Session on Sunday 24th October. If you want to tune in, please email jminter@englishworks.com.au
The Task: “Write an analysis of the ways in which argument and written and visual language are used in the material on pp… to try to persuade others to share the points of view presented.”
Hi All,
I have been trying to impress upon you the importance of getting the right starting point for each paragraph. You must be clear about what “viewpoint” we must “share”, otherwise you are simply summarising the author’s language.
Clarity regarding the author’s “viewpoints” that we must “share” distinguishes an A+ from a C+ response
You must also be clear about which argument technique(s) best supports and reinforces the author’s “views” that we must “share”. You must be selective, especially in a 55 minute essay.
If you are clear about the viewpoint and the argument technique, then you can do an excellent job of the impact (purpose; intended effect of; positioning tactics) of the author’s written/persuasive (emotive, figurative, colloquial, ironic, forthright) language. You can analyse how such language seeks to influence our response so that we “share” the viewpoint. You can keep digging, analysing the direct and indirect attempts of the author to persuade, cajole and implore.
If you don’t get the viewpoint , you can’t do a sound analysis of the purpose, impact etc. You quickly reach a dead-end and just skit over the surface, becoming increasingly generic and generalised, simply describing “credibility”, “expert opinion”, anecdotes, rhetoricals and inclusive language.
We will go over some “ideas” based opinion pieces in the lesson on Sunday. If an opinion piece veers towards”ideas” , then you must work harder to identify the author’s specific views.
You must also consistently embed technical terms (metalanguage) otherwise you will be summarising rather than analysing. File on our Argument Techniques Program
A smart and streamlined structure: towards an A+ response, please see these VCAA Exam “suggested responses” – written by Dr Jennifer Minter.
