How should I approach an unseen comparative analysis of two texts?

There are several skills that need to be demonstrated in order to create a strong comparative unseen essay. Firstly general competence in literary studies must be shown through good communication and knowledge of appropriate literary terminology from theories and movements to technical terms. Furthermore knowledge of how these technical decisions impact meaning and how this may have different effects on different readers. You must establish links across the texts given and intertextual awareness which could include awareness of the era as a whole and the significance of the context of which is was written. In order to incorporate all these elements into an essay within a word limit of under timed conditions, it must be well structured.A simple way to structure a comparative unseen essay is to write an introduction highlighting key aspects of the texts such as genre, form and subject matter and comparing and contrasting them. Then you can move on to write a paragraph on the first text before moving on to bring in comparisons using the second text in later paragraphs, before concluding. While this method ensures thorough coverage of both texts and can unlock the highest grades, a more sophisticated method can be used which will show an examiner you are a candidate of high calibre, simply from the structure of your essay. This involves a more thorough reading and planning stage of your essay to identify key themes within both texts and their similarities or differences, this could be narrative voice, tone, era, register or language. I would always suggest a thematic approach to demonstrate from the outset that you are a strong candidate.