It is not compulsory to answer the guiding question. However, as these questions focus on central aspects of the texts, it is strongly recommended that you use them to your advantage.

If you choose not to address the guiding question, you must state a clear line of thesis as you begin to address your chosen area of analysis.

This is not a commentary. You are not expected to carry out an all-encompassing line by line treatment of all aspects of the text and will not have the time to do so. This is also why the use of the guiding question is strongly recommended as it provides a point of entry and a manageable focus in the time allowed.

There will sometimes be an introductory statement given at the beginning of each text. Make sure you pay attention to this as it will provide valuable information that will help you understand the text, for example, the relationship between characters if it is not obvious.

What is Critical Discourse Analysis and what does it have to do with the Paper 1?

The field of critical discourse analysis (CDA) offers useful tools for Paper 1. Critical discourse analysis is concerned with the description and interpretation of discourse in context. Essentially, if we ask the right questions in the right order, we can critically analyze a text. Most good commentaries attempt to answer three essential questions:

1. What's being said (i.e. content, theme, ideas)?

2. How is it being said (i.e. stylistic devices, structural features)?

3. So what (i.e. for what ends, purposes)?