What is a good approach to planning an exam response that compares language change in two texts?

• A. Identify features, compare changes, discuss social/historical context, evaluate evidence, and contrast two periods.
• B. Memorize every feature and quote them.
• C. Focus only on vocabulary without context.
• D. Ignore evidence and rely on general impressions.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is to plan a structured, evidence-backed comparison that shows how language changes over time in two texts. Start by identifying the linguistic features that reveal change—things like vocabulary (lexis), sentence structure and grammar, voice and stance, and how discourse is organized. Then compare how those features shift from one text to the other, noting where usage becomes more or less formal, where new terms appear, or where earlier patterns disappear. Next, connect each change to its social and historical context—why a writer might choose a particular form or word given audience, purpose, or cultural influences of the time. After that, evaluate the evidence you bring in: weigh how strong each example is, acknowledge any uncertainties, and avoid overclaiming. Finally, make the contrast explicit: show the development across the periods, drawing a balanced conclusion about the direction and nature of language change between the texts.

This approach is effective because it ensures you build a clear argument supported by specific textual evidence, situates changes within real-world contexts, and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of how language evolves. It also helps you avoid common pitfalls: memorizing isolated features without showing how they function in context, focusing only on vocabulary without broader implications, or relying on vague impressions rather than substantiated analysis.