How do I approach an unseen extract?

The first thing that I would do when approaching an unseen extract is to read the extract all the way through without making any notes - this will allow you to gain a complete understanding of the text and will prevent you from making any assumptions or mistakes regarding content! I would then look at the author and date (if there is one) to see whether I know of any contextual information that will enhance my answer. So, now I will have an idea of what is happening, who is writing and when. Now it's time to think about why and how. How are they writing, what techniques are being used and why? Think SMILE. Structure, meaning, imagery, language and effect. See whether you can spot any instances of these in the text that stand out to you, and consider what effect they have. For example, if you can spot any poetic techniques (such as alliteration), consider why it has been used and what effect it is having. Be sure to always link your analysis back to the question - don't comment on something for the sake of commenting on it, make sure that it is useful and relevant to your argument!