Aspects of language
Those little things...
• There are a number of easily used techniques
which, whether in speech or writing, will help
to persuade our audience.
• It is all about how we use words. Effective use
of language is subtle but has great impact.
• Consider some of the following techniques.
Try to identify them in your close reading and
use them in your own writing.
Linking
• We have already spoken about how it is
important to ensure that your essay or speech
has a logical progression of events: we want to
avoid a style that simply lists unrelated points.
• However, logical progression has to be
signalled for the reader. We do this by linking.
• A link in a chain or a link between two points,
like a bridge over a river, always does two
things.
• It links two things by touching one of them at
a one point and touching the other at a
different point.
West side
East side
• Links work exactly the same way in writing.
Linking ideas
Think about the following argument:
1. Many argue that the banks were to blame for
the start of the current financial crisis because
they gave mortgages to people who couldn't
really afford them.
2. However, to claim this is to ignore the element
of free choice.
3. The people who borrowed that money didn't
have to. They could easily have refused.
• Think about the second sentence.
However, to claim this is to ignore the
element of free choice.
• How does this link what comes before to what
comes after?
• First, what does come before?
Many argue that the banks were to blame for
the start of the current financial crisis because
they gave mortgages to people who couldn't
really afford them.
• What words in the second sentence 'touch' – that
is, link to – that idea?
However, to claim this is to ignore the element
of free choice.
Many argue that the banks were to blame for
the start of the current financial crisis because
they gave mortgages to people who couldn't
really afford them.
However, to claim this is to ignore the element
of free choice.
• So the words 'However, to claim this' link back to
the idea that the banks were to blame for the
present recession.
• Now, let's think about what comes after?
• What words in the second sentence 'touch' –
that is, link to – that idea?
However, to claim this is to ignore the
element of free choice.
Those people who borrowed that money
didn't have to. They could easily have
refused.
However, to claim this is to ignore the
element of free choice.
Those people who borrowed that money
didn't have to. They could easily have
refused.
• So the words 'the element of free choice' link
on to the idea that people could have chosen
not to take out loans they couldn't afford.
Your writing
• Identify a number of links from your own
reading of newspapers, articles, essays and
past close-reading papers.
• Identify two ideas in your own writing and
consider how you might link them or improve
the link you already have.
Quotes from... nobody knows
• All punctuation marks are separators.
• Whether we are using inverted commas
(quotation marks) for direct speech, titles or
quotes, we use them to separate 'someone
else's words' from the body of the text.
• Writers often use inverted commas to indicate
words which are unattributed: that is, we
don't know who said them.
Unattributed quotations
• Think about the sentence:
Many people believe that reality talent shows
like X-Factor have been a revelation in the
entertainment industry.
• Here, we know that many people believe that
X-Factor is fantastic.
Unattributed quotations
• Now consider this:
TV critic Gillian Worsley believes that reality
talent shows like X-Factor have been a
'revelation' in the entertainment industry.
• Here, we know that Gillian Worsley believes
that X-Factor is fantastic.
Unattributed quotations
• But what about this sentence:
Many people believe that reality talent shows
like X-Factor have been a 'revelation' in the
entertainment industry.
• Discuss the difference here.
Expressing opinion with punctuation!
• Here, we know that many people believe that X-Factor
is fantastic – but we don't know which people.
• We do know that the word 'revelation' is someone
else's words – the inverted commas tell us that – but
we don't know whose precisely.
• However, while we don't know whose words they are,
we do know whose they are not.
• They are not the author's words. And if the writer is
saying that 'these are someone else's words, not mine‘,
what does that suggest about his opinion of the
words?
Your writing
• Identify a number of unattributed quotations
from your own reading of newspapers,
articles, essays and past close-reading papers.
• Identify some ideas in your own writing where
you could cast doubt on an argument just by
using inverted commas.
Expressing opinion with words
• Of course, we express our opinion in words,
but the choices we make about our words can
make our argument much more persuasive.
• This means that we can strengthen our
argument by replacing neutral words with
more powerful words.
• We can use emotive language.
Emotive language
• Think about the sentence:
The rate at which species are becoming
extinct is worrying.
• This states a fact (species are becoming
extinct) and expresses a viewpoint (this is
worrying).
Emotive language
• Now think about the sentence:
The horrifically accelerated rate at which precious
species are being wiped off the face of the planet
is nightmarish.
•
•
•
•
What words have been inserted?
What words have been substituted?
Is meaning changed?
What is the effect?
Your writing
• Identify a number of examples from your own
reading of newspapers, articles, essays and
past close-reading papers where the author
chooses to use or insert emotive words
instead of using a more neutral option.
• Identify some ideas in your own writing where
you could strengthen an argument by
inserting or substituting emotive words.
Being ironic
• Although it is often easy to identify, irony is
sometimes a difficult technique to define or to
use.
• Irony is when a writer or speaker expresses an
opinion by saying something which both the
writer and the reader know to be untrue.
Oooh, how sarcastic...
• Discuss the effectiveness of how the writers express
their feelings in the following two sentences about
the problem of land mines throughout the world:
I don't agree that companies that make landmines
to kill and maim people should then make a profit
from clearing those mines.
If it's right that companies that make landmines to
kill and maim people then make a profit from
clearing those mines, then down is up, white is
black and Adolf Hitler was a wee sweetie.
Your writing
• Identify a number of examples of irony from
your own reading of newspapers, articles,
essays and past close-reading papers.
• Identify some ideas in your own writing where
you could strengthen an argument by using
irony.
Self / Peer Evaluation
• Indicate on the bar chart
opposite how
comfortable you feel
about using linking,
emotive language and
irony to enhance your
writing: 6 is “I feel very
comfortable.”
• Write out one or more
questions you would like
to ask about each of
these techniques.