Structural Devices
1. Triplets/ rule of three (three words used for effect)
2. Use of contrasts (images/ ideas/ behaviour/ attitudes etc)
3. What happens at the start of an extract and does this change at the end?
4. Juxtaposition (contrast of images)
5. Have lists been used to emphasise things/ for effect?
6. Repetition can be used for effect.
7. Is there foreshadowing (predicting of what will come later on)?
8. Is the story/ extract circular? Does it end where it starts or with the same
phrase/ idea?
9. Short sentences are often used for impact (to show anger/ shock/
determination/ fear)
10.Have exclamation marks been used? (shock/ fear/ anger)
11.Have semi-colons been used to slow the pace of events down? Why?
12.Have commas been used to speed up the pace and why?
13.Have question marks/ rhetorical questions been used to show confusion/
curiosity?
14.Have short phrases or fragments of sentences been used to show
confusion/ madness?
15.Have complex sentences been used, keeping the most dramatic
information until the last clause? Creates shock/ suspense/ drama.
16.How does the text end? What is the effect of this/ impact on reader?
17.Have certain things/ characters/ attitudes changed from the start of the text
to the end?
1. Triplets/ rule of three (three words used for effect)
2. Use of contrasts (images/ ideas/ behaviour/ attitudes etc)
3. What happens at the start of an extract and does this change at the end?
4. Juxtaposition (contrast of images)
5. Have lists been used to emphasise things/ for effect?
6. Repetition can be used for effect.
7. Is there foreshadowing (predicting of what will come later on)?
8. Is the story/ extract circular? Does it end where it starts or with the same
phrase/ idea?
9. Short sentences are often used for impact (to show anger/ shock/
determination/ fear)
10.Have exclamation marks been used? (shock/ fear/ anger)
11.Have semi-colons been used to slow the pace of events down? Why?
12.Have commas been used to speed up the pace and why?
13.Have question marks/ rhetorical questions been used to show confusion/
curiosity?
14.Have short phrases or fragments of sentences been used to show
confusion/ madness?
15.Have complex sentences been used, keeping the most dramatic
information until the last clause? Creates shock/ suspense/ drama.
16.How does the text end? What is the effect of this/ impact on reader?
17.Have certain things/ characters/ attitudes changed from the start of the text
to the end?
