Language techniques for Language Paper 2

With the non-fiction exam looming on Monday, here’s a quick rundown on the Persuasive features that you could include to make Question 5 count.

I use this mnemonic, although there are a fair few around for this paper.

Alliteration

Rhetorical questions

Repetition

Exaggeration

Statistics

The power of three

Emotive language

Direct address

You need to have a good grasp on these for Question 5, when you will use them yourself, and Question 3 when you might need to refer to them in source A.

On the whole, these techniques will make your work sound a little over the top, in a way you are likely never going to say, unless you are giving a persuasive speech.  But just think of the Cillit Bang adverts or the Flash advert with the dog.  They are ott so that you remember them, and that is what you are trying to achieve in this piece. 

Here’s an opening paragraph example persuading my peers that they should buy my water bottle:

Are you going to spend the rest of your life dehydrated, gasping for water? What for? The best water bottle in the world is calling out to you to buy it, use it, love it. 

Ridiculous eh? But the sort of thing you may hear in an advert.  I’ve piled in most of the techniques as an opening introduction and would keep doing that for 3 or 4 points/paragraphs promoting the virtues of my water bottle. 

Other mnemonics for this paper include fact and opinion and humour and you should certainly consider making your audience laugh to get them on your side.

Play around with these techniques using them to describe something as basic as a water bottle and you will get yourself ready to smash Paper 2.

If you have time, check out the techniques to help you in Paper 1 here.

SUE

Owner of Red Bird Tutoring