EDN111 Assessment 3
Text Analysis and Rewrite
Amy Tozer 32395388
Semester 1 - 2014
Part 1
Purpose of the text:
The genre for Threats to Coral Reefs falls under a text type category of a factual
text, as it’s purpose is to give factual information about the cause and effects of
the threats humans and natural forces have on Coral reefs.
Structure of the text:
The structure is typical of an information report, as it opens with a general
statement about a thing/subject, i.e. Coral reefs, then goes on to provide facts
and information, which classifies and supports the importance and issues raised
about that subject in the opening general statement.
The text uses typical generic features such as:

General nouns, such as: coral reefs, habitats, threats and populations.

Relating verbs such as: are, these, by, and while.

Action verbs and phrases such as: overfishing, sedimentation and
destructive fishing practices.

Present tense verbs used such as: ‘are degraded’, ‘are in’, and “can be’

A timeless present tense is used in some cases to show ‘usualness’, i.e.
“Reef degradation occurs in response to…”

Cohesive ties: “…percent are in critical” and “worsened by climate” and
repeated naming of the topic, i.e. “coral reefs”, “reefs” and “coral
systems”.
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014

Technical terms/specialised vocabulary used such as; anthropogenic
stresses, sedimentation and ocean acidification.

Also noun groups/phrases i.e. “mass coral bleaching”, “coastal
pressures” “climate change” and “coral reefs/coral systems”.
Atypical generic features:

Possibly similar to an explanation text because of its opening statement,
which is further explained with facts and supporting evidence to
describe why it occurs.

The text is also similar to an exposition text, for the author may be trying
to persuade readers to agree that not only are humans’ responsible local
threats, but hinting that they may also be the cause for global threats as
well. There is supportive evidence to back this claim up, i.e. “many
scientists believe that…” and “Experts predict…”

Text uses a connective, i.e. “In addition” which is more typical or an
exposition text.

Text uses modal verbs, which are typical in an exposition text to
reinforce authors overall statement or position, such as; “which can
further” and “may die”.
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014
Part 2
Passive Voice

Concept:
The term ‘passive voice’ refers to
how a text will place the focus on a
subject that receives the action
‘done-to’ it, rather than the ‘doer’
of that action. ‘Passive voice’ is
formed by the use of the verb ‘to
be’ and the past participle of the
main verb. The past participle is
found when ‘-ed’ is added to the
verb. (Unless it’s an irregular verb.)

Examples:
“As human populations and coastal
pressures increase, reef resources
are more heavily exploited, and
many coral habitats continue to
decline.”

Extended answer:
135 words
By adding the past participle in this
example, ‘are degraded’, it is added
to show the effect of the ‘done-to’
effect on the subject. i.e. ‘are
exploited’ is the verb because the
subject (reef resources/coral
habitats) had something done to it
(are exploited) by someone
(human and coastal pressures).
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014
‘Top-Level’ Structure

Concept:
The term ‘‘top-level’ structure’
refers to a pattern in which a text is
structured to describe the
relationship among the ideas
presented and also to help the text
cohere as a whole. There are 4
types of patterns, (comparisons,
problems and solutions, cause and
effects, and descriptions and lists)
where different ‘signal’ words are
used to indicate a texts ‘top-level’
structure.

Examples:
‘Reef degradation occurs in
response to both natural and
anthropogenic stresses.’

Extended answer:
130 words
In this example we can see that the
text uses a ‘Cause and effect’
structure. The key ‘signal’ words
from the text are, ‘in response to’,
which is similar to ‘as a result’ or
‘the consequence was’, where the
ideas are focus around the effect/s
and cause/s.
i.e.

Effects = reef degradation.

Causes = natural and
anthropogenic stresses
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014
Cohesive ties

Concept:
The term ‘cohesion’ refers to how
well an author has been able to
relate different ideas in a text and
the way in which the text forms
together overall to help readers
comprehend the different ideas
presented. The way an author
achieves this is by using a range of
‘cohesive ties.’ There are five
cohesive ties:

Examples:

Reference

Substitution

Ellipsis

Conjunction

And lexical cohesion
“In addition, many scientists
believe that human activities
intensify natural disturbances,
subjecting coral reefs to…”

Extended answer:
136 words
The text uses conjunctions, such as
‘in addition’ (i.e. additive/casual) to
demonstrate what has already
occurred, and for what will follow.
i.e. due to past/present and future
‘human activities’, it will cause
‘natural disturbances’ to intensify.
The text also uses Lexical cohesion
such as reiteration, (repetition of
words i.e coral reefs) to relate to
the previous occurring items.
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014
Subject-noun phrases

Concept:
The term ‘subject noun phrase’
adds information to the ‘subject
noun’ in a sentence. A ‘noun
phrase’ is a number of words
based around a noun, and can
sometimes be the subject or object
of a sentence. The ‘subject’ of a
sentence, is found when we ask
‘who’ or ‘what’ is before the verb.

Examples:
‘Reef degradation occurs in
response to both natural and
anthropogenic stresses.’

Extended answer:
98 words
‘Degradation’ is the Subject noun
as it is before the (being) verb
‘occurs’. ‘Reef degradation’ is the
Subject Noun phrase because it
acts like a noun, and is the subject
of the sentence.
Nominalisation

Concept:
The term ‘nominalisation’ refers to
the process of turning other parts
of speech (i.e. a verbs or adjectives)
into a noun.

Examples:

“… coral reefs are degraded
beyond recovery.”

“Reef degradation occurs
in response to…”
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014

Extended answer:
110 words
In the first example, the action verb
‘degrade’ presented as ‘degraded,’
(past participles i.e. verb with
added ‘-ed’) is used to describe the
action being done, or previously
done to coral reefs.
The second example shows the
process of ‘nominalisation’ because
the text has taken the past
participle ‘degraded’ and turned it
into a noun ‘degradation’. In so
doing it changes the connotation of
the word, from a past participle
(‘action verb’) to a thing (noun.)
(325 words used for part 1)
(609 words used for part 2)
EDN111 Assignment 3 Part 1 +2 by Amy Tozer 32395388 S1 2014