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Language Investigation
Build the answer from context and method together when revising Language Investigation in Non-exam assessment Language in Action. This topic asks students to connect linguistic terminology with purposeful evidence, so revision should move between close language analysis, contextual interpretation and the demands of AQA A-Level English Language 7702. Core subtopics include Data collection for investigation, Investigation pathways, Investigation structure, and the linked learning objectives include Collect attitudes to language where appropriate to the investigation; Collect multimodal language data where appropriate to the investigation; Collect own data as the basis of the study in consultation with the supervising teacher; Collect spoken language data where appropriate to the investigation; Collect uses of language where appropriate to the investigation. Strong answers should identify precise features, explain how they operate in a specific text or data set, and then evaluate what those choices reveal about meaning, representation, audience, genre or mode. Avoid treating the topic as a list of definitions. Instead, practise building paragraphs that quote or describe evidence, name the relevant method, explain the effect, and connect the point to the question focus. This keeps revision exam-facing while still respecting the official curriculum hierarchy.
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Investigation pathways4 objectives
- Investigate distinctive features of a type of language use through a genre-based investigation.
- Investigate what language is used to do through a function or use-based investigation.
- Investigate how people feel about language through an attitudes-based investigation.
- Investigate who uses a type of language through a user-based investigation.
Data collection for investigation9 objectives
- Collect spoken language data where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect written language data where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect multimodal language data where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect word lists where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect attitudes to language where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect uses of language where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect views about language where appropriate to the investigation.
- Collect own data as the basis of the study in consultation with the supervising teacher.
- Select an approach for analysis in consultation with the supervising teacher.
Investigation structure10 objectives
- Write an introduction that briefly discusses reasons for choosing the investigation focus.
- Write an introduction that states what the investigation is trying to find out through its aims.
- Write a methodology that evaluates how data was collected and organised for analysis.
- Write a methodology that explains approaches to analysis.
- Write analysis that interprets findings in response to the investigation aim.
- Write analysis that critically considers relevant concepts and issues around the topic area.
- Write analysis of contextual influences on the data collected.
- Write a conclusion that interprets findings linked to the aim or focus.
- Include references for all paper and web-based sources used.
- Include appendices with clean copies of collected data and evidence supporting quantitative approaches.
Key terms
Exam tips
- Investigation pathways exam tip 1: Write the method before the answer so the examiner can follow each step. Apply this to investigate distinctive features of a type of language use through a genre-based investigation..
- Investigation pathways exam tip 1: Write the method before the answer so the examiner can follow each step. Apply this to investigate what language is used to do through a function or use-based investigation..
Common mistakes
- Investigation pathways common mistake 1: Show the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Investigation pathways.
- Investigation pathways common mistake 1: Show the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Investigation pathways.
Practice preview
- In Language Investigation, a candidate works with a child-language transcript showing overextension and caregiver feedback. For Investigation pathways, which answer best addresses task 1 by applying methodological control to the objective: Investigate distinctive features of a type of language use through a genre-based investigation?
- In Language Investigation, a candidate works with a style-model extract for original writing with patterned syntax. For Investigation pathways, which answer best addresses task 2 by applying conceptual understanding to the objective: Investigate distinctive features of a type of language use through a genre-based investigation?
- In Language Investigation, a candidate works with a radio phone-in where identity is constructed through discourse markers. For Investigation pathways, which answer best addresses task 3 by applying representation to the objective: Investigate distinctive features of a type of language use through a genre-based investigation?
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