Help identifying tone

[akira88]

I'm practising language analysis heaps, but I'm not very good~
Could someone help me identify the tone of this article please?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/police-must-act-on-thugs/story-e6frfifo-1225817858379
I thought it would be forthright... lol go ahead, tell me I'm wrong

[brightsky]

I'd say almost accusative.

[superflya]

antagonistic?

he/she obviously disagrees with the stance of the police.

[akira88]

I'd say almost accusative.

I guess accusing the Vic government? Thanks brightsky

[Aqualim]

probably not as strong as the words suggested above, but you could say he/she is utilising a demanding or concerned tone?

[akira88]

probably not as strong as the words suggested above, but you could say he/she is utilising a demanding or concerned tone?

Yeah that's what I thought of at first, a concerned tone. Hmm.

The paragraphs in the article are very very brief, should I mention it in my analysis? Do the short paragraphs make more of an impact? Any idea how I would go about explaining that?

[superflya]

^^ they may be brief but they get to the point, concise in a way.

[Aqualim]

The paragraphs in the article are very very brief, should I mention it in my analysis? Do the short paragraphs make more of an impact? Any idea how I would go about explaining that?

Yes I would definitely include that. You could say that short paragraphs or sentences conveys a strong message to the audience regarding <the contention of the article>. Then you could relate this to how the short paragraphs reinforces the tone conveyed.

[akira88]

Thanks all.

[brightsky]

The paragraphs in the article are very very brief, should I mention it in my analysis? Do the short paragraphs make more of an impact? Any idea how I would go about explaining that?

Yes, the short, powerful paragraphs used by the writer is just another literary technique he employs that contributes to the conveying of his overall intention. Have a quick scan of them:

"Bidding for business conventions and major events could also become more difficult because of safety concerns.

Our quest for further corporate headquarters based in Melbourne and direct flights could also be set back.

Our vibrant food and wine culture could also suffer, with both residents and tourists steering clear of particular streets in fear they might become a victim as they walk back to their car or to public transport.

The frequency of these attacks has not gone unnoticed internationally.

We cannot simply pretend they are isolated incidents and that the foreign media is making a mountain out of a molehill."

The impact is quite powerful; the above written in a longwinded style wouldn't be nearly as effective.

[akira88]

Thanks. But HOW do the short sentences achieve that? The information being conveyed in short sentences is direct to the point and has a powerful impact? :S

[brightsky]

It sort of has a "listing" effect, which effectively illustrates the magnitude of the situation. The shortness of the sentences has such a powerful impact because readers are confronted with such facts blow for blow (that is why it won't work as well if such facts are embedded in a long, meaty paragraph as in that case the author would give the reader "time to recover").  The author then presents his point of view, that the frequency of these attacks cannot go unnoticed and that we cannot simply pretend that they are isolated incidents. The "list" hence gives the credibility to the author's arguments (it actualizes and reinforces it), which in turn contributes to the greater contention of the entire article.

[akira88]

It sort of has a "listing" effect, which effectively illustrates the magnitude of the situation. The shortness of the sentences has such a powerful impact because readers are confronted with such facts blow for blow (that is why it won't work as well if such facts are embedded in a long, meaty paragraph as in that case the author would give the reader "time to recover".).  The author then presents his point of view, that the frequency of these attacks cannot go unnoticed and that we cannot simply pretend that they are isolated incidents. The "list" hence gives the credibility to the author's arguments (it actualizes and reinforces it), which in turn contributes to the greater contention of the entire article.

Thank you so much brightsky!

[Yitzi_K]

Elaborating on the short paragraphs thing - you could mention that it is a Herald Sun article, and that the HSun is a tabloid. Short paragraphs is a writing style used much more by tabloids than broadsheets, you could say something about that and how it effects the target audience

[akira88]

Just a quick question, is it a feature article or opinion piece? :S