Language analysis class notes: year 12

Year 12: Notes from class today 5/3/14

LANGUAGE ANALYSIS: revision lesson

INTRO and FIRST PARAGRAPH

·         Always think WHAT are they trying to make the audience think about the issue….HOW are they achieving this?

INTRO:

Contextualisation : Following/Due to/In response etc (refer to handout)

Include your DATPACA (if applicable)

Make sure you address sub-groups within your audience

Make sure you differentiate between the PURPOSE of the piece and the AIM

Make sure you address the overall TONE

Make sure you identify the appropriate article type

Make sure you integrate one or two quotes from the text

Paragraph 1: idea/argument 1:

Begin with the title (if there is one).

Make your topic sentence an outline of the first idea or argument explored, not just ambiguous waffle.

Drill down on at least three key connotative words or phrases that the writer has purposely chosen to support their 1^st argument.

When ‘drilling’, explain why that particular word or phrase attempts to make the audience look at the issue differently. eg this hyberbolic phrase seeks to......

Remember: Extract, Identify, Explain

Integrate your techniques….”don’t state, integrate”…. Eg Rhetorically, emotively, inclusively, etc.

Attach a visual if appropriate to that particular idea or argument.

Use appropriate metalanguage eg seeks/evokes/attempts (see handout for examples).

Use linking words to promote an analytical dissection and not a laborious regurgitation of the article.

Be aware of font changes or formatting, always advantageous to pick up on the minor details.

Make sure you are presenting the ideas sequentially and not just jumping around the article aimlessly.

Will go onto the rest of the article tomorrow :)

Example introduction for article:

Following the recent leadership collapse within the Newton United Party, the secretary of the political party Phillip Gorton wrote an attacking and instructive letter to all members of his party. Within his letter he implores his “comrades” within the Newton United Party to “stand united” against the Newton Progress Party and their attempts to construct a “giant theme park” of their homeland. Through his cogent letter, Gorton demands the support of the party members, and subtly conveys that success, and thus the preservation of their “beautiful beach”, will only be achieved by supporting the leadership of Jill Stevens. Thus through compelling his comrades to reject the previous leader Simon Thompson and despise Adrian Smith for they will be the ruin of their town, Phillip is overtly seeking to install Jill Stevens as the undisputed leader of the Newton United Party.