topics. Analysing and comparing these sub topics will form the main part of your essay. A common example of a sub topic will be the attitudes each writer or speaker has to the main topic.   The other analytical comparative paragraphs will be made up of comparing such topics as audience, purpose and genre.	There are two types of sub topics. There are sub topics that are specific to this actual question paper. The exam board will choose texts and extracts that can be compared quite carefully. There maybe 4 - 6 of these. There are sub topics that are present in every question. These are audience, purpose, genre and attitudes towards the unified topic.
Genre	Identify the genres and sub-genres of each text.	for example article, novel and transcript. Also identify sub-genre, e.g. polemical article, romantic fiction or  transactional/interactional – for spoken language.  Also be aware of different genres e.g. descriptive, dialogue, narrative, anecdotal writing.
Audience	Who is the target audience?	For example: public, private, general, exclusive
Purpose	What is the dominating purpose of the text? Be general   But also be specific   All texts have more than one purpose. Identify a secondary general purpose and then be specific	For example: inform, persuade, instruct, entertain   For example:  advise, order, proclaim, interrogate
Context	Read the rubric that introduces each text it will contain helpful points for your reading. Consider relevant social / features.
Attitude	Comment on the explicit and or implicit attitudes, values, assumptions the narrator adopts towards the key topic. Also note attitudes expressed by other voices in each text.	For example: sympathetic, unsympathetic, angry, tolerant
Analysis	Identify the different language and literary features used in each text. Ensure that for each text you identify literary and linguistic features	For example: linguistic – grammar, syntax, lexis, register   For example: literary – imagery, phonology, rhetoric   For example: spoken features - fluency and non fluency features

A recommended structure for your commentary

My recommendation for structuring the 3 way analytical comparison commentary is to write an introduction. Then analyse your first text. Thirdly analyse your second text making comparative comments to your first text. Then analyse your third text and make comparative comments on text two and text one. Finally write a brief conclusion.

In your analysis and comparison refer specifically to audience, purpose and genre as well as mode, main subject and sub topics, register, attitudes and context, woven through each analytical and comparative paragraph.

Comparison

Presentation of the topic and writing style

Comment on the presentation of the comparative topic. And comment on comparisons of genre, audience and purpose, mode, register, subject, attitudes and context. Remember that comparison means focus on similarities and or differences.

A 3 way comparison commentary structure

Introduction	Define key topic Summarise mode, register, subject audience, purpose & genre for each text
Text 1	Analysis
Text 2	Analysis + comparison to Text 1
Text 3	Analysis + comparison to Text 2 & 3
Conclusion	Short summary of key points of each text and comparative points