Explorers or Boys Messing About? Either way, taxpayer get rescue
bill, Steven Morris
Language and Structure Techniques
Technique: Rhetorical question, language choice
Effect on reader: A rhetorical question is used to draw in and influence the reader to the writer's
point of view.
Using 'boys' makes the explorers sound like children
Using 'messing' creates the impression that the activity is not serious or taken seriously. These
two-word choices create a negative impression of the explorers. They show the writers opinion
whilst pretending to give the reader a choice.
Quote "Explorers or boys messing about?"
Technique: word choice
Effect on reader: These three words all have links to theatre and acting. This creates the
impression with the reader that what the explorers are doing isn't real, it is a play. And thus, that
they are 'playing' at being explorers. It creates a subtle negative connotation for the reader which
undermines the credibility of the explorers.
Quote: "farce" "tragedy" "drama"
Technique: repetition of hard 'pl' sound
Effect on reader: use of 'plunged' and 'plucked' creates a hard, explosive feel to the description
of the crash. This echoes what the crash would have been like and creates a vivid picture in the
readers mind.
Quote: "their helicopter plunged" "the men were plucked"
Technique: word or verb choice
Effect on reader: use of the word plucked makes them sound tiny and insignificant. Something
which can be plucked is usually small. This reinforces in the readers mind the idea of the men as
helpless children. It also subtly ridicules the men as insignificant.
Quote: "the men were plucked for the icy water"
Technique: vague phrasing
Effect on reader: the writer suggests, without being explicit, that some sources are criticising
the men. This communicates that their actions are disapproved of to the reader without the writer
providing solid fact.
Quote: “in some quarters"
Technique: word choice
Effect on reader: Use of the word expert to suggest that the men are not professional or experts.
As an expert wouldn't have taken the small helicopter. This again reinforces the negative
impression of the men to the reader.
Quote: "experts question the wisdom"
Technique: allusion to Q in Bond film, comedy/humour
Effect on reader: The writer notes Mr. Smith's nickname in order to make fun of it. it alludes to
the bond films where Q is the character who supplies the clever gadgets. In this case, their clever
gadgets have failed. The sarcastic tone again communicates the impression that these men really
do not know what they are doing reinforcing the impression for the reader that they are
incompetent.
Quote: "also known as Q"
Technique: Allusion to HMS Endurance 1914 ship that Sir Ernest Shackelton uses to go to
the south pole. He lost the ship but saved all the men through great leadership.
Effect on reader: This diminishes and belittles the explorers as they are not as brave as the great
captain. Also reinforces the idea that they have to be rescued by someone who knows what they
are doing.
Quote:" HMS Endurance"
Technique: Biblical imagery
Effect on reader: Mr. Brook's wife compares her husband's survival with a miracle. Suggesting
that only something supernatural could have saved them. This suggest that the expedition was
very dangerous and the inexperienced men were putting themselves in grave danger.
Quote: "Nothing short of a miracle"
Technique: adjective, irony
Effect on reader: Use of adjective 'experienced' is ironic, because the writer is pointing out that
they should have known better than to do something this dangerous.
Quote: "Experienced adventurers"
Technique: hyperbole
Effect on reader: The writer lists a number of adventures which the men have had, which are
exaggerated to make fun of them This again creates the impression that they are incompetent and
race headfirst into danger with no thought.
Quote: "Survived a charge by a silverback gorilla"
Technique: metaphor
Effect on reader: the image compares the men to school boys who have been punished. This
diminishes the men and makes them seem comical.
Quote: “they’ll probably have their bottoms kicked and be sent home the long way"
Technique: Use of Quotation Marks
Effect on the reader: The quote marks denote whilst the men have deemed the helicopter
trustworthy but that the writer has shown that it is not. This further undermines the credibility of
the men and their experience as explorers.
Quote:" 'trusty helicopter' "
Technique: word choice
Effect on reader: emotive word with connotations that Miss Vesty did know, even though she
said she didn't. It implies that his wife lied for him. This further undermines the credibility of the
men.
Quote: "Mrs. Vestey claimed"
What is the theme in "Explorers or boys messing about? Either way
tax payer gets rescue bill"?
-Social responsibility
-nature of courage
-consequences of reckless behaviour
What is the structure of Explorers or boys messing about? Either
way tax payer gets rescue bill"?
-Like many newspapers articles many short paragraphs.
-First paragraph makes reference to previous unsuccessful expedition
-5W's are quickly provided
-some background information provided
-towards the end of the article quotations form their spokesperson and unimpressed experts
are included.
What are the language features of "Explorers or boys messing
about? Either way tax payer gets rescue bill"?
-Simple and straightforward but carefully chosen to convey the writers’ opinion.
-Title using the word 'boys' and 'messing about' are dismissive and set the tone for the piece
-Other words are chosen to show disapproval e.g. farce, doubt
-Words like threatened and tragedy show the serious implications of the men’s actions
Explorers or Boys Messing About
ideas
The article discusses a helicopter crash that occurred by two highly experienced professionals, in
an area that was unsuitable for such a mode of transport. The article outlines the incident but it
also criticises the two men for the decisions that they have made.
context
The article was placed into a newspaper after the event occurred.
author’s purpose
The article was written for a newspaper. Despite the obvious purpose of ‘informing’, newspaper
articles also contain points of view and they are biased towards one opinion. This often depends
on the point of view that the newspaper is attempting to project.
Language
Criticism
____Morris appears to be criticising the decisions of the men. He uses informal vocabulary in the
title: ‘Explorers or boys messing about?’ This verb suggests that the two men, who are
experienced, were acting in an immature manner and should not have been behaving as they did.
Note that this is a rhetorical question, although he does appear to be answering the question
throughout the article with his own opinion.
Facts vs Opinions
Newspaper article contain both facts and opinions. Facts cannot be disputed and are true.
Opinions are how people feel about a situation. On many occasions, articles contain opinions that
are disguised as fact. Newspapers aim to influence the reader’s point of view, depending on the
objective that they are attempting to achieve.
Morris states the incident ‘ended in farce’. This criticises the men and the outcome of the
incidents. He also states that ‘experts questioned the wisdom’ of the men and this suggests that
they knew all along that this was an unwise idea.
However, many of the paragraphs are purely factual:
‘The men were plucked from the icy water by a Chilean naval ship after a nine-hour rescue
which began when Mr. Brooks contacted his wife, Jo Vestey, on his satellite phone asking for
assistance. The rescue involved the Royal Navy, the RAF and British coastguards.’
Even with the facts, the writer chooses to include the verb ‘plucked’, which provides a viewpoint
as to how these men were rescued.
Structure
Most of the paragraphs are short, due to the number of facts that are included in the piece. Note
the embedded clauses, such as:
‘The drama began at around 1am British time when Mr. Brooks, 42, and 40-year-old Mr. Smith,
also known as Q, ditched into the sea 100 miles off Antarctica, about 36 miles 20 north of Smith
Island, and scrambled into their life-raft.’
Newspaper articles often include as much information as possible into one sentence. Commas are
used to break up the information.