Reading: Non-Fiction
Reading non-fiction at KS3 is the skill of analysing articles, reports or feature pieces, identifying how writers use structure, language and evidence to present a viewpoint or argument. It develops the AO1, AO2 and AO4 skills needed for GCSE English Language Paper 2, including comparing how two writers present similar ideas.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the whole text once for overall meaning and tone before answering any questions.
- For retrieval and true or not given questions, locate the exact paragraph the question refers to and check the wording carefully.
- For language questions, identify the technique (e.g. statistic, direct quotation, emotive word choice) and explain the effect it has on the reader.
- For structure questions, track how the writer's focus shifts from paragraph to paragraph, such as moving from a personal story to evidence to a counter-argument.
- For evaluation questions, form a clear personal judgement and support it with evidence from across the whole text, not just one paragraph.
- For comparison questions, identify a similarity or difference in viewpoint or method, then support each point with a quotation from each text.
Worked example
A journalist writes: 'Nearly 40 per cent of local rivers now fail basic cleanliness tests, according to a three year study.' Explain how this use of language adds to the writer's argument.
- Identify the technique: use of a precise statistic ('nearly 40 per cent') alongside a cited source ('a three year study').
- Note that statistics give an argument an evidence-based, factual quality rather than sounding like opinion.
- Consider that citing a specific study adds authority and credibility to the claim.
- Link this to the effect on the reader: it makes the problem feel serious, measurable and hard to dismiss.
- Final answer: The precise statistic and cited study make the claim feel evidence based and authoritative, persuading the reader that river pollution is a serious, proven problem rather than exaggeration.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Look at this sentence: 'the council reluctantly admitted that the new car park had gone over budget.' What does the word 'reluctantly' suggest about the council's attitude?
Compare how two writers present their views on a new recycling scheme. Writer A states: 'The scheme has already cut landfill waste by a quarter, a remarkable achievement in under a year.' Writer B states: 'Residents I spoke to called the new bins confusing, and several said they had simply given up sorting their rubbish.'
A reader says: 'This article about a new bypass is written to convince us that the road is entirely good for the town.' Evaluate how far you agree with this statement, using evidence from the following extract: 'The bypass has already cut town centre traffic by half, says the council, though local shopkeeper Nia Evans reports takings have fallen since drivers stopped passing her door.'
Free printable worksheet
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