Information, persuasion and register
Texts 8, 10 and 11
Lesson Objectives:
To consider how informative texts are organised
and presented
To distinguish between factual from
persuasive/opinionative writing
To begin to compare texts
Key Terms
Phrasal Verbs – informal phrases that include a verb and a
preposition (pick up, hang up)
Pun – play on words
Imperatives – verbs that give commands
Conditional clause – a clause that qualifies a statement, usually
introduced by ‘if’
Register – A type of language defined in terms of its
appropriateness for the type of activity or context in which
the language is used.
Semantic field of....
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Soya
Quorn
Tofu
Pulses
Cous cous
Vegetables
Text 11 – The Vegetarian Society
• An informative text
• How does it present and organise its
information?
• SPAG the text in pairs
• Write a general overview of text 11. Try to
comment on the general style of the language
used and the significance of any contextual
factors.
Level of Analysis
Questions
Graphology and
typography
How does the layout and various fonts/typefaces contribute to the effectiveness of
the text
Lexis
• The text addresses the audience directly as ‘you’ (using the second personal
pronoun). How does this feature contribute to the overall style of the text?
• The text uses modal verbs (can, will) and imperatives are used in each section.
Highlight these two different types of verb and comment on their effect.
Grammar
• Conditional clauses are used. Highlight these and describe why you think they are
effective.
• What proportion of the sentences are declaratives, imperatives or interrogatives?
Comment on your findings
Semantics and
pragmatics
• What effect would having a picture of Paul McCartney and Victoria Alderton create
upon the reader?
• What is the significance of the word ‘simple’ in the heading ‘Seven Simple Steps to
going – and staying – vegetarian’?
• Why do you think they have chosen ‘SEVEN’ steps?
Text Structure and
discourse
Look at the order of the simple steps. What is noticeable about the order in which
they have been placed. Comment in particular on step 1 and step 7.
Is it simply an ‘informative’ text? Identify any aspects of the text which are
designed to encourage people to become vegetarian.
Example of an overview:
Text 11 is from a website and is informing potential vegetarians about
how to become and stay vegetarian. It uses lots of encouraging
language features such as modal verbs ‘You can’ and phrasal verbs
‘grown up’. The use of these two features together is particularly
encouraging ‘Don’t be put off’. This type of informal and friendly
language not only informs the reader about how to change their lifestyle
but also acknowledges that it is a difficult decision and so provides
reassurance – ironically really, as the headline is ‘Seven Simple
Steps’...
Graphology and typography:
The graphology of the text is designed to make the information
accessible by signposting each of the seven simple steps. The simple
layout and typography (the only significant difference in style is in font
size for the headline and italics for the quotes) mirrors the ‘simplicity’ of
becoming a vegetarian. The use of photographs is effective. Paul
McCartney is a familiar face and so may lure readers in, if they just
happened to stumble across the website, and Vicoria Anderton is a real
example of someone who has taken the advice given on the website.
Lexis:
The consistent use of the second person throughout is designed to
engage the audience creating a personal tone, adding to the
encouraging nature of the article.
The use of the imperative verbs creates an authoritative register to the
text and will encourage readers to take the information seriously. While
the modal verbs allow the reader to see that it is a lifestyle choice with
options rather than just being strict and confining ‘you can view hundreds
of recipes’.
Grammar:
The conditional clauses in the text add to the informality of the register.
Again, it is showing that being a vegetarian is not restricting in any way
and the process of becoming vegetarian is simple and enjoyable: ‘As
you get more confident’, ‘If it suits you to do things gradually’.
The only example of an interrogative sentence is from Paul McCartney.
All other sentences in the article are declarative or imperative. This
adds to the authoritative register and makes the reader take the
information seriously and trusts the source. The lack of questions
illustrates that it really is that simple.
Semantics and Pragmatics
Paul McCartney is a well known figure in the world of vegetarianism
and his face will reassure readers that this is a trusted source. The
picture of Victoria Alderton also reassures the reader that the website is
true to its word – that becoming a vegetarian is simple – even she has
done it!
The word simple is clear. As opposed to ‘easy’ it is perhaps indicating
that the journey to vegetarianism is not without its obstacles, and once
you have achieved it your life will become a lot more ‘simple’.
Seven steps as opposed to say 10, makes it more achievable in the
reader’s mind
Text 8 – Bisto Advertisement
• All Adverts have the purpose of PERSUASION
• Every now and again a clever advertising
executive will create an ‘advert’ under the
disguise of something else – it’s a subtle
persuasive technique
• Think about it, no consumer likes to feel like
they are easily manipulated, which is why this
type of advertising is actually very effective...
• Let’s take a closer look at text 8...
Text 8
• One genre of text (an advertisement)
masquerading as another (a recipe from a
cook book).
• Recall as many PERSUASIVE techniques as you
can... 5 minutes.
Find the following in the text:
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PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES
Personal Pronouns
Flattery
Loan Words
Persuasive presentational features
Humour (VERY subtle!)
Colloquial language
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Conventions of INFORMATIVE texts
Personal Pronouns
Imperatives
Discourse Markers
Listing
Informal register
What you will hopefully notice is that there is a lot of cross over between the two
types of writing.
In your own words create a SUMMARY of Text 8.
This will hopefully lead you towards discussing the PRAGMATICS of the text.
Because we are considerate readers, there are subtle clues that tell us it is an
ADVERTISEMENT rather than just a RECIPE from a COOK BOOK. Explain.
ANALYSIS - Lexis
• Yvonne’s Tasty Tips – parodying the language of TV cookery
programmes
• Personal pronouns just like in a TV cookery programme when
the chef talks directly to the audience
• Imperatives familiar to the semantic field of cooking: Heat,
pop, place
• Ingredients listed with elision
• Humour – stronganoff (pun) and ‘you can serve it with fresh
country vegetables but I find it easier to use a large spoon.’
• Colloquialisms ‘off the telly’.
• Loan words to imitate the dependency of foreign words in
cooking; ‘stroganoff’ ‘magnifique’.
ANALYSIS – graphology and
typography
• Photograph of ‘Delia Smith’ imitator Julie Walters
• Hand written font to add a personal touch
• Yvonne’s Tasty Tips – written like the ‘aah’ on the
Bisto carton
• The whole text imitates a 70s cook book – light
brown tones
• Photograph of the finished article to appeal to the
readers – to show them how easy it is to create
• Photograph strategically placed in the bottom corner
showing the Bisto product.
Overall ANALYSIS
• Text 8 persuades the reader by creating the
illusion that Bisto has a taste of real ‘home
cooked’ ingredients
• Creates the illusion of sophistication
‘magnifique’ and ‘beef stroganoff’ as opposed
to Sunday roast!
• Ironic – tongue in cheek??
TEXT 10
• An informative (and persuasive) text about
TRIPE.
• Complete your annotations of this text – spot
features of INFORMATIVE and PERSUASIVE
writing.
• Lexis
• Graphology
• Grammar
• Register
Comparing Texts
Choose 2 of the texts (text 8, text 11, text 10) to write a COMPARISON ANALYSIS.
You will be expected to find SIMILARITIES and DIFFERENCES. Limit yourself to 4
features in each text.
This will teach you to be specific – rather than briefly talking about SEVERAL
features it is better to be DETAILED and SPECIFIC about a FEW, RELEVANT
features...
Text ____
Overview of text: genre,
purpose, audience, relevant
context, main ideas and
attitudes
Significant stylistic features
– eg, presentational
features, structure of
information, discourse
features, register,
lexical/grammatical
features, other significant
details
Text ___
Use your notes to write at least a
page of analysis
• Compare and contrast the ways in which any 2
of texts 8, 10, 11 present information to their
readers
• Refer to your ‘connectives chart’ to ensure
that you are consistently comparing the texts
throughout your analysis.