OCR GCSE English Language key terms

A position supported by connected reasons and relevant evidence, intended to convince an audience.

A piece of writing published in a newspaper, magazine or on a website, shaped for its readers and purpose.

The mood created by a piece of writing, such as tension, calm or unease.

The feeling or judgement a writer expresses towards a subject, such as admiration, resentment or uncertainty.

The people a piece of writing is intended to reach, whose interests, experiences and needs influence the writer’s choices.

Writing about the writer’s own life and experiences, usually using a first-person viewpoint.

An account of a person's life written by that person.

Selecting the mark-scheme level that most closely describes the overall quality of an answer, rather than counting individual features.

Selecting the marking level that most closely describes the overall quality of an answer, then choosing a mark within that level where a range is available.

A preference or partial viewpoint that influences how information is selected, interpreted or presented.

An appeal telling the audience what practical step to take.

The methods a writer uses to reveal a character’s personality, feelings and motivations, including actions, speech and thoughts.

The presentation of events in the order in which they happen.

A group of words containing a verb, usually with a subject, that forms all or part of a sentence.

A moment of greatest intensity or tension in a passage or narrative.

The logical organisation of a text, which makes its ideas or events understandable as a whole.

The connections between parts of a text, created through features such as pronouns, repeated key words and linking phrases.

An error in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma alone.

Exploration of similarities and differences between texts, including their ideas and the ways writers convey them.

A sentence containing a main clause and at least one subordinate clause.

A sentence containing two or more main clauses joined together.

An acknowledgement that an opposing argument has some merit, often followed by an explanation of why the writer's position remains stronger.

A word that connects clauses or other grammatical units, such as ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘because’ or ‘so’.

An association or suggestion carried by a word beyond its literal meaning.

The circumstances surrounding a text, including its historical setting, form and situation of communication.

A shortened form in which an apostrophe marks omitted letters, such as ‘couldn’t’ for ‘could not’.

The placing of noticeably different ideas or details together to emphasise their difference.