text analysis prompts

REGISTER = purpose + audience + context

formal, informal, colloquial, slang, personal, expressive, transactional, poetic, etc …

Level of Language Explanation Examples

Formal This is language that is correct and proper. It does The care was dilapidated and needing
not contain contractions. It is carefully composed. repair.

This is how we speak in formal situations when we Mum was very upset because she was
are watching what we say. It is also the level we use extremely worried about us.
in essays. It is more elevated than colloquial
language. “Can you not come?”
Informal or This is everyday language. It is the level of language The car was an old bomb.
Colloquial we use with our friends and family. It may include
contractions and colloquialisms (every day Mum was having a fit because she was
expressions like, driving me crazy, over the moon…). worried sick about us.

It generally sounds far more chatty than formal “Can’t you come?”
language.

Slang This is language that belongs to a set group in
society. It is somewhat exclusive since, if you do not
belong to the group, you are unlikely to understand
it. Slang tends to be words and phrases rather than
complete sentences.
Some slang is that of young people and some
belongs to interest groups like surfers, skaters etc.
Slang tends to date quickly. It can actually move
into everyday language if it becomes widespread
and stays in our vocabulary.
In the 1960s and 1970s there was a lot
of slang that is no longer common eg
fuzz for police, bread for money or cat
for a hip young man. One word that
has moved into our colloquial
vocabulary is cool. Its use is so
widespread that it is no longer
exclusive.
More recently young people have used
sick to mean ‘great’ and this is a form
of slang.

The language of the text is [FORMAL, INFORMAL, COLLOQUIAL, SLANG] that is ….

o understated o transactional o ambiguous
o impartial o sophisticated o persuasive
o assertive o simplistic o serious
o biased o superficial o condescending
o propagandistic o antagonistic o arrogant
o cynical o distorted o dignified
o ironic o euphemistic o indifferent
o polite o rational o angry
o sarcastic o emphatic o humorous
o enthusiastic o precise o scientific
o jovial o genial o considered
o hostile o vague o sincere
o affectionate o blunt o childish
o personal o passionate o poetic
o expressive

This language/visual feature/technique ….

o attracts/draws attention to … o emphasises … o tells the audience …
o shows that … o promotes … o discusses …
o suggests that … o illustrates … o highlights …
o contrasts with … o encourages … o features …
o implies … o creates empathy for … o creates a sense of …
o adds appeal by … o encourages … o suggests a sense of …
o reinforces … o enriches … o makes it more …
o enhances … o involves readers in … o maximizes …
o involves … o describes … o appeals to …
o describes … o enriches …
PURPOSE LANGUAGE FEATURE
o factual statements
o technical language
INFORM
o ‘who, what, when, where, and how’
statements
o factual statements
o technical language
EXPLAIN
o ‘why and how’ statements
o poetic language
o adjectives
ENTERTAI
o subjective comments
N ….EDUCATE, CONVINCE, AMUSE, ADVERTISE ….
o humour
o emotive terms
This text’s purpose and intention:
o This language is designed to provoke …
o The clearest illustration of the writer’s purpose is …
o The writer has concentrated his/her effort on …
o This text pinpoints …
o This text provides a map of …
o The writer probes … so that …
o The writer’s purpose emerges as …
o The writer is attempting to sway the reader by …
o This text constructs a picture of …
o The writer tends to …
o Media attention is clearly focused on …
o The argument advanced in the text is designed to..
o The text gives prominence to …
o The intensity of the focus on …
o The [feature] supports the purpose of the text to …
Analysis and impact of text:
o The composer has used [feature] to …
o Using the feature of [ ] helps the composer to …
o It reads rather like …
o This text is a significant contribution to discussion
because …
o The [feature] draws the responder’s attention to …
o The effect of this language feature is to …
o We are made to … when the composer uses [feature]
because ….
o The power of this text stems from …
o The coverage of the issue is extensive: ….
o The content of this article is dominated by …
o For the reader, this text produces …
PURPOSE LANGUAGE FEATURE
o slogans
o facts and figures
PERSUADE
o subjective comments
o emotive terms
o action words beginning statements
o ‘how’ statements
INSTRUCT
o sequences / steps
o technical language
o The writer means to fuel the debate on …
o The position we are asked to share is that …
o The article attempts to enlist the support of …
o This text provides a view that contradicts …
o The writer opts for …
o The writer stresses …
o The appealing imagery of the text is aimed at …
o This text describes interesting developments in …
o The writer questions …
o This text clearly reveals the writer’s view on …
o The writer enters the arena of discussion by …
o The writer’s attitude is exemplified by …
o The article endorses …
o The text attempts to mobilize support for …
o The meaning of this text is …
o Perhaps the most surprising/interest aspect of the text is
…
o The general pattern of language evokes …
o A mood of … prevails in this text due to …
o A reader’s response may well be to …
o Visual interest in the text is created by …
o The influence of this text lies in …
o The text generates …
o The perceptions of the reader are sharpened by …
o This text increases the level of debate over … by …
o This text accentuates …
o The language features used attract …
o This text sharply focuses attention on …
o The text magnifies

THESAURUS / WORD BANK to use when writing about texts:

THEMES/IDEA concerns, issues, messages, concepts, notions, principles, motivations
S
MAIN/ major, primary, central, pivotal, frontal, most intense, paramount, above all, key
IMPORTANT
LESS underlying, hinted at, implied, more subtle, underneath, secondary, minor
OBVIOUS
CERTAINLY clearly, definitely, absolutely, indeed, obviously, in fact, importantly, undoubtedly, without
doubt, surely, distinctly
SHOWS displays, emphasises, informs, presents, highlights, mirrors, acknowledges, reflects,
reinformces, delineates, expounds, elucidates, outlines, exposes, relates
THEREFORE consequently, hence, thus, since
BUT yet, however, although, alternatively, whereas, nevertheless, nonetheless, while,
admittedly,
EXPECIALLY in particular, moreover, more specifically
SIMILARLY likewise, again, once more, additionally
OTHER not surprisingly …, neither … nor, either … or, rather …, in summary …, not only … but also,
‘GOOD’ both …, in conclusion …, firstly …secondly … finally
EXPRESSIONS

THEMES
o family o identity o personal-growth o honesty
o love o change o loneliness o war
o hate o work o challenges o education
o relationships o betrayal o gender o despair
o trust o parents o good vs evil o race
o journeys o revenge o friendship o enemies
o childhood o peace o pressure o abuse
o adulthood o age o greed/desire o hope
o survival o birth o power o ????

MOOD (look up those you are not familiar with)

o sadness o sarcasm o arrogance o joy
o indifference o enthusiasm o tenderness o sincerity
o anger o geniality o excitement o hostility
o humour o friendliness o fun o affection
o politeness o frustration o emphatic o passion
o modesty o serious o precision o warmth
o simplicity o dignity
TONE (look up those you are not familiar with)
o friendly o sad o amiable o sarcastic
o frustrated o indifferent o jovial o cynical
o jubilant o angry o emphatic o joyful
o serious o humorous o precise o conversational
o adult o informal o excited o childish
o condescending o polite o pleasant o sincere
o meek o modest o genial o hostile
o arrogant o sarcastic o vague o blunt
o tender o formal o scientific o affectionate
o simple o considered o passionate
o enthusiastic
dignified
o warm

Language Features of Texts Effect of Text Features

Verbal Features Visual Features Text features can have many effects including:
• Figurative language eg. Dominant Image
similes, metaphors,
personification
Symbol  Attracting attention
• Imagery
Composition  Making the text more appealing and
• Alliteration/assonance/
Contrast/juxtaposition interesting
onomatopoeia Balance  Highlighting one point or opinion in the text
• Verbs, nouns, adjectives, Graphics/pictures  Making the text seem urgent
adverbs (word choice) Font style  Creating a sense of sympathy or empathy
• Sentence structure (syntax) Font size
 Getting the attention of a particular audience
• Emotive language Spacing
 Starting something specific
• Punctuation White space
 Persuading the audience about something.
• Use of pronouns Shape
• Repetition Frames & borders A single feature can also have more than one effect.
• Idioms • Depth – background & foreground It is important that you can explain how features help
• Hyperbole Proportion create the meaning in a text. To do this, you need
• Imperative Camera shots/angles to:
• Pun Colour
• Quotation Light & shadows 1. Identify the feature
• Statement Lines 2. Identify the purpose (or effect required)
• Rhetorical Question Vectors 3. Explain how the feature helps achieve the
• Rhyme Allusion purpose
• Rhythm Sequence
• Motif/Symbols Structure
Helpful phrases:
• Allusion/association Shot
 The meaning of this text is …
• Dialogue Camera movement  The composer has used [verbal/visual
• Script Texture
feature] to …
• Headings Mood
 Using the feature of [verbal/visual feature]
• Voice-over Scenery
helps the composer to …
• Sound effects Logos & graphics
 The features support the purpose of the text
• Tone of voice Facial expressions
by …
• Music Body language  The [verbal/visual feature] draws the
• Silence Caption responder’s attention to …
• Captions Layout  The effect of this language feature is to …
• Point of View Logos/icons  We are made to … when the composer uses
• Connotation Symbols [verbal/visual feature] because …