📝 Why Text Type Mastery Is Essential
IB English Language & Literature includes diverse non‑literary text types in exams and orals. Examples include:
- Newspaper articles & editorials
- Speeches and presentations
- Advertisements and posters
- Interviews and magazine features
- Emails, letters, and social media posts
- Infographics and graphs
Handling these confidently gives you a competitive advantage in Paper 1, the Individual Oral (IO), and your Written Task 1.
👉 Explore Understanding Non‑Literary Texts in IB English A for a comprehensive introduction. (revisiondojo.com)
🧠 Analysis Techniques by Text Type
1. Articles & Editorials
- Identify purpose (inform, persuade, entertain) and audience
- Examine tone, bias, word choice, structure, and rhetorical devices
- Evaluate argument strength, use of evidence, and persuasive impact
👉 Practice analysis methods in Effective Study Techniques for IB English A.
2. Speeches & Presentations
- Explore register, rhetorical questions, repetition, and oratorial devices
- Annotate shifts in tone, call-to-action language, or audience engagement techniques
👉 See examples in Comprehensive Guide to the Individual Oral (IO).
3. Advertisements & Posters
- Identify layout, visual hierarchy, slogan, fonts, color, and emotive imagery
- Discuss persuasive techniques like ethos, pathos, credibility, emotional appeal
👉 Analyze media features with help from [Media Literacy & Non-Literary Text Support on RevisionDojo].
4. Emails, Letters, Social Media Posts
- Note register, formality, tone, and digital conventions (emoticons, hashtags)
- Assess purpose, context, and effectiveness of language in digital communication
👉 Use [RevisionDojo’s Non‑Literary Text Practice Tasks] to build skill across genres.
5. Infographics, Charts, Visual Data
- Evaluate visual features: charts, icons, layout, color coding, captions
- Examine textual elements, data sources, and presentation for clarity and bias
👉 Practice with [RevisionDojo’s Practice Questions for Visuals and Data Texts].
✍️ Writing Responses for Different Formats
In Paper 1, your response should:
- Identify text type, audience, purpose, and context (TAPC)
- Provide a thesis analyzing how form, content, and rhetorical features convey meaning
- Structure your essay to discuss visual features, language, tone, technique, and purpose
- Conclude by reflecting on overall effectiveness and impact
👉 Use IB English Paper 1 Success Guide to refine your format-specific approach.
In the IO and Written Task 1, adapt your commentary to:
- Compare texts across form (e.g., tweet vs. poster)
- Link to global issues or rhetorical purpose
- Embed textual references of genre-specific features
📚 Quick Table: Text Types and Focus Areas
Text Type Features to Analyze Key Strategy Articles/Editorials Tone, structure, persuasive appeal, argument strength Identify bias and evaluate evidence Speeches Rhetorical devices, tone shifts, audience engagement Highlight performative techniques Advertisements/Posters Layout, visuals, slogans, emotional appeal Unpack persuasive design elements Emails & Social Media Register, digital conventions, tone, context Assess purpose and immediacy Infographics Data clarity, visual hierarchy, labeling, source quoting Critique information accuracy
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How is paper 1 scored for visual vs textual content?
The rubric equally values visual and textual analysis, as long as the argument is coherent and contextualized.
Q2: Can I compare different text types in the IO or Essay 1?
Yes—comparison illuminates genre-specific choices and rhetorical intent across text types.
Q3: Do I need film or media vocabulary for non-literary texts?
Yes—terms like “layout,” “register,” “tone,” and “persuasive device” deepen your analytical precision.
Q4: Are tone shifts important in digital texts?
Absolutely—they can signal sarcasm, change in audience, or informality in tasks like social media posts.
Q5: Should I learn both formal and digital registers?
Yes—use anecdotal tasks and practice to understand tone, register, and functional variation.
Q6: Where can I get more genre-based practice?
Visit [RevisionDojo’s Non‑Literary Text Practice Hub] to access unseen texts, practice questions, and annotated models.
✅ Final Thoughts & RevisionDojo Call to Action
Mastering different non-literary text types empowers you to tackle any IB English Language & Literature assessment. Effective analysis of form, purpose, and audience drives clarity—and earns top marks.
👉 Ready to enhance your skills? Access [RevisionDojo’s English Language Practice Resources]—including genre-based worksheets, model responses, and timed unseen tasks for articles, speeches, ads, and more.
