AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TECHNIQUES
Imperative (verb) - correct answer ✔Command word
Personification - correct answer ✔Applying human characteristics to an
object.
Anthroporphism - correct answer ✔Applying human characteristics to an
animal (the opposite is objectification).
Technical language/jargon - correct answer ✔This is subject-specific lexis,
used to demonstrate a high level of intelligence or knowledge. May be used to
intentionally overwhelm reader or impress well-educated audience.
Metaphor - correct answer ✔This is where something is stated to be
somethinge else.
Inclusive Pronouns - correct answer ✔These, such as 'you' and 'we', link the
reader and audience together. They create feelings of warmth and empathy
and subtly coerce the reader into feeling they agree with the author's
viewpoint or are at risk from the dangers the author points out.
Simile - correct answer ✔This is where something is stated to be "like"
something else - a form of comparison.
Analogy - correct answer ✔This is similar to a simile - something is
compared to something else IN ORDER to prove a point about the first thing.
E.g. 'Not implementing electoral reform would be like handcuffing people and
confiscating their ballots before they entered the polling station
, Onomatopoeia - correct answer ✔Spell this correctly if you are writing it in an
exam! - This involves creating sounds such as 'creak'; 'slurp'; 'squelch', in
which the words have a similar phonic pronunciation to the actual sound. It
adds realism and may help create better imagery in a situation hence making
events more credible.
Anecdote - correct answer ✔This is a past story or even an 'urban legend'
that someone uses to demonstrate an occurrence; it can also be used to
create an emotive reaction. For example describing a tragic story about a
family in a house fire is far more emotive than an objective statistic than the
numbers per year dying in fires.
Pathetic fallacy/ambivalence - correct answer ✔Pathetic fallacy is where a
writer tries to make the surroundings reflect moods and feelings in the
situation. This can be important to consider in Q3 where you are asked to
describe and explain the feelings of the writer. Furthermore the ambivalence
of a scene (the lightness of it, surrounding sounds and senses) are important
in reflecting mood.
Alliteration - correct answer ✔This is where a group of words all begin with
the same SOUND. E.g. An aspiring artist amalgamated all anchovies for
aesthetics - amazing! This is effective in adding to a point. For higher marks
(Band 3-4) consider the sounds, vowels/consonants and word lengths used -
is it short or long? Are the sounds harsh or soft? What TONE is the author
attempting to create?
Assonance - correct answer ✔This is where certain vowel sounds are
repeated. It is similar to alliteration.
Persons - correct answer ✔1st person = I/we (subjective).
2nd person = you (see direct address).
TECHNIQUES
Imperative (verb) - correct answer ✔Command word
Personification - correct answer ✔Applying human characteristics to an
object.
Anthroporphism - correct answer ✔Applying human characteristics to an
animal (the opposite is objectification).
Technical language/jargon - correct answer ✔This is subject-specific lexis,
used to demonstrate a high level of intelligence or knowledge. May be used to
intentionally overwhelm reader or impress well-educated audience.
Metaphor - correct answer ✔This is where something is stated to be
somethinge else.
Inclusive Pronouns - correct answer ✔These, such as 'you' and 'we', link the
reader and audience together. They create feelings of warmth and empathy
and subtly coerce the reader into feeling they agree with the author's
viewpoint or are at risk from the dangers the author points out.
Simile - correct answer ✔This is where something is stated to be "like"
something else - a form of comparison.
Analogy - correct answer ✔This is similar to a simile - something is
compared to something else IN ORDER to prove a point about the first thing.
E.g. 'Not implementing electoral reform would be like handcuffing people and
confiscating their ballots before they entered the polling station
, Onomatopoeia - correct answer ✔Spell this correctly if you are writing it in an
exam! - This involves creating sounds such as 'creak'; 'slurp'; 'squelch', in
which the words have a similar phonic pronunciation to the actual sound. It
adds realism and may help create better imagery in a situation hence making
events more credible.
Anecdote - correct answer ✔This is a past story or even an 'urban legend'
that someone uses to demonstrate an occurrence; it can also be used to
create an emotive reaction. For example describing a tragic story about a
family in a house fire is far more emotive than an objective statistic than the
numbers per year dying in fires.
Pathetic fallacy/ambivalence - correct answer ✔Pathetic fallacy is where a
writer tries to make the surroundings reflect moods and feelings in the
situation. This can be important to consider in Q3 where you are asked to
describe and explain the feelings of the writer. Furthermore the ambivalence
of a scene (the lightness of it, surrounding sounds and senses) are important
in reflecting mood.
Alliteration - correct answer ✔This is where a group of words all begin with
the same SOUND. E.g. An aspiring artist amalgamated all anchovies for
aesthetics - amazing! This is effective in adding to a point. For higher marks
(Band 3-4) consider the sounds, vowels/consonants and word lengths used -
is it short or long? Are the sounds harsh or soft? What TONE is the author
attempting to create?
Assonance - correct answer ✔This is where certain vowel sounds are
repeated. It is similar to alliteration.
Persons - correct answer ✔1st person = I/we (subjective).
2nd person = you (see direct address).
