Home > Subjects > English > English level 3 > 3.5 Unfamiliar texts > Subject content > Reading prose
- Subject: English
- AS: 90724
- Level: 3
- Credits: 3
- External
3.5 Read and respond critically to unfamiliar prose and poetry texts
Reading prose
Prose is any writing that is the most like how we speak and think. Examples of prose include persuasive, journalistic, and literary writing such as short story, and extended texts that typically place less emphasis on some poetic features like rhythm and rhyme. However, it is common for prose to use other poetic features such as simile, metaphor, and personification as found in publications such as newspaper and magazine columns and feature articles, and recent extracts from New Zealand biographies.
For help with how to close read see:
Key features
- Contexts and purpose
- Connotation and Denotation
- Meaning of words
- Why Sentence Structure Matters. Purpose of grammar and punctuation.
Example of a prose question and answer, to show the importance of analysing the text
Read the extracts from 'Crowded House' (Word 27KB) by Olivia Kember [source: (abridged) NZ Listener] and answer the following question in detail.
Describe the effect(s) achieved by the combination of the following words and phrases in lines 6–7: 'empty nest syndrome' 'chicks' 'big, solid clodhoppers'.
You should support your answer with close reference to the text.
Possible answers
- Achieve: The combination of words such as 'big, solid clodhoppers' suggests the children or 'chicks' are physically awkward when they return home.
- Merit: (as for achieve plus) This extended metaphor shows children are still young and need to be protected from the outside world, however, they act as if they have outgrown the nest and are too big to stay at home.
- Excellence: (as for merit plus) The contrast is shown by the use of colloquial language 'big, solid clodhoppers' returning to disrupt the peaceful life of the parents. The effect of the language chosen is to weaken or contradict the message of the metaphor. Human chicks are not like real birds, once they leave home they do return.
