Learning Outcomes
After reading this article, you will confidently identify and analyse how writers use pacing, sequencing, and paragraph structure to shape a fictional narrative (AO2). You will be able to explain how these choices create effects on the reader, select short, effective evidence and apply precise subject terminology. You will write focused, exam-style responses that directly address the AQA GCSE English Language 8700 syllabus.
AQA GCSE English Language 8700 Syllabus
For AQA GCSE English Language 8700, you need to:
- Explain how writers use structure and language to create effects on the reader (AO2)
- Use subject terminology accurately when analysing fiction texts (AO2)
- Recognise structural features including shifts in pacing, sequencing and paragraph organisation
- Select relevant evidence and write clear analytical comments on meaning and effect
Test Your Knowledge
Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.
- Define the term 'pacing' in the context of fiction. Why might a writer slow down or speed up the story at certain moments?
- Identify a method a writer might use to create a sudden shift in sequence. Why could this be effective?
- How can paragraph organisation affect the reader’s experience of a tense scene?
- Give an example of a structure-related subject term you could use to analyse a change in focus within a narrative.
Introduction
A high-level structural analysis in AQA GCSE English Language 8700 shows you can discuss how writers control the flow and clarity of their stories. This article explains pacing (the speed at which events move), sequencing (the order of narrative events or information), and paragraph organisation for flow. You will learn how these structural features create meaning and shape the reader’s response and how to evaluate their effects precisely.
Key Term: pacing
The speed at which the writer moves the narrative forward, including moments when events slow down or speed up.Key Term: sequencing
The order in which information, events, or scenes are presented in a narrative.Key Term: paragraphing
The organisation of written text into sections, each usually focusing on a single idea or stage in the action.
Pacing: Controlling the Speed of the Story
Writers use pacing to build tension, slow down emotional moments, or create surprise. Fast pacing can make a scene feel frantic or exciting, while slow pacing can make a moment feel suspenseful or reflective. The pace is often shaped by the length of sentences, the amount of description, or the use of dialogue and action.
Worked Example 1.1
A tense chase scene:
He dashed down the alley. Boots thudded behind. He tripped—landed hard. The torchlight swept over him. He held his breath. Silence.
Answer:
Short sentences speed up the action, making the reader feel the panic and urgency alongside the character. The brisk pace suggests danger and keeps the reader alert, as if they are witnessing every moment in real time.
Sequencing: The Order of Narrative Information
Sequencing is about how a writer chooses to organise the events or details in a story. This could mean using chronological order (events as they happen), a flashback (jumping back to an earlier time), or shifting between scenes or characters. Disrupting the expected sequence grabs the reader’s attention or reveals key details at the right moment.
Key Term: flashback
A structural technique in which the narrative shifts to an earlier time, breaking chronological order to provide backstory or reveal information.
Worked Example 1.2
An extract with a flashback:
She froze at the doorstep. The wind rattled the gate—just like that night, years ago, when she’d run from the storm. In her mind, she was ten again, shoes soaked, dragging her brother by the hand.
Answer:
The writer interrupts the present sequence to return to a significant memory. This use of flashback adds context to the character’s fear and enriches the narrative by revealing why the moment matters.
Paragraphing for Clarity and Paragraph Flow
Paragraphs break up the text, guiding the reader through changes in focus, action, or point of view. Clear paragraphing helps readers follow the story and recognise important shifts. Linking sentences or repeating motifs at the start or end of a paragraph create flow, making the narrative feel smooth and controlled.
Key Term: motif
A repeated image, idea, or phrase in a text that helps link paragraphs or sections together.
Worked Example 1.3
A story opening with tight paragraphing:
The house was silent.
Even the clock had stopped, its hands frozen at midnight.
Lucy inched down the hallway, each step louder than it should be.
Something waited at the far end. She listened—again, only silence.
Answer:
Each paragraph is short and focused on one idea or action. This creates a steady, suspenseful pace and breaks the narrative into manageable stages, making it easy for the reader to follow Lucy’s growing fear.
Exam Warning
Avoid summarising the story or retelling what happens. Instead, analyse how the writer’s structural choices—like pace, sequence, and paragraphing—direct the reader’s attention and create effect.
Linking Pacing, Sequencing, and Paragraph Organisation
In strong answers, you should show how these features work together. For example, a flashback (sequence) might be introduced by a short, isolated paragraph (paragraphing), slowing the pace before the action resumes. Always link structural methods directly to the writer’s purpose and the reader’s experience.
Revision Tip
When planning your answer, highlight any abrupt paragraph changes, repetition, changes in sentence length, or shifts from description to dialogue. These are likely deliberate structural choices.
Summary
Writers control narrative structure by adjusting pacing, choosing the order of scenes and information, and organising paragraphs clearly. Understanding the purpose of these choices lets you write high-scoring AO2 responses that analyse effect, not just technique.
Key Point Checklist
This article has covered the following key knowledge points:
- Explain how writers use pacing to adjust the speed and tension (AO2).
- Analyse sequencing, recognising flashbacks and time shifts for effect.
- Identify clear paragraph organisation and links for flow.
- Select precise evidence and make direct, analytical comments about effect.
Key Terms and Concepts
- pacing
- sequencing
- paragraphing
- flashback
- motif