Unit 3 Analysing Argument Year 12 Mainstream English

Students in Year 12 need to analyse and compare the use of argument and persuasive language in 2 or 3 media texts on an issue for the SAC in Unit 3.

Students in Year 12 need to analyse the use of argument and persuasive language in an unseen text or texts for the VCE English Exam.

The Task is referred to on the front page of the exam for Section C: ‘Write an analysis of the ways in which argument and written and visual language are used in the material on pages 12 and 13 to persuade others to share the points of view presented’.

How to Read, Analyse and Write a Language Analysis in 4 Steps

Don’t feel stressed, follow my 4 main step process below which will unlock your concerns about language analysis.

For the SAC you may be asked to analyse 2 or 3 media texts, however, for the Exam it may be 1 text and a visual.

Use my Language Analysis Essay Structure Using 3 Media Texts to complete your essay (see link below).

language analysis essay structure using 3 texts

Handwrite your Essays

An important tip is to practice writing your essays in handwriting.  The exams are all handwritten, not typed on a computer.  If you have trouble with your writing, ie. it is not easy to read for your teachers to mark, then please do something about it well before the exams in October-November.  If you feel your writing is terrible in cursive then print instead.

Year 12 you may Analyse 2-3 Media Texts in the SAC

Remember that in Year 12 you may be given 2-3 media texts to analyse and write your language analysis essay for the SAC.  Therefore you will need to the follow 4 main steps of analysis each time you analyse the 3 media texts you are given.

Carefully Annotate your Texts

A really important step in this process is to carefully take notes or annotate all the persuasive techniques in the texts.  This annotation will help you to link your persuasive techniques together when comparing and contrasting the 3 media texts in your essay.

The following 4 main steps will help you to understand how to analyse persuasive language:-

Step 1: Read Carefully and Take Notes (Annotate on the 2-3 texts you are given in the SAC or 1 only if you are answering Section C in the exam)

You will need to read the article at least twice.  In the 15 minutes you are given before you can pick up a pen use this first reading to identify the writer’s point of view on the issue and their main arguments.  Then in the second reading, focus on how language (and any images) are used to present this viewpoint and to position the reader to agree with it.

Ask key questions using What? How? Why? for each of the 3 media texts (or just 1 text)

• What is the writer saying? > Identify the main contention.  > Track the supporting points or arguments.  A good approach is to put these in brief annotations around the article by clearly showing each Argument and numbering them so you can identify each Argument in your comparative analysis with the other articles > identify the audience the author is targeting with his arguments > Remember to look at the Similarities & Differences  as your Points of Comparison between the Texts > Use your Comparison words = to express similarity of the point of view expressed in the article = supports / reinforces  /endorses /confirms / corroborates > to express differences in the point of view expressed in the article = contradicts/ challenges / disputes /negates / opposes
• How is it said? > Write a few key words to describe the writer’s tone and style  > Highlight some of the persuasive words, phrases and techniques being used
• Why is it persuasive?  > Why are some of the highlighted words and techniques persuasive?  > Think about how the author makes the readers = think (logic based) / feel (emotion based) & do (a call to action) >  What effects do they achieve?  >  Do the techniques help to persuade the audience to agree with the writer?  How?

Step 2: Prepare Your Ideas for Writing

• Rewrite the main contention in your own words.  This forces you to clearly understand the writer’s point of view, and allows you to refer back to it as you write.
• List the supporting points or arguments – you may want to quote them directly from the text
• Select the language and techniques you are going to analyse
• Select some examples, including brief quotations, to use as evidence and for close analysis.  Choose the most obvious examples but also those that give you the greatest range of techniques.  Choose examples that also allow you to show how the writer progressively persuades the audience

Step 3: Plan Your Structure

As in all essays, your analysis will have an Introduction, Body and Conclusion.

Remember to use appropriate Linking Words to connect your sentences and paragraphs so that your essay will flow smoothly and give your analysis cohesion.  Some examples of Linking Words = by contrast / conversely / furthermore / just as / however / in addition / moreover / whereas / on the other hand / similarly / therefore / while

• Introduction: What is the writer saying?  > You must include the following information in the Introduction: CATTACIS =
  • Context (what is the big issue?)
  • Author of text
  • Tone
  • Title
  • Audience
  • Contention > Use phrases such as: ‘The writer contends that’, ‘The writer argues that’, ‘The writer asserts that’ or ‘The writer is adamant that’
  • Intention
  • Source

• The Body: How is the writer saying it?  > The body of your analysis consists of a series of paragraphs in which you analyse the major points and persuasive techniques.  > Break the body paragraphs into 3 strategies = Opening Strategy / Body Strategy / Closing Strategy > the three key questions used to structure the body paragraphs are: (1) What is the writer saying?  (2) How is the writer saying it?   (3) Why are the language and techniques persuasive?
• The Conclusion: Why is it Persuasive? > Sum up the overall effectiveness of the article in persuading readers.  > Mention which persuasive techniques work best and why > Show how the language used positions the reader/audience to agree with the author > how does the language make them think/feel or do something?

Step 4: Write your Language Analysis

• Use the plan you have constructed and stick to it.
• Edit carefully, check that you have explained how language is used to position and persuade the reader.
• When you have finished writing, use my 10 Point Checklist to check your analysis:

1. Author                           Who wrote the piece?  His/her credentials?
2. Text type                       Is this text a letter, opinion piece, speech, editorial?
3. Publication                    Where did the piece appear and date?
4. Audience                       Who is the writing appealing to?
5. Contention                    What is the author’s main point of view of writing?
6. Main arguments            What are the author’s main points to back his contention?
7. Title                               How is the title persuasive or engaging?
8. Tone                              What tone best describes the persuasive techniques?
9. Persuasive techniques  Name at least 5 techniques.  What is their intention?
10. Visuals                          Cartoons, photos and pictures used to link the contention

Language Analysis of a Cartoon

Just as writers use techniques such as exaggeration, tone and emotive language to manipulate and position readers, so too cartoonists can use many highly persuasive techniques.

Be Careful to Consider = If the cartoon is in a separate box from the article it may be a STAND ALONE Cartoon which has it’s own point of view on the issue.  That said, the cartoon may agree with one text and disagree with another text, therefore, it could have 2 opinions about the issue.

When analysing a cartoon that may be included along with the persuasive writing text, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the main point of the cartoon?
• What is the issue being represented?  What is the context of this issue?
• Who are the central figures/characters?  What are they doing or saying?  How are they represented?
• What visual strategies does the cartoonist use to persuade us to agree with the point of view presented?
• Why did the author include the cartoon with the written text?
• Does the cartoon enhance the point of view of the author?
• What is significant about the background of the cartoon?
• Is there a caption?  Dialogue?  Are other words used?  What do they add and how do they persuade?
• Is the cartoon linked to the other 2 media texts?
• If it is linked with a similar main contention, then describe how it is similar to the other media texts
• If it is not linked and has an alternative main contention to the other 2 media texts, then describe how it is different to the other media texts