IB English A Lang & Lit Topic How to Write About Prose Non-fiction Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB English A Lang & Lit Topic How to Write About Prose Non-fiction Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

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Writing About Prose Non-Fiction: An Analytical Approach

Definition

Prose non-fiction

A literary form that presents factual or reflective content through continuous prose, using techniques such as voice, structure, and rhetorical strategies to inform, argue, or explore real events and ideas.

The same fundamental approach as fiction applies to literary non-fiction: identify what the text is doing, show how specific language choices create that effect, and connect device to meaning.
The distinctive element is the author's real presence: the "I" is simultaneously subject and narrator, so every device carries the additional weight of having been lived through rather than invented.

Attend to Voice First

Begin by identifying and characterising the author's voice: what is its register (formal, intimate, academic, lyrical) and its dominant quality (confident, questioning, ironic, tender)?
Support your characterisation with specific language examples. A precise opening claim about voice sets the terms for everything that follows and is often the strongest first analytical move.
Short declarative sentences create intimacy and directness; long, subordinate-clause-heavy sentences enact complexity or reluctance. The rhythm is not decoration: it is argumentation.

Distinguish the Past Self from the Narrating Self

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

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Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Writing About Prose Non-Fiction: An Analytical Approach

Definition

Prose non-fiction

The same fundamental approach as fiction applies to literary non-fiction: identify what the text is doing, show how specific language choices create that effect, and connect device to meaning.
The distinctive element is the author's real presence: the "I" is simultaneously subject and narrator, so every device carries the additional weight of having been lived through rather than invented.

Attend to Voice First

Begin by identifying and characterising the author's voice: what is its register (formal, intimate, academic, lyrical) and its dominant quality (confident, questioning, ironic, tender)?
Support your characterisation with specific language examples. A precise opening claim about voice sets the terms for everything that follows and is often the strongest first analytical move.
Short declarative sentences create intimacy and directness; long, subordinate-clause-heavy sentences enact complexity or reluctance. The rhythm is not decoration: it is argumentation.

Distinguish the Past Self from the Narrating Self

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

IB English A Lang & Lit How to Write About Prose Non-fiction Notes

IB English A Lang & Lit How to Write About Prose Non-fiction Notes

Writing About Prose Non-Fiction: An Analytical Approach

Attend to Voice First

Distinguish the Past Self from the Narrating Self

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Writing About Prose Non-Fiction: An Analytical Approach

Attend to Voice First

Distinguish the Past Self from the Narrating Self

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

IB English A Lang & Lit How to Write About Prose Non-fiction Notes

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis6 subtopics

Paper 1 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay3 subtopics

Text Types13 subtopics

Literary Forms4 subtopics

IB English A Lang & Lit How to Write About Prose Non-fiction Notes

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis6 subtopics

Paper 1 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay3 subtopics

Text Types13 subtopics

Literary Forms4 subtopics

Writing About Prose Non-Fiction: An Analytical Approach

Attend to Voice First

Distinguish the Past Self from the Narrating Self

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Writing About Prose Non-Fiction: An Analytical Approach

Attend to Voice First

Distinguish the Past Self from the Narrating Self

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account