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language analysis criticism

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brendan:
In language analysis a level of detachment is required, by saying that writer's approach was actually 'measured' rather than saying that the approach was intended to be 'measured', you step over the line between language analysis and endorsing/critiquing arguments. It would be better to say: "By adopting this approach, the author seeks to convince readers that their argument is measured and reasonable, and that they have considered the issue thoughtfully from both sides, and are not attacking the proposal just for the sake of it."

Same with: "The alarmist approach of comparing the government?s daily compulsory exercise proposal to the actions of China?s Mao regime strives to convince the audience that the suggestion is extreme, and unnecessarily getting involved in issues which are up to the individual to address. "

I would re-write that as: "By comparing the government?s daily compulsory exercise proposal to the actions of China?s Mao regime the writer strives to alarm the audience and to convince them that the proposal is extreme, unnecessarily impinging on individual liberties"

"A ?we know best? tone"
You could also describe that as a 'tone of authority', or an 'authoritative tone'.

"to plant doubt"
if you want to use the full expression then say it, if not then just say "to place doubt in the minds of ....".

melanie.dee:
i appreciate that you need detachment in a language analysis, but seriously how far can you go, with aims to, strives to, in an effort to.. yes iv done that with the EFFECT of the technique on the audience. but the "measured tone" in the TECHNIQUE, and then i explain what effect that technique aims to have on the readers.. i duno.. i see your point, and i probably could have made the China example a bit more detached but seriously how far can you go with that.. anyway ill just keep it like that, criticisms about my lang analyses have always been about being too vague rather than not sufficiently detached. but i appreciate your advice

Pencil:

--- Quote from: "brendan" ---In language analysis a level of detachment is required, by saying that writer's approach was actually 'measured' rather than saying that the approach was intended to be 'measured', you step over the line between language analysis and endorsing/critiquing arguments. It would be better to say: "By adopting this approach, the author seeks to convince readers that their argument is measured and reasonable, and that they have considered the issue thoughtfully from both sides, and are not attacking the proposal just for the sake of it."

--- End quote ---


I'd disagree. Yes, you need to be detached, in that you can't be critiquing the arguments, but by saying it is 'measured' isn't it similar to describing the tone? We are allowed to say 'he/she writes excitedly/ (insert other tone word here)' etc we don't have to say 'he/she aims to appear excited'..

Pencil:
Also, whilst I would tend not to make value judgments, some high-scoring responses from previous years that are in the examiners reports have done so.
I'm so sick of everyone putting up their 'rules' about english (ie. you can't put quotes in intro's, you can't start a part 2 essay paragraph with a characters name) because most of the time they are bullshit, and it is just due to the individual teachers

Collin Li:

--- Quote from: "goosefraba" ---I'd disagree. Yes, you need to be detached, in that you can't be critiquing the arguments, but by saying it is 'measured' isn't it similar to describing the tone? We are allowed to say 'he/she writes excitedly/ (insert other tone word here)' etc we don't have to say 'he/she aims to appear excited'..
--- End quote ---


Yeah, you can claim the writer has a "measured" tone without endorsing an argument. It just means that the writer has a rational voice rather than an emotional voice.

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