Language Analysis Paragraphs

[stephanieteddy]

Hello there!

For our language analysis pieces, should we be grouping paragraphs based on the arguments of the article?

Or should we just go through the article and write our paragraphs in the same order?

Thank you

[lexitu]

There's no hard and fast requirement here, whatever works best for your approach.

I think it would be better to stay away from arguments, as this may lead you away from analysing the actual mechanisms the author is using for persuasion. However, if they pursue arguments using specific techniques tailored to be more persuasive for a certain line of attack, then this might just be a great approach.

You could follow a simple chronological order (as you said), assign paragraphs thematically (e.g. for tone, for techniques of a certain category, etc.) or work out some sort of other scheme that makes sense for the particular article.

[charmanderp]

What I did for my SAC and did for Lit last year (which is essentially the same thing as LA) was analyse each article/passage/image in a sequence of paragraphs and then move on to another, all whilst drawing links between the different texts/passages. So for example:

Introduction (never did intros for Lit)
Body Paragraph 1 (analyse text #3)
BP 2 (analyse text #3)
BP 3 (analyse text #1)
BP 4 (analyse text #1)
BP 5 (analyse text #2)
BP 6 (analyse text #2)
Conclusion (again, never did one of these for Lit)

So essentially you kind of have mini-essays there, each based upon different articles. Then it's up to you to decide how you want to structure those mini-essays. I think thematic is very good - draw from a few sentences/features of a text and then build up to a holistic interpretation.

[Felicity Wishes]

I go in order of paragraphs and point out the key techniques in the paragraph. I sometimes group paragraphs if they are small. It just gives me more structure and allows the reader to make sense of where I am going. I also find it useful when it comes to analysing the picture.

[brenden]

Well, to throw something different in, I group my paragraphs into the arguments supporting the contention, and then break it down into the persuasive language techniques (PLTs) that are being used to support that argument. For me it's just a logical way to form it and I've never had trouble on straying from analysis etc, ULP essays are actually my favourite to write. For example, one argument within the article on, say, video games promote violence might be 'it promotes a lack of emotional maturity', and then I'd say he uses PLT #1, statistics, and reinforces statistics with PLT #2 appeal to fear, with strong negative connotations (PLT #3) attached to word xyz.

[stephanieteddy]

Yeh Brenden, that's what my English teacher tells me to do! But my tutor says that I can do that, or go in chronological order! I find it easier to go in chronological order, just not sure if it loses me any marks?!

[pi]

For our language analysis pieces, should we be grouping paragraphs based on the arguments of the article?

I always grouped by arguments. Seemed more logical to me.

[dilks]

I find it easier to go in chronological order, just not sure if it loses me any marks?!

You won't lose marks for going in chronological order in the exam.

[charmanderp]

Yeah you won't lost marks. So many people however are under the assumption that you HAVE to go in chronological order or that you should in order to achieve the best result, which is of course entirely false.

[teacher28]

I teach my students to base their paragraphs on the supporting arguments of the contention because it is an easier and quicker structure. There is no risk of analysing the argument; you still have to focus on the techniques used to elicit support for the point.

[stephanieteddy]

Seems like the majority are suggesting going with the arguments instead of chronological order.