LA help too????

[saheh]

while I'm at it

Language Analysis is also freaking me out too....
When i read the article I have no idea what to choose to include in the writing.. and it just ends up being a jumbled mess
Some points will be stronger then others, but picking out the authors arguments and how the writing/visuals support it just makes me want to write on every sentence...

i hope this makes sense as I write it in my freaked-out-holy-shit-exam-is-in-30ish-days-mood
I'll prob read this later and clarify myself

thanks everyone
rock on

[Felicity Wishes]

Here are some pointers:

-DO NOT write about everything. I have made this mistake and ended up writing 3 pages on one paragraph.
-You must include an example of the technique and HOW it persuades the audience.
-If it is all a jumbled mess, try going in order of the article.
-Analyse the pictures in relation to where they fit in with the text, rather than just by itself.
-Not all LA's will be the same, imo, write about the things that will help show off YOUR ability to analyse, try some of the obvious ones and some of the not so obvious ones.

[HERculina]

Maybe if you struggle with picking out the arguments, you could structure your analysis chronologically? Like your first paragraph would be about the first part of the article you're analysing, and your second paragraph about the second main part of the article...

[saheh]

Here are some pointers:

-DO NOT write about everything. I have made this mistake and ended up writing 3 pages on one paragraph.
-You must include an example of the technique and HOW it persuades the audience.
-If it is all a jumbled mess, try going in order of the article.
-Analyse the pictures in relation to where they fit in with the text, rather than just by itself.
-Not all LA's will be the same, imo, write about the things that will help show off YOUR ability to analyse, try some of the obvious ones and some of the not so obvious ones.

Yeah I know to to write on everything but sometimes it's so tempting because you can analyze it all really.... That's where it gets tricky
That last point rocks...I'll remember that...

Maybe if you struggle with picking out the arguments, you could structure your analysis chronologically? Like your first paragraph would be about the first part of the article you're analysing, and your second paragraph about the second main part of the article...

What if it's an article with like 5-6 paragraphs + commentary and images??? -that was a Neap prac exam we did and I was completely lost because there was so much that stood out.. :/

[Felicity Wishes]

Here are some pointers:

-DO NOT write about everything. I have made this mistake and ended up writing 3 pages on one paragraph.
-You must include an example of the technique and HOW it persuades the audience.
-If it is all a jumbled mess, try going in order of the article.
-Analyse the pictures in relation to where they fit in with the text, rather than just by itself.
-Not all LA's will be the same, imo, write about the things that will help show off YOUR ability to analyse, try some of the obvious ones and some of the not so obvious ones.

Yeah I know to to write on everything but sometimes it's so tempting because you can analyze it all really.... That's where it gets tricky
That last point rocks...I'll remember that...

Maybe if you struggle with picking out the arguments, you could structure your analysis chronologically? Like your first paragraph would be about the first part of the article you're analysing, and your second paragraph about the second main part of the article...

What if it's an article with like 5-6 paragraphs + commentary and images??? -that was a Neap prac exam we did and I was completely lost because there was so much that stood out.. :/

Again, you don't need to do everything and you can leave chunks out because sometimes there are bits that aren't as effective as others. I had a practice one that had 8-ish paragraphs and 2 pictures and there was a lot of paragraph that was just fact to make sure the reader understands the topic. Also, you can talk about multiple things quickly and effectively if they are similar.

[saheh]

Okay thanks
I shall try and write a practice one and post it up

What's a good way to practice LA/improve skills  besides just writing essay after essay?

[Somye]

A little tip I find/found useful when practicing language analysis is to continually ask why?

Why does the author do such and such?
How does it position the reader?
Why does it position the reader in such a way?
What imagery is brought to mind?
Why does it evoke such imagery?

It's tough to start off, but once you can find examples (try and focus on single words), you get a greater understanding of how the piece is constructed, and hence makes it easier to break down in your analysis.