HOW DO YOU WRITE
A LANGUAGE
ANALYSIS ESSAY?
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1.) READ THE TEXT
2.) RE-READ IT, NOW HIGHLIGHTING
PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES
3.) ORGANISE YOUR NOTES AND PLAN
YOUR ESSAY
4.) WRITE YOUR INTRODUCTION
5.) WRITE YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS,
USING TEEEL
6.) WRITE YOUR CONCLUSION
OK…HERE’S YOUR
“FORMULA”
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Ask key questions
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What is the writer saying? – Identify the contention
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How is it said? Write a few key words to describe the writers
tone and style
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Why is it persuasive? Why are some of your highlighted
words / sentences persuasive?
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Think about how they make you feel about the writers point
of view.
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Do the techniques help to persuade you to agree with the
writer? How? If not, why?
Read the text
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It’s all a formula. If you can remember the
formula, you can write a great essay.
BUT HOW DO I WRITE MY
INTRO?
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Sentence one: Briefly comment on the broader context of the issue
being addressed by the article.
Example: “The culling of sharks has been long debated within the
Australian society, with many opinions being expressed.”
Sentence two: Provide details of the article (author, source, date,
type of article, audience) and in your own words state the main
contention – that is, what the creator of this media text wants to
contribute to the debate on that issue.
Sentence three: note the tone and style of the text, and mention the
image
Sentence four: Briefly summarise the purpose of the text, and
mention the PLTs you will be talking about/analysing.
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Once again, this is a FORMULA
You must use TEEEL
What does TEEEL stand for again?
(tell me I’m seriously asking).
HOW DO I WRITE MY
BODY PARAGRAPH?
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Topic sentence: ok you have two options
1.) Focus on one aspect of what the language makes the reader
think, feel or do.
Example: “The article aims to shock the reader into forming a
new perspective on the debate surrounding the culling of
sharks”.
2.) Focus on a dominant persuasive technique used.
Example: “A vicious attack towards those who support the
culling of sharks, coupled with strong emotive appeals, shocks
the reader into feeling abhorrence towards this issue.”
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You must then give your evidence and explain
it. Choose a strong quote or phrase that
conveys the PLT that you are analysing. Embed
this quote into your sentence.
Then elaborate upon your quote. How does it
make the reader think, feel, do.
That is, what does it make us think? How does
it make us feel? And what does it make us want
to do?
Elaborate further now. How does it make us
think, feel, do?
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The author creates a strong and immediate
sense of the triviality of the uproar. He begins
with a rhetorical question, ‘what’s all the fuss
about?’, suggesting that the controversy is
merely an overreaction to what was really a
relatively minor incident. His macho attitude is
evident in his disregard for ‘these so called
tough men’ who ‘go off sulking for being called
a few silly names.’ His use of insulting phrases
persuades the reader that the players views
should be dismissed and that the whole issue is
petty.
Sample body paragraph
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In your conclusion, all you need to do is give
your final opinion that follows on from your
discussion.
You can also give a brief summary of all that
you have said.
Do NOT bring in any new information.
Conclusion