Comparative Analysis of Texts overview: the three unseen texts and spoken language
A complete overview of the Comparative Analysis of Texts component of WJEC A-Level English Language and Literature: comparing three unseen texts linked by content, theme or style (AO4), analysing the spoken language transcript, and reading genre, audience, purpose and viewpoint.
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This overview maps the Comparative Analysis of Texts component of WJEC A-Level English Language and Literature, which sets three unseen texts of different genres and periods, one of which is spoken language. It covers comparing the texts, analysing the spoken transcript, and reading genre, audience, purpose and viewpoint. The integrated method runs throughout.
What the component assesses
This is the unseen comparison: a detailed comparative analysis of three texts linked by content, theme or style. It foregrounds AO4, the exploration of connections across texts, integrated with close analysis of method and the reading of genre, audience and purpose. Because the texts are unseen and one is a transcript, the component rewards quick, accurate reading and disciplined comparative structure under time pressure.
The skills
This module covers three skills, each with its own page.
- Comparing unseen texts. Plan a connective comparison and structure by point of comparison across three texts (AO4).
- Analysing spoken language. Read a transcript on its own terms and use the spoken-written contrast as a comparative resource.
- Genre, audience and purpose. Identify genre, audience and purpose, analyse register and mode, and detect viewpoint and bias.
How to build these skills
- Annotate for connections. Read all three texts for links before writing.
- Structure by point. Hold two or three texts together in every paragraph.
- Respect genre. Read each text by its own conventions and mode.
- Read speech as speech. Treat transcript features as meaningful, not as errors.
- Ground stance in language. Detect bias from specific lexical and grammatical choices.
Where this fits in the exam
This component is one of the A2 examinations and is assessed alongside the poetry and Shakespeare component and the non-exam assessment. For the official specification and sample texts, see wjec.co.uk, and always revise from the current specification because task style is board-specific.