Yacoubb's 3/4 English Language Analysis Queries

[Yacoubb]

Hey guys could someone check to see if the structure of how I analyse one particular technique is correct? Thanks

Mitchell disparagingly launches a scathing attack on the research conducted by the University of Western Australia, which he deems is conducted by ‘attention-seeking lobbyists’ who are intent primarily on ‘self-promotion’. By entitling the piece ‘Flag theory is about self-promotion’, Mitchell declares his main point immediately, advocating the unreliability of the research. In doing so, readers are more likely to establish a cynical view of the study, and thereby discredit results, including those suggesting that ’91 per cent of flag bearers [thinking] that migrants should adopt Australian views’.

[sparked]

Hey Yacoubb,

(congrats on the bio score, buddy )

So I'm in year 12 also this year, so take my advice in the context that I'm obviously still improving myself but here are some things that could make your writing even better:

1) Focus on metalanguage! This means that in order to get the best pieces of analysis, you should narrow in on individual words and discuss their connotations, the authorial intent in using that specific word. For example:

"Mitchell disparagingly launches a scathing attack on the research conducted by the University of Western Australia, which he deems is conducted by ‘attention-seeking lobbyists’ who are intent primarily on ‘self-promotion’.


INSERT: The descriptive phrase "attention-seeking" seeks to subtly undermine the validity of the researches, attempting to portray them as simply purposely provocative actors desperate to be noticed. This combines with the connotations of the collective noun "lobbyists" which seeks to group these researchers together as the kinds of dogmatic actors with an agenda to push that the reader associates this label with. Finally, the use of the phrase "self-promoting" attempts to coalesce this subtext of selfish and perverse agendas that these researchers hold. Each of these descriptive phrases are employed by the writer in order undermine the quality of this research in portraying those conducting it as unreliable and biased actors, acting solely in self-interest.


When you focus on individual pieces of language, assessors (at least in my school) love it. If you want me to read over anything in future, PM me. English is by far my favourite subject. Also - you're looking like you're on your way to a high score already!

[Yacoubb]

Thanks SO much for that! Really appreciate the help! I'll have to delve into a really close analysis. How would you approach an analysis where you need to compare say an opinion piece and two acompanying letters to the editor?

[sparked]

So at our school, all of our Language Analysis SACs bar the full practice exams, have multiple so you've asked the right person!

Firstly, let me preface this by saying that we are always told VCAA would be crazy to put more than one text on the EOY exam and are unlikely to because of the accessibility for students from schools without especially strong English departments.

Onto the answer: There is a very specific formula that the introduction follows for these kinds of language analyses. Remembering that an intro has to cover the Audience, Context, Purpose, Form and Tone in SINGLE TEXT Analyses, a multi-text intro should instead deal with the issues being discussed in a broader context.

If you PM me I could put together a template, for the kids I tutor, I teach it really specifically, but it's more or less walking through the following things:

"In light of the increasing numbers of road fatalities due to mobile devices being used while driving, much disccussion has evolved in order to find the best solution to this problem. (1. Context) This discussion has the capacity, therefore, to impact pedestrians, drivers and on a larger scale, Australia's reputation as a safe place to drive internationally. (2 local stakeholders and Australia's broader considerations On the one hand some commentators believe P.O.V. 1... while others think that... P.O.V. 2... and others still think that P.O.V. 3.(3. Arguments) The discussion is a complex one and the following are a snapshot of views circulating in Australian media.

NORMAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS HERE

Hahaha giving away all my "secrets". Other students pay for this haha