Zooming in on methods (AO2 sentence stems)

Key steps (method)

• Choose one word/phrase to zoom in on (don’t analyse everything at once).
• Use a sentence stem to force clarity:
  • The verb/adjective/noun "…" suggests…
  • The connotations of "…" imply…
  • The semantic field of … creates…
  • The contrast between … and … highlights…
  • The writer’s use of … emphasises…
• Link the effect to a bigger meaning (theme/character relationship/power).
• If relevant, add a purpose angle: This could make the audience/reader… / The writer may be suggesting…

Common mistakes

• Technique spotting with no effect (“It’s a metaphor”) and then moving on.
• Vague effect words (“shows”, “makes”, “creates”) with no specific meaning.
• Claiming an effect that doesn’t match the quote.
• Using the same sentence stem every time (sounds repetitive; switch stems).

Support videos

• AO2 analysis GCSE English search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gcse+english+ao2+language+analysis

Notes