Welcome to Letters, Reviews, and Other Non-Fiction!

In this chapter, we are exploring some of the most common ways people communicate through the written word. Whether it is a formal letter of complaint, a glowing restaurant review, or a personal travel blog, these texts are all shaped by their audience, purpose, genre, and mode.

For your Oxford AQA International AS English Language exam, you don't just read these texts; you take them apart like a mechanic to see how they work. You will also practice "transforming" them—for example, taking a news report and rewriting it as a letter. Let’s dive into the tools you need to master this!

The Analytical Toolkit: The Six Language Levels

Before we look at specific text types, remember that you should always use these six levels to analyze any piece of writing. Don't worry if these sound fancy; they are just different ways of looking at words!

  • Phonetics and Phonology: Sounds and effects (like alliteration or rhythm in a review).
  • Lexis and Semantics: The specific words chosen and the meanings they create.
  • Grammar: How sentences are built (short and punchy or long and formal?).
  • Pragmatics: The "hidden" meaning or things the writer assumes the reader already knows.
  • Discourse: How the whole text is structured from start to finish.
  • Graphology: How the text looks on the page (fonts, bullet points, addresses).

Quick Review: In Unit 1 Section A, you will use these levels to compare two texts. In Unit 2, you’ll focus more on how these levels show power or identity.

1. Letters: Personal and Professional

Letters are a classic genre. Even in the age of email, the conventions (the "rules" of how they look) remain very important.

Key Features of Letters

  • Graphology: Look for the placement of addresses, the date, and the "salutation" (Dear...). A formal letter usually has the sender’s address on the right and the recipient’s on the left.
  • Discourse: Most letters follow a predictable path: Opening -> Reason for writing -> Main Body -> Call to action/Conclusion -> Sign-off.
  • Lexis: Formal letters use polite, standard English (e.g., "I am writing to express my dissatisfaction"). Informal letters use colloquialisms or slang (e.g., "Just wanted to catch up!").

The "Constructed Audience"

In your exam, you might see a letter written to a "Dear Reader" or a specific person. Writers often have an idealized reader in mind—the perfect person they hope will read it. When analyzing, ask: Who does the writer think I am? Am I a concerned citizen? A friend? A customer?

Key Takeaway: Letters are highly dependent on the relationship between the sender and the receiver. This is a big part of Unit 2’s focus on social groups!

2. Reviews: Evaluating and Persuading

Reviews (of movies, books, restaurants, or products) are a hybrid genre. They are meant to inform you about something, but also to persuade you to like or dislike it.

Linguistic Features of Reviews

  • Subjective Lexis: Reviews are full of adjectives. A positive review might use "stunning," "breath-taking," or "innovative." A negative one might use "lacklustre," "derivative," or "clichéd."
  • Intertextuality: This is a big term for a simple idea! It’s when a review mentions other famous things to help you understand (e.g., "This film is like Star Wars meets Romeo and Juliet").
  • Pragmatics: Reviewers often assume the audience shares their taste or knowledge. They might use "insider" terms without explaining them.

Did you know? Professional reviewers often use humour or sarcasm to build a relationship with their readers. This "playful" use of language is something you should look for in Unit 2 Section A.

3. Other Non-Fiction Writing

This category includes things like memoirs, travel writing, and biographies. These are often more "literary" than a simple instruction manual.

Travel Writing

Travel writing often uses highly descriptive lexis to create a sense of place.
Example: "The air was thick with the scent of roasted coffee and the chaotic hum of the bazaar."
Here, the writer uses sensory language to make the reader feel like they are there. This is a great example of using language for creative play.

Memoirs and Biographies

These focus on identity. Look for the use of the first-person pronoun "I" and how the writer constructs their own history. Are they presenting themselves as a hero? A victim? A rebel? This connects directly to the Unit 2 focus on expressions of identity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Feature Spotting: Don't just say "The writer uses an adjective." You must explain why. (e.g., "The writer uses the superlative 'best' to persuade the audience that the product is superior to all others.")
  • Ignoring Graphology: In Unit 1, the visual layout matters! If a letter has a formal layout, it tells us the mode is a planned, written communication intended for a professional purpose.
  • Forgetting the Brief: In Unit 1 Section B (Directed Writing), if the task asks you to write a review based on a transcript, do not invent your own facts. Use the information provided in the "Source Material."

Quick Review: Putting it into Practice

When you sit down for your exam, follow these steps for any non-fiction text:

  1. Identify the "Big Four": What is the Audience, Purpose, Genre, and Mode?
  2. Scan the Levels: Find one interesting thing about the Lexis, Grammar, and Graphology.
  3. Think Social: (Especially for Unit 2) How does this text show power or membership in a group?

Encouraging Note: Don't worry if some texts seem "boring" at first. The "boring" parts—like the way a business letter is signed off—are actually where the most interesting linguistic rules are hiding! Once you see the patterns, you’ll be able to analyze anything.

Cross-reference: For more on how digital versions of these texts (like blogs or forums) work, check the "Digital texts" chapter.