One aim is to emulate the formal writing style of professional letter writers.
Another aim is to tune into viewpoints and opinion-style /argument techniques.
Consider:
- What is the author’s viewpoint?
- What is the evidence?
- What / who are they criticising and why?
- Choose two quotes. Give an explanation of the quote (work it into your sentence) and explain its purpose and connection to viewpoint
- Watch out for new words, points of grammar, nominals etc and figurative language techniques.
Letters to the Editor of the Age, 27th October 2021,
Is vaccination a “private” matter? By Andrew Barnes, Ringwood 27th October 2021
Arguments and Techniques: connect the techniques to the viewpoint.
Sample Sentences
- Barnes recommends that Djokavic declare his vaccination status.
- Adopting a forthright tone, he criticises Djokovic’s “dismissive” attitude.
- He uses Djokovic as a case study to suggest that all sports people should follow the same rules.
- Mr Barnes compares Djokovic to other “workers” and sportspeople to recommend that they follow the same rules.
- The author uses quotation marks to criticise a mindset that believes vaccination status is a “private matter”. The quotes imply that Mr Barnes disagrees with this “precious” mindset.
- He compares the distinction between a “public” and a “private” attitude to the issue of vaccination. His point is that vaccination is a community health issue and is therefore “public” – not “private”.
- Mr Barnes describes Djokovic as “precious” and “dismissive” – these are emotive words that seek to arouse anger among members of the public who prioritise community safety.
- “contemptuous”: He also characterises Djokovic as “contemptuous” of “public” safety. Used as a shaming tactic, this description seeks to question Djokovic’s star status. He implores members of the public to show greater support for other tennis players.
- Mr Barnes appeals to public health measures and believes that all tennis players should prioritise the health of the community.
