How to Handle Different Text Types in IB English Language & Literature

📝 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:

1. Identify text type, audience, purpose, and context (TAPC)
2. Provide a thesis analyzing how form, content, and rhetorical features convey meaning
3. Structure your essay to discuss visual features, language, tone, technique, and purpose
4. 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.