Texts that Advise

• Texts that advise, also known as advisory texts, form a crucial part of the reading comprehension skills needed in understanding fiction. Such texts can offer counsel, suggestions, and recommendations.

• The primary aim of advisory texts is to guide, inform or warn the reader. Authors of such texts often address the reader directly and use a formal or semi-formal tone of voice.

• Advisory texts come in various forms, such as guidebooks, manuals, advice columns, FAQs, ‘how-to’ instructions, and health and safety guidelines.

• Understanding these texts in the context of fiction can enhance the comprehension of character motives, plot developments, and underlying themes.

• Some advisory texts within fiction may be disguised as dialogue or narrative descriptions, serving as vehicles for the author’s instructions or advice to the reader.

• Advisory texts often use imperative sentences, direct instructions and ‘you’ statements. These rhetorical devices are used to create a sense of immediacy and make the advice feel more personal.

• When examining advisory texts, pay close attention to the author’s choice of language. Consider the intended audience, purpose, and context.

• Understanding advisory texts in fiction can improve critical reading and analytical skills, aiding the interpretation and perception of different perspectives in a text.