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EnglandEnglish Language & Literature

Component 1: Voices in Speech and Writing

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you answer the Comparing Voices question, comparing an unseen text with an anthology text?

The Comparing Voices task (Component 1, Section A): comparing an unseen 20th or 21st century text with a prescribed anthology text, building a comparative thesis about how each constructs a voice, and meeting AO1, AO2 and AO4 under timed conditions.
An Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature (9EL0) answer on the Comparing Voices task: comparing an unseen 20th or 21st century text with an anthology text, building a comparative thesis on how each constructs voice, integrating context, and writing to time to meet AO1, AO2 and AO4.
13 min answer →

What is voice in Edexcel Component 1, and how is it constructed in speech and writing?

The concept of voice in Edexcel Component 1: how a distinctive voice is constructed in speech and writing through lexical, grammatical, pragmatic and discourse choices, and why voice is the organising idea of the whole component.
An Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature (9EL0) answer on the concept of voice in Component 1: how a distinctive voice is built through lexis, grammar, pragmatics and discourse, the difference between spoken and written voice, and why voice unites the anthology comparison and the drama essay.
12 min answer →

How do the modes of speech and writing differ, and how does mode shape the voice of a text?

Mode in Edexcel Component 1: the differences between speech and writing, the features of spontaneous and planned discourse, blended and digital modes, and how mode shapes the voice and meaning of a text.
An Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature (9EL0) answer on mode: the differences between speech and writing, the features of spontaneous spoken discourse, the features of planned written discourse, blended and computer-mediated modes, and how mode shapes a text's voice and meaning.
12 min answer →

How do texts represent people, places and ideas, and how do they position their audiences?

Representation and positioning in Edexcel Component 1: how texts represent people, places, events and ideas through language choices, and how they position their audiences through address, presupposition and synthetic personalisation.
An Edexcel A-Level English Language and Literature (9EL0) answer on representation and positioning: how texts represent people, places and ideas through lexical and grammatical choices, how they position audiences through address, presupposition, deixis and synthetic personalisation, and how to analyse both for effect.
12 min answer →