English Works

Lesson 3: Exercise 16, p. 38

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Lesson 3: the author’s appeals

Exercise 16: Victim or villain? p. 38

Ms Sue Hunt: how does she present the principal and the parents?

1. Dr Coghlan is presented as the victim of a campaign waged against her by parents of the school community. (The depiction of Dr Coghlan evokes sympathy.) Ms Hunt implies that Dr Coghlan was a reputable leader but was persecuted because of her desire to introduce the “whole class approach to toilet breaks”. The fact that she was an “excellent administrator” is bound to increase our sympathy because of the unfair circumstances of her dismissal.

Ms Hunt presents members of the school community or a “band of parents” as the villains. They persecuted the principal which led to her resignation. The fact that they abused their authority and used this rule as an excuse to get rid of her is likely to incite readers’ indignation.

Mr Jim Li: how does he present the principal and the parents?

2.  Mr Li suggests that the children were humiliated and the school community was the victim. The use of figurative language to show that the school has been left to “lick its wounds” presents the school as severely wounded by the principal’s approach.fat man

Mr Li suggests that Dr Coglan is the villain who was responsible for humiliating students. The colloquial reference to the “last straw” captures the parent’s frustration at the fact that the decision invaded the children’s personal space and possibly harmed their confidence. The author depicts Dr Coglan as autocratic, who harmed the school community by her divisive rules.

Now, see if you can write two paragraphs comparing and contrasting their analysis of the relevant stakeholders and their values.  See relevant comments and paragraph plans.

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