Non-Fiction Comprehension

<p>Non-fiction texts deal with real facts, events, and ideas. In the 11+ exam, you might be given a newspaper article, a biography, a letter, a speech, a set of instructions, or an information text. The skills overlap with fiction comprehension, but there are some important differences.</p>

<h2>Types of Non-Fiction Text</h2>

<ul>

<li><strong>Reports and articles:</strong> give factual information, often with headings and subheadings</li>

<li><strong>Letters:</strong> formal (to a company or official) or informal (to a friend)</li>

<li><strong>Persuasive writing:</strong> tries to convince you of something (adverts, speeches, opinion pieces)</li>

<li><strong>Biographies and autobiographies:</strong> tell the story of someone's life</li>

<li><strong>Instructions:</strong> tell you how to do or make something, usually with numbered steps</li>

</ul>

<h2>Reading Non-Fiction Carefully</h2>

<p>Before answering questions:</p>

<ul>

<li>Read the title and any subheadings — they tell you the topic and structure</li>

<li>Look at the source: is it a newspaper, a textbook, a letter?</li>

<li>Notice the tone: is it formal, chatty, passionate, neutral?</li>

<li>Identify the purpose: is it to inform, persuade, instruct, or entertain?</li>

</ul>

<h2>Retrieval Questions</h2>

<p>These ask you to find and sometimes list specific facts. Scan for key words from the question. If the question says "according to the text," the answer must come directly from the passage, not from your own knowledge.</p>

<p><strong>Worked Example:</strong> "What three reasons does the writer give for recycling?" Find the relevant paragraph, pick out exactly three reasons, and list them clearly.</p>

<h2>Inference in Non-Fiction</h2>

<p>Even in a factual text, you may need to infer. For instance, a travel article might describe a place as having "crumbling walls and overgrown paths" without directly saying it is abandoned. You infer that nobody looks after it.</p>

<h2>Language and Persuasion Techniques</h2>

<p>When a non-fiction text is persuasive, look for:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>Rhetorical questions:</strong> "Don't you want the best for your family?" (expects the reader to agree)</li>

<li><strong>Emotive language:</strong> "heartbreaking," "devastating" (aims to make you feel something)</li>

<li><strong>Statistics and facts:</strong> "9 out of 10 dentists agree" (gives authority)</li>

<li><strong>Expert opinions:</strong> quoting a scientist or specialist</li>

<li><strong>Rule of three:</strong> listing three things for emphasis — "faster, safer, and cheaper"</li>

<li><strong>Direct address:</strong> using "you" to speak to the reader personally</li>

</ul>

<h2>Comparing Two Texts</h2>

<p>Some exams give two texts on the same topic and ask you to compare. Focus on:</p>

<ul>

<li>Similarities and differences in the information given</li>

<li>Differences in tone and purpose</li>

<li>Which text is more persuasive, and why</li>

</ul>

<h2>Answering Clearly</h2>

<p>Non-fiction answers should be precise. Instead of writing "the text says recycling is good," write "the text states that recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours, which emphasises the practical impact of recycling."</p>

<h2>Practice Tips</h2>

<ul>

<li>Read a newspaper or magazine article every week and practise identifying the purpose and audience</li>

<li>Highlight persuasive techniques when you spot them</li>

<li>Always answer using evidence from the text, not your own opinions</li>

<li>For comparison questions, use linking phrases: "whereas," "on the other hand," "similarly"</li>

</ul>