Non Fiction - Pat

Non Fiction - PAT

What’s it all about?

Text type

Audience

Purpose

Text type

Audience

Purpose

Why?

Who?

What?

Text type

Audience

Purpose

Audience – the central cog

The intended ‘consumer’ of a text shapes its form and purpose –

•Age•Gender•Education•Socio-economic status•Hobbies and interests

Text type

Audience

Purpose

‘Fit for purpose’

Non fiction – the ‘events’

•Inform•Explain•Describe•Advise•Persuade•Argue•Analyse•Review•Comment

To Inform

•To present new information to your audience

To Explain

•To reveal ‘how’ or ‘why’ processes or events occur

To Describe

•To paint a multi-sensory and vivid picture of a person, place or event

To Argue

•To encourage your audience to align themselves with your opinion or point of view

To Persuade

•To convince your audience to take a specific action or change their behaviour

To Advise

•To offer guidance in order to assist your audience to overcome a challenge or improve their lives in some way

To Analyse

•To objectively and critically evaluate, scrutinise or deconstruct an object, experience or event

To Review

•To offer your opinion and/or judgement on an object, experience or event which your audience might also be considering in order to help them arrive at a decision

To Comment

•To share your insights, opinions and experiences on any matter of interest

Text type

Audience

Purpose

Just as you can determine the event an athlete is likely to compete in by

studying their ‘form’...

You can identify the intended audience and purpose of a non-

fiction text by studying its ‘form’– even its title can give you clues

‘The Crunch’ – identifying PAT

Title Text type Purpose

A guide to the inflation / deflation cycle Magazine article To explain

Today I lost my job Journal entry To describe

Where do we go from here? Editorial column in newspaper To comment

Why we should nationalise all banks now! Speech To argue

Which mortgage? Product guide To review

G20 Summit meets to solve credit crunch Newspaper report To inform

An investment opportunity not to be missed Advertisement To persuade

10 ways to beat the credit crunch Leaflet To advise

Annual financial review 2009 Report To analyse

Once you are able to identify the distinctive features of each text type according to its audience and purpose, you

can use this knowledge to both analyse and write materials

You can think of the features of a text as the basic kit which the writer uses to ensure that his/her text is ‘fit for purpose’ and shaped with a particular audience in mind

By selecting the right kit (writing features) the writer ensures that the audience can relax and enjoy the event (the text)

If a writer uses the wrong techniques and features – the text fails to meet its purpose and will be unlikely to achieve its intended effect on its audience!

You should aim to build a clear understanding of the distinctive features and techniques associated with each of the text types:

What makes an advert persuasive?

How can an agony aunt make sure the advice offered is taken on board?

What are the differences between a tabloid and broadsheet article and is one more ‘informative’ that the other?

Example 1

Manchester United confidently expect Louis Saha to become the third signing in a week after the French striker revealed last night that Fulham had told him he could go. The 25 year old revealed the fee would be £10m and described himself as ‘very happy’, adding that joining the Premiership leaders would be ‘like a dream’.

Adult reader with an interest in sport


•Use of a variety of facts•Clear and accessible vocabulary•Use of reported speech•3rd person•Standard English.


To inform

Example 2

Without the help of animal lovers like you, the RSPCA would be powerless in the war against cruelty and suffering. See for yourself how your donation can help save the lives of animals who have known only fear, pain and suffering. Locked in a room for weeks without food, 10 year old retriever Marley was just half his recommended weight when the RSPCA found him. The vet said he would have been dead within days if we hadn’t rescued him...

Adult reader with disposable income and a desire to make a difference


•Dramatic, emotive language•Direct address and flattery•Use of exemplar anecdote•Rule of three


To persuade

Some athletes are capable of competing in more than one ‘event’

and in the same way, some texts can fulfil more than one purpose or

appeal to a broad audience

•Inform•Explain•Describe•Advise•Persuade•Argue•Analyse•Review•Comment

As you might expect, these kind of ‘hybrid’ texts contain a blend of writing features suited to each

purpose

Example 3

This is a 3 way hybrid text – can you identify which triplet of purposes it meets?

The Canon 350D is one of the best selling digital SLR cameras on the market. The ability to employ a range of interchangeable lenses allows the user to replicate many of the traditional effects achieved with 35mm cameras. The robust outer casing with its easy-grip texturing is a useful feature and at just under 0.5 kg, the model is certainly designed with comfort in mind. Unlike similarly priced cameras by Nikon and Olympus, the 350D has an advanced red-eye reduction filter which comes as standard. It is without doubt the smart choice for the aspiring photographer seeking to step into the digital era.

What is its P.A.T.?

•To inform – new information is given

•To persuade – you are encouraged to buy it!

•To review – its features and benefits are considered

Adult reader considering purchasing a new camera or photography enthusiast

It is likely to have appeared in a product review section of a magazine or as part of a shop product information sheet

So remember, when you are analysing a text or planning to write non-fiction, start with

PAT