Paper 2: How to Answer Question 4

What is it asking?

• This is the big comparison question (16 marks).
• You are asked to compare the writers' methods and ideas.
• In practice, this means:
  • What each writer thinks/feels (perspectives and viewpoints).
  • How each writer gets these ideas across (methods = language + structure).
• It's like combining the skills from Q2 (summarising ideas) and Q3 (analysing methods).

Timings

Marks	Timings
[16]	20–25 minutes

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How to Approach the Question (Step by Step)

1. Read the question carefully – it will usually ask about a specific theme (e.g. travel, work, attitudes to children).
2. Underline the focus in both sources – what is each writer's viewpoint on this theme?
3. Plan quickly – jot down 2–3 key comparisons (similarities and/or differences).
4. Start with a clear comparative statement – show the link between the two sources immediately.
5. Work through each source – give a quote, analyse the method (language/structure), explain what it shows.
6. Compare explicitly – use connectives ("however," "in contrast," "on the other hand," "similarly") to link ideas directly.
7. Finish with a summary – show overall similarities/differences in the writers' viewpoints.

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Structure

In this question, you can talk about the impacts of both language and structure.

Structure	Example
Clear, comparative statement that answers the question	Both texts present travel as challenging, but Source A emphasises the excitement whilst Source B highlights the danger…
Source A method	The writer has used […] and an example of this is…
Source A word analysis	This is suggested through the word…
Source A perspective	Here, the writer is presenting X as Y because…
Source B compare perspective	Similarly…, By contrast…, Unlike Source A, Source B…
Source B method	Source B uses […] to convey…
Source B word analysis	The writer employs the word…
Source B perspective	This reflects their viewpoint because it shows…
Comparative summary	Overall, both writers share concern about X, but Source A is more positive while Source B is more critical…

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Structural Analysis Help

When analysing the effects of structure, use the acronym BEST SECONDZ (as in Paper 1, Q3):

• Beginnings
• Endings
• Sentence lengths (relative to the surrounding text)
• Time (e.g. chronological, flashback)
• Shifts in focus (e.g. changes in weather, time, place, person, theme)
• Echoes from earlier in the text (repetition)
• Contrast
• Order of events/ideas (do they follow on from one another?)
• Narrative perspective (first, second, third person)
• Discourse markers & dialogue (connectives e.g. After, However)
• Zooming into description (careful: don't slip into language analysis here)

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