Unit 3 Section B — Comparing two written texts
Unit 3 Section B requires you to compare two written texts — one literary and one non-literary — linked by theme or purpose. This is a reading and comparison skill that draws on both AO3 (comparing ideas and methods) and AO2 (analysing language and structure).
What the comparison task involves
You will be given an extract from a literary text (a novel, short story, poem, or personal essay) and a non-literary text (a newspaper article, diary entry, informational text, or speech) on the same theme. Typical themes in CCEA Unit 3: nature, community, childhood, loss, identity, belonging.
Framework for a literary vs non-literary comparison
The fundamental difference to establish first: literary texts prioritise aesthetic effect; non-literary texts prioritise function (informing, persuading, advising). This structural difference shapes every choice the writer makes.
| Dimension | Literary text | Non-literary text |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To create aesthetic experience, explore theme | To inform, persuade or record |
| Voice | Crafted; may be fictional or persona | Often authorial/journalistic |
| Language | Figurative, layered, ambiguous | Functional, precise, direct |
| Structure | Shaped for emotional or thematic effect | Organised for clarity and logic |
A reliable comparison structure for Unit 3
Opening: identify both texts; state the shared theme and the key difference in purpose/mode.
Comparison 1: theme — what does each text explore, and how do their treatments differ? Use interleaved quotations.
Comparison 2: language — how does the choice of language differ? E.g. the literary text uses extended metaphor while the non-literary text uses statistics.
Comparison 3: structure — how is each text shaped differently? E.g. the poem uses stanzas and a volta; the article uses headline, paragraphs and subheadings.
Closing: what does the comparison reveal about how form and purpose shape language?
Key evaluative vocabulary
When comparing at a sophisticated level, use evaluative language: "more effective", "more distanced", "creates a more immediate effect", "draws the reader in more personally", "conveys the same idea but through very different means".
⚠Common mistakes— Common mistakes in Unit 3 comparison
- Treating literary as "better" than non-literary. Both have their own criteria for success — don't rank them.
- Ignoring the non-literary text. Some students focus almost entirely on the literary extract.
- Comparing without interleaving. Always mix both texts in each paragraph.
- Failing to identify the structural difference. Literary texts use structure aesthetically; non-literary texts use it functionally.
AI-generated · claude-opus-4-7 · v3-ccea-english-language