Question 3: Structural Analysis

Question 3 is worth 8 marks and tests your ability to analyse how writers structure a text to interest and engage readers. This is still assessed under AO2 but focuses on structure rather than language. Many students find this the most challenging question on Paper 1 because structural features are less obvious than language techniques. However, with the right framework, it becomes very manageable.

---

What the Question Looks Like

A typical Q3 might read:

You now need to think about the whole of the source. This text is from the opening of a novel. How has the writer structured the text to interest you as a reader?

Unlike Q2, you are asked to consider the whole text, not just a specified section. You should comment on how the beginning, middle, and end of the extract are structured.

---

What Is "Structure"?

Structure refers to how the writer organises and sequences the text. It includes the order of events, the focus of the narrative, and how the writer controls what the reader sees, knows, and feels at different points.

Key Structural Features