VCE English Language Analysis Guide

Summary:

The “Language Analysis Guide” provides insights into how language and argument complement each other to position the reader. It introduces the importance of openings, body paragraphs, and closings in persuasive writing, highlighting various features used to engage the audience. The guide emphasizes the significance of tone, and logical fallacies, and appeals to different audience groups. It also includes a section on visual analysis and additional vocabulary for analyzing language techniques. Overall, it is a comprehensive resource for understanding the nuances of persuasive language and its impact on readers.

Excerpt:

VCE English Language Analysis Guide

LANGUAGE ANALYSIS GUIDE
‘Develop an understanding of the way in which language and argument complement one another in positioning
the reader.’

INTRODUCTIONS
The recent controversy surrounding… [outline of issue] …has taken the focus of… [author and publishing]
[author] earnestly eulogises/contends to…. [audience]…. that …. [contention and consequence on this
audience] … ñ Doesn’t need to be long.

ARGUMENT STRATEGY

Persuasive features of openings:
– Establish/outline facts
– Establish the seriousness of the issue
– Pose problems/issues
– Establish the credentials/trustworthiness of the author
– Establish a connection, and shared values with the audience
– Challenge audience assumptions
– Gain attention

Persuasive features of the body:
– Build credibility through facts
– Pose problems and solutions
– Build a hierarchy of arguments
– Appeal to emotion and logic
– Connect emotions and logic
– Rebut opposing views

Persuasive features of the closing:
– Call for action
– Outline a clear choice
– Present a solution
– Emphasise a moral/ethical responsibility
– Emphasise a logical next step
– Emphasise urgency in taking action
– Build a climactic/strongest argument
– Urge further thought

ANALYSING OPENING & BODY
® TOPIC SENTENCES
See argument strategy
Opening: from the incipient…[piece]…[author]…[strategy]
Body: reaching the body of their…[piece]…[author]… constructs a hierarchy of arguments…and…[other
strategy]
– ñ Controlled writing
– ñ Switch up sentence structure: begin with impact, switch, begin with evidence, switch

® THINGS TO LOOK FOR & USE IN OPENING ANALYSIS:
– How readers are set up to hear the rest of the authors points
– Are uneducated readers filled in about the topic? ñ If so, are they made to feel apprehensive or safe?
– Establishment or reader-author connection – ñ Use ‘from the outset’ during the paragraph if so