Watch sentences that summarise, and watch sentences that have generic statements.
On the summary side:
The following sentences tend to summarise the author’s views and techniques.
- Mr Halley writes in a candid and concerned tone, outlining the problems with the use of many body cameras.
- Despite initially agreeing that body cameras “assists police with their investigations”, Halley disagrees with the new “camera culture”.
- He hints that there is possible bias which results in body cameras being used for the wrong intentions.
On the path towards analysis:
- Use and embed metalanguage:
- Appealing to safety concerns, Mr Trent implores councillors to install more CCTV cameras to protect members of the public.
2. Unpack the example or comparison or analogy: work through it systematically – one idea at a time
- Aimed at educational policy officers, Mr Scott presents his painful experience as a humiliated five-year-old child boarding at a Jesuit school.
- His point is that the teacher deliberately sought to degrade him – a point that accentuates his sadistic nature.
- In doing so, Mr Scott implores all stakeholders to refrain from re-introducing capital punishment.
3. Focus on figurative language, comparisons or words with extra meanings or words/phrases with an “analytical story”
- First refer to the literal meaning or the point of the comparison/analogy.
- What is the implied meaning? What are the links? What is their purpose? Keep unpacking.
- Analytical terms: connotes (not the literal, but an extra meaning); implies (suggests without actually stating) ; insinuates (suggests something unpleasant without actually saying so directly); suggests; signifies (means, is a sign of)
- The image of “free range” chickens connotes an unruly mass of boisterous children. It seeks to shame those who countenance/sanction a ban on disciplined.
- The depiction of a Minister reading the “tea leaves” connotes an official who is irrational and misguided. The purpose is to dissuade members of the school fraternity from supporting the change to Naplan.
- The correlating images of the “low sugar products” and the low tar cigarettes carry negative connotations – both are poisonous. Accordingly, Mrs Tuckey alarms parents about the dangers of low-fat products.
