Chapter 3: Exercise 23, p. 59

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1. How does Ms Johnson attempt to scare people?

Fearmongering tactics: The author instils a sense of fear in members of the public when she refers to the fact that it is impossible to escape surveillance.
Generalisation: “everywhere we go these days someone is watching us”: this generalisation seeks to scare members of the public.
The author uses hyperbole and an intertextual reference to “big brother”: this word has negative connotations and reinforces a sense of fear. The reference to “big brother” seeks to build hostility between citizens and the government.
The use of clichés – “in the dead of night”: has negative connotations and implies that even when a person least expects it, they are being watched.
Appeal to safety/privacy: The hyperbolic reference to “big brother” reflects Ms Johnson’s point that the government is invading people’s private movements.

2. How and why does Ms Johnson appeal to the hip-pocket nerve?

The hip-pocket nerve: the author suggests that the CCTV cameras are expensive and therefore an unnecessary waste of taxpayer’s money. “No wonder our rates are increasing at an alarming rate.” She implies that the council is increasing rates to subsidise the cameras which would annoy many ratepayers.
Attack on the council: Ms Johnson discredits the government or councils or institutions who are wasting money and spying on citizens. According to Ms Johnson, the government or councils assume that the city will be safer with cameras. However, the camera will not make much difference to people who are extremely drunk or the perverts much just find a way to avoid the cameras.
The use of statistics and hip-pocket appeal: the reference to the cost of the machines seeks to anger concerned citizens.

3. Why does she reject these measures?

Ms Johnson’s emphatic use of repetitive rhetorical questions: “what about …” reinforces her view that there are more practical solutions than spending $100,000 on cameras. She admits there maybe some minimal benefit, although she seems to trivialise this, because she prioritises individual privacy over excessive state control. The authors seeks to reassure members of the public by referencing other practical and cheaper solutions.
Repetition and list of rhetorical questions: “What about improved lighting” etc. The questions highlight preferred alternatives to the cameras that waste money.
Alliteration and cliché/informal language: “convenient cop out”: The author states that this is a “cop out” for police, which gives the impression that the police are indifferent and prefer to watch the cameras than do a decent job.
The author’s tone is exasperated and cynical.

Analyse the methods and tactics used by this author to alarm members of the community about extra CCTV cameras.
Analyse other persuasive techniques used by the author such as appeals and attack.
Drawing upon these reasoning and persuasive techniques and the author’s ideas, write two paragraphs (or a short essay) discussing whether the Council should install more CCTV cameras at shopping centres.

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