Back to the full dot-point answer
EnglandEnglish LiteratureQuick questions
Exam technique
Quick questions on The extended comparative answer: the transferable comparison structure - Eduqas A-Level English Literature
8short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is idea-led structure?Show answer
The foundation of any comparison is idea-led structure. Break the comparative question into aspects, and make each section compare both texts on one aspect, with both present within the section. This makes comparison (AO4) continuous. The alternative, a text-by-text structure (all of text A, then all of text B, then a comparison), leaves connection as an afterthought and caps the AO4 mark, which is fatal in the drama comparison where AO4 is the leading objective.
What are integrate the objectives?Show answer
A comparison assesses several objectives, and they should be woven together, not addressed in separate sections. Within each idea-led section: analyse how each text shapes the idea (AO2), connect the two (AO4), and bring context (AO3) and interpretation (AO5) to bear where they sharpen the point. A paragraph can do several objectives at once, in service of the comparative argument (AO1). This integration is what the top bands reward.
What is balance the answer?Show answer
A comparison must be balanced in two ways. First, both texts should receive roughly equal weight; an answer dominated by one text weakens the comparison. Second, every assessed objective should appear in proportion to its weighting; neglecting AO3 or AO5 entirely loses easy marks. Before finishing, check the balance: both texts present throughout, AO4 connection continuous, and the supporting objectives addressed.
What is reach a judgement?Show answer
A comparison should build to a judgement that answers the comparative question or the stated view, drawn from the comparison rather than asserted. The judgement is the payoff of the idea-led argument: having compared the texts across the aspects, you reach a considered position on their relationship or on the view.
What is idea-led section?Show answer
Comparing two poets on memory, a section opens with the aspect (how each roots memory), analyses each poet's method, connects them by difference ("where Heaney drives memory into the body, Sheers reads it into the land"), and draws a point about meaning, all within one paragraph. Both poets are present and compared.
What is q1?Show answer
What are the two essentials of a strong comparative answer? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
What are the two commonest faults in comparative answers? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Outline the structure you would use for any Eduqas comparison task. [short response]