Year 6 English: Comparing texts and justifying a view
Part of the Year 6 English reading poetry and non-fiction, and comparing texts chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Comparing texts and justifying a view
When you compare texts, look at their purpose, form and language. When you contrast them, say how they are different. To justify a view, give a clear reason, and support it with evidence from the text.
| Text | Form | Purpose | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Moon | a poem in stanzas | to create a mood | figurative language |
| How Honey Is Made | an information text | to inform | facts, with time words |
| Why Bees Deserve Our Care | a persuasive article | to persuade | opinions and should |
Key ideas
- Compare texts by purpose, form and language.
- Justify a view with a reason, and evidence from the text.
- A presentation or debate is planned in writing, with reasons in order.
Method. Look at the kind of text and what it gives the reader.
- Look at the form. It is an information text, with facts.facts
- Name the purpose. Its purpose is to inform the reader about honey.inform
- Write the answer. inform
Check. The purpose is to inform. ✓
Method. Find a feature of persuasion, and link it to the view.
- Find the feature. The article says every school should plant flowers.should plant flowers
- Give the reason. Should and in my view try to persuade the reader to act.to persuade the reader
- Write the answer. It uses opinions and should, which tries to change the reader's mind
Check. The reason is supported by the text. ✓
Method. Compare the language of the two texts.
- Look at the poem. The poem uses metaphor and personification.metaphor
- Look at the information text. The information text uses facts and time words.facts
- Name the contrast. The poem is figurative; the information text is factual.figurative and factual
- Write the answer. the poem uses figurative language, and the information text uses facts
Check. The two texts are contrasted. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a reason must be linked to the view. A view without a reason is not justified.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to choose the text they most enjoyed among three, and to give two reasons for their choice.
Exercise 11E Practice: comparing texts and justifying a view
Method. Look at the form of each text.
- Look at the forms. Harvest Moon is in stanzas, which is a poem.stanzas
- Name the title. The poem is Harvest Moon.Harvest Moon
- Write the answer. Harvest Moon
Check. Harvest Moon is the poem. ✓
Method. Look at what the article wants the reader to do.
- Look at the article. It argues that bees deserve care.deserve care
- Name the purpose. Its purpose is to persuade.persuade
- Write the answer. persuade
Check. The purpose is to persuade. ✓
Method. Think about each text's purpose.
- Look at the poem. The poem creates a mood.a mood
- Look at the information text. The information text informs the reader.informs
- Write the answer. The poem aims to create a calm mood, and the information text aims to inform the reader.
Check. The purposes differ. ✓
Method. Link the reason to a line from the poem.
- Find the evidence. A quiet sea of ripened wheat is a vivid image.a quiet sea
- Give the reason. The image creates a calm mood.calm mood
- Write the answer. The poem uses vivid images, such as a quiet sea of ripened wheat, to make the reader feel calm.
Check. The reason has evidence. ✓
Method. Think about what a science club needs.
- Find the facts. The text gives clear steps and facts.clear steps
- Give the reason. A science club can check the facts.check the facts
- Write the answer. It gives clear facts about how honey is made, which can be checked.
Check. The reason is linked to the text. ✓
Method. Look for a word that shows a feeling.
- Look at the poem. The owl's call is slow and patient.patient
- Name the feeling. Patient shows a calm feeling.patient
- Write the answer. patient
Check. patient is a feeling word in the poem. ✓
Method. Write the point, then the reason.
- Write the point. Every school should plant flowers.Every school should plant flowers
- Write the reason. Bees need nectar from flowers.because bees need nectar
- Write the answer. Every school should plant flowers, because bees need nectar.
Check. The point is supported by a reason. ✓
Method. Look for the text with the most views and judgements.
- Look at the texts. The persuasive article uses should and in my view.should, in my view
- Name the title. The persuasive article is Why Bees Deserve Our Care.Why Bees Deserve Our Care
- Write the answer. Why Bees Deserve Our Care
Check. The article uses the most opinions. ✓
Method. Give one point for each text, in order.
- Point one. The poem creates a mood.the poem
- Points two and three. The information text gives facts, and the article gives a view.facts, view
- Write the answer. 1 the poem creates a mood; 2 the information text gives facts; 3 the article gives a view.
Check. The three points cover the texts. ✓
Method. Give a reason and point to the evidence.
- Choose the text. How Honey Is Made is the most useful.How Honey Is Made
- Give the evidence. It says the bees fan their wings to dry the honey.fan their wings
- Write the answer. How Honey Is Made, because it gives clear facts, such as the bees fan their wings to dry the honey.
Check. The view is justified with evidence. ✓