Transition: Language Analysis

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Activity 1: Exploring an Issue
(Marriage Equality)

Below are four marriage equality ads. Some are in favour of marriage equality and some are opposed. You will each be assigned one ad to analyse. For your ad, you will need to be able to IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN:

  1. What is the CONTENTION of the ad?
  2. What is the TONE of the ad?
  3. Who is the INTENDED AUDIENCE of the ad?
  4. What ARGUMENTS are presented in the ad?
  5. What TECHNIQUES are used to convince the audience?

 

Ad 1: ‘It’s Time’

 

Ad 2: ‘Homecoming’

 

Ad 3: ‘Where’s your Mummy?’

 

Ad 4: ‘Gathering Storm’

 

Activity 2: Persuasive Techniques

You will be assigned one of the following persuasive devices. Your task will be to create a poster to explain what is technique is and how it works. These techniques will form much of the METALANGUAGE of language analysis – the vocabulary that you will need to draw upon when analysing and explaining a piece of writing. I will then put your responses together into a very valuable resource that you will be able to use over the coming year.

  1. Facts and Statistics
  2. Anecdotal Evidence
  3. Hypothetical Evidence
  4. Expert Evidence
  5. Attacks and Ridicule
  6. Clichés
  7. Generalisations
  8. Hyperbole/Exaggeration
  9. Humour
  10. Logic and Reason
  11. Repetition
  12. Rhetorical Questions
  13. Sensationalism
  14. Figurative Language (Similes and Metaphors)
  15. Figurative Language (Alliteration)
  16. Emotive Language
  17. Inclusive Language
  18. Exclusive Language
  19. Formal Language
  20. Informal/Colloquial Language
  21. Appeal to Fear
  22. Appeal to Safety
  23. Appeal to Patriotism/Nationalism
  24. Appeal to the Hip Pocket/Economic Concerns
  25. Appeal to Tradition
  26. Appeal to Family Values

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You should use Part 3 of your Using Language to Persuade textbook and the STL Link resources to help you complete this task, and you may need to undertake a bit of additional research online.

After selecting your Persuasive Technique, you will now need to create a POSTER that explains WHAT the technique is, WHY a person would use it (i.e. it’s effect) and HOW it can be used (i.e. provide an example). Your final poster should adopt a structure similar to this:

You will then need to submit your completed poster electronically as an A4 sized PDF document in a LANDSCAPE orientation.