Locating and synthesising across two non-fiction sources

Component 2 Section A gives you two thematically linked non-fiction extracts: one nineteenth-century (often a memoir, travel writing, letter or article) and one twenty-first century (often journalism, blog or autobiography). The opening AO1 question typically asks: "Read lines X to Y of Source A and lines P to Q of Source B. List five things you learn about [subject]." It is worth around 5 marks.

What "synthesise" means

Synthesis is not comparison. You are not yet writing about WHAT the writers feel or HOW they write. You are pulling together pieces of factual or descriptive information from BOTH sources into a single, organised list. Each point must come from the lines specified — material outside those line numbers gains no credit.

Explicit vs implicit credit

Examiners credit both types:

• Explicit: directly stated. "The cottage had three rooms."
• Implicit: inferred but secure. "She locked the door three times" implies anxiety.

Stay anchored to the text. Avoid speculation that the lines do not support.

Method

1. Read both extracts twice.
2. Underline anything answering the question stem.
3. Number five points across both sources. Do not waste five points on one source.
4. Write each point as one short sentence. Quotation is allowed but not required.
5. Do not analyse, compare or evaluate at this stage — that is AO2/AO3 work.

WJEC examiner tip

Five separate points, each worth one mark, capped at the total available. Repeating the same idea in different words counts once. Mixing points from both sources demonstrates the synthesis skill the AO1 question rewards.