Reading Question 4 Understanding and writing about presentational features

In groups of three You have 5 minutes to discuss and draw a rough sketch of the front cover for a World Wildlife, a charity, that is launching a campaign to save leopards. Think about: The purpose of the leaflet Who the leaflet is aimed at How you get your message across The presentational features you should include

Learning objective: to learn how to plan an effective answer to reading question 4 All: to plan a top band 2 answer Most: to plan a band 3 answer answer Some: to plan a 12 point answer All: to plan a top band 2 answer Most: to plan a band 3 answer answer Some: to plan a 12 point answer

To get full marks for this question you must: Be able to identify presentational features. Give clear examples of presentational features. Explain the effect of the features. Compare presentational features in two different texts.

A typical question 4 would look like this: Now look again at Source 1 and Source 3. Compare the way that both texts use presentational features for effect. Remember to: write about the way the sources are presented explain the effect of the presentational features compare the way they look. (12 Marks)

Why are presentational features used? Mood Pictures Fonts Colour Mood Pictures Fonts Colour Memory Bold text Headlines and sub headings Bullet points Diagrams, maps and illustrations Memory Bold text Headlines and sub headings Bullet points Diagrams, maps and illustrations Clarity Bold text Bullet points Sub-headings Paragraphs Colour Images and captions Clarity Bold text Bullet points Sub-headings Paragraphs Colour Images and captions

Task 1 You will be looking at a range of non-fiction text types that you may be given in your exam. For each example, identify the presentational features and note them down on the grid. You have 4 minutes per example. There are 5 examples. Another way to think about the effect of the features is to imagine why the designer put them there. Think back to why you chose to design your leaflet cover in the way you did.

Effect For high marks, you need to be specific about the job the feature is doing in this particular example. A general comment on an image may be: The text has two images of Rachael Latham which shows the reader what she looks like and what the article is about. A specific comment would be: The text has two photographs of Rachael Latham, one of her her in the pool training and the other of her sitting on her bed dressed casually and surrounded by clutter. They show the two different sides of her life explained in the text: determined elite athlete and typical student. The image of Latham in her room makes her seem more ‘normal’ and could help teenage readers relate to her.

Effect Another example: The website uses lots of white space which makes it clean and easy to read. A specific comment would be: The copy on the web page is surrounded by white space making the main message (how it’s fun and easy to take part) clear for the reader to identify and read, by separating it from other parts of the page. This is important as many features of the page, such as the navigation bar and banner, could distract the reader’s attention if they were too close together.

Task 2 Using texts 1 and 3, write the first part of an answer comparing at least two features in each text. DifferentSimilar …unlike… …whereas… …in other words… …on the other hand… …alternatively… …instead… …equally… …in the same way… …similarly… …likewise… …as with…

Top Tips Choose 3 presentational features used in both texts and compare them. Write a lot about a little. Describe the feature clearly, using correct terms. Say what is in the picture and what it is putting across, (denotation and connotation). Make a developed comment on the feature’s effect in that particular text. Go for the obvious: images, graphics, titles, colour, font, logo.

Mark scheme Band 3 (9 – 12 marks) clear evidence that the texts are understood in relation to presentational features clear comparison of presentational features clear analysis of/developed comment on the effect of the presentational features in both texts relevant and appropriate examples of presentational features Band 2 (5 – 8 marks) some evidence that the texts are understood in relation to presentational features attempts to compare presentational features some comment on the effect of presentational features in both texts some appropriate examples of presentational features

FeatureDescriptionEffect Logo Blue circle surrounding a drop of water in the centre. Colour fits with water theme. Drop of water reminds reader it can be a scarce resource.

Cool in the pool The traditional Daily Mail logo is reduced to Mail and placed alongside Online in a more modern font The headline Cool in the Pool! uses an exclamatory and a rhyme. It uses the pun ‘making a splash’ to refer to her swimming The intro paragraph in bold gives the context for the interview The interview is structured in a Question and Answer format using the girls’ initials after the first Q and A Questions are presented in a bold font to separate them visually from the answers The two colour photographs show the two sides to Rachael Latham – as a professional swimmer in her kit, with a look of determination and as a typical student, casually dressed, in her bedroom to help make a connection – possibly with younger readers

uses the Sport Relief logo based on the recognisable Red Nose the colour red is mirrored in the subheading ‘Rise to the Challenge’ and is also used to highlight which page of the menu we are on and in the boy’s costume. This links to mention of the red and white theme in the text the subheading ‘the training ground’ links sport with school and is presented in multi colours a sky blue and white is used as the background with shapes implying clouds Each activity title has a fun icon attached to it to appeal to younger people – the zig zag line uses an arrow to indicate which page the reader is currently on There are pictures of children on the webpage, male and female, black and white, in costume and in uniform, perhaps to show how everyone is invited to take part. The costume looks fun and imaginative. The text is presented in a soft grey on white background with blue subheadings. This is less harsh than a black font and has less of a demanding feel. There is lots of white space so that the information is not dense but emphasises the short punchy structure of the paragraphs and sub headings. Separate boxes are used at the bottom of the page to provide key information and links. Two use graphics to illustrate but the middle section uses a photograph of a real project at work with Sport Relief funds, and pictures school age children similar to the boy in fancy dress.