YEAR 11 ENGLISH
Ballarat High School 2009
Area of study 3
USING LANGUAGE TO PERSUADE
ASSESSMENT
Outcome 3 – Using Language to Persuade
On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify and discuss how language, either in writing or orally, can be used to persuade the reader and/or viewer
UNIT 1 SAC
Oral presentation - Analysing a non-print media text
You will identify and analyse verbal and non-verbal ways of presenting ideas and information in a series of visual texts on the same issue. You will give a short oral presentation in which you show how viewers are being influenced or persuaded to share a point of view.
Topic: You will select your own topic.
Time limit: 5 minutes for individuals or 10 minutes for pairs
Date: You will be assigned a time and date by your classroom teacher
This task will account for 20 % of your Unit 1 mark.
UNIT 1 COURSEWORK (To be assessed as either S or N, satisfactory or non-satisfactory)
· Written analysis of how language is used to persuade in 3 or more visual media texts as directed by your classroom teacher
· Plan & draft of oral presentation – a short oral presentation in which you show how viewers are being influenced or persuaded to share a point of view.
ANALYSING VISUAL LANGUAGE
Our focus for study is how visual language is used in an attempt to manipulate and persuade the reader.
Visual media texts may be separate or attached to a print or online article. Below are the types of visual texts you should be collecting for your oral presentation.
VISUAL MEDIA TEXTS FOR STUDY
Political cartoons: these illustrations from artists are commonly found in the ‘Opinion’ sections of print newspapers. The reason for this is that a political cartoon is a means for a cartoonist to express an individual point of view in the same way as a letter or opinion piece. They often communicate a serious message in a humourous fashion, commonly through the use of satire and caricature (exaggeration of a subject’s features, personality, defects etc.). They often combine visual language with a caption and/or speech bubble.
Photographs: are often used to help communicate a point of view because they are more immediate or arresting than written language. They are carefully selected for publication as like a cartoon their composition and style can convey a particular message.
Charts, Graphs & Tables:
These forms are generally used to convey specific information related to issues, events and future trends. You need to be aware that these visual forms are not always simply conveying facts. They are often used to support a particular point of view. Data can be manipulated to suit a particular purpose.
Column - Seven graphs to end the warming hype
THESE are the seven graphs that should make the Rudd Government feel sick. These are the seven graphs that should make you ask: What? Has global warming now stopped? Look for yourself. They show that the world hasn’t warmed for a decade, and has even cooled for several years. (Andrew Bolt)
QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSING VISUAL LANGUAGE
1. Text type: What type of visual text is it?
2. Author: Who is the author? Do they have a vested interest in the issue?
3. Context: What is the issue? How did the issue arise? Who is involved?
4. Content: What is contained within the frame?
What is in the foreground and background? Is their anything significant about the sizes of the subjects and objects within the frame? What has been included? What has been left out?
5. Message: What is the contention? How is the contention established?
6. Audience: Who is the intended audience?
7. Tone: What is the tone? How is this tone established?
8. STYLE
List the visual techniques used and their intended effect on the viewer.
Colour Is it chosen to appeal by association or symbolism?
For example, red=urgent, green & gold=Australia
Symbols Why have they been chosen?
What do they represent and what associations do they have?
Design What impact do the font choices have? Do we associate them with anything?
Is the layout drawing attention to particular areas?
Images How are photographs and other images used to support a particular point of view?
What are the subjects of each image, and how are they represented? eg. positively or negatively
Framing How has the photographer ‘framed’ the photograph to emphasize something about the subject?
9. How does the visual language complement, emphasise, highlight or detract from the accompanying text?