Responding to a Non-Fiction Text

Section 1: Interpreting the Purpose and Audience of a Non-Fiction Text

Identify the purpose of the text: Is it to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct?
Pay attention to the audience the text is intended for. Clues might come from the language, content, or presentation.
Always ask, ‘Who would be interested in this information?’ and ‘Why would they be interested?’
Determine the context in which the text has been written and published. This could influence its style, content and approach.
Remember, a text might have more than one purpose and may be aimed at more than one audience.

Section 2: Making Connections with Other Texts

Link ideas and themes from the non-fiction text you’re studying with other non-fiction or fiction texts you’ve read.
Think about how the same subject or theme might be treated differently in different texts.
Consider how aspects such as form, structure, and language might vary across texts with similar or different purposes and audiences.

Section 3: Evaluating a Non-Fiction Text

Comment on the effectiveness of the text in fulfilling its purpose and appealing to its intended audience.
Discuss the strengths and weaknessesof the text in terms of its language, structure, and presentation. -Analyze whether the text’s form and layout help or hinder its readability and impact.
Consider whether the text has any bias or particular perspective, and how this contributes to its effectiveness.
Support your evaluations with evidence from the text, including quotations, examples, and your own observations.

Remember that evaluating a text isn’t just about what you like or dislike - it’s about understanding and analysing how the text works.