Non-Fiction Comprehension

Strategies for reading reports, speeches, persuasive texts, and factual passages in the 11+.

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Understanding Persuasive Writing Techniques in 11+ Comprehension

Prepare students for non-fiction comprehension passages by teaching them to identify persuasive techniques: rhetorical questions, rule of three, emotive language, direct address, expert opinions, statistics, and anecdotal evidence. Explain why writers use each technique and what effect it has on the reader. Provide a model persuasive passage (a speech or newspaper editorial) and annotate the techniques used. Include practice questions asking students to analyse persuasive techniques and explain their effects.

11 min readIntermediate

Understanding Newspaper and Report Structure for 11+ Comprehension

Teach students the structural features of newspapers and reports that appear in 11+ comprehension papers: headlines, subheadings, bylines, opening paragraphs that answer who/what/when/where/why, quotes from sources, and concluding statements. Explain how structure differs from fiction and why this matters for comprehension answers. Provide a model newspaper article and annotation exercise. Include practice questions that test students' understanding of structural features and their purposes.

10 min readIntermediate

Analysing Speeches in 11+ Comprehension

Some 11+ papers — particularly at independent schools — use speeches as comprehension texts. Learn how to identify the speaker, audience, purpose, and context; spot rhetorical techniques; understand tone shifts; and analyse how a speaker builds towards key moments. Includes an original model speech extract with annotations and practice questions with model PEE answers.

9 min readIntermediate

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