Climate Change & The Explorer’s Daughter

To develop my ability to analyse all details within specific texts.

Skills: Quote selection Language & structural analysis

Register Challenge: What, if anything, do you know about climate change? Starter: begin reading the two page article, “Climate Change: The Facts”

Reminder: Question 4 does not just need you to look for language techniques; you’re also looking for structural techniques. Use this sheet to help you today! Onomatopoeia – noise words. Personification – gives it characteristics that people have. Metaphors – describing it as another thing. Similes – like or as. Repetition – repeating the same words over and over Hyperbole – exaggeration. Word / Phrases with strong connotations – why was this chosen? Comparison – where two extremes are compared for emphasis. Types of sentences – short; why? Long: why? Use of punctuation – why has that particular piece been chosen? What is it’s effect? Presentational devices, if appropriate – the layout of a text

Before we read, What is the GAP for this text? What does the context and structure (and the way it’s presented) tell us about this article? As we read, be prepared to tell me what the article is about.

Heading declares that this is factual – persuasive technique

First line is a subheading – it’s opinion, but it is stated as if it is factual! Making us feel…?

Two rhetorical questions – these are stating the issues that the writer is going to address – the implications and who’s to blame. Why has the writer chosen to do this with questions?

What is significant about the heading and the subheading?

Read this tiny section independently. What language, structural or persuasive techniques do you see being used here?

Subheading is a rhetorical question… why?

This image suggests that 20 years ago, Global warming was something that was left on the fringes; unimportant! This image makes it seem as if the abstract idea has come to us and decided to stay with us!

Totally ridiculous idea that we could have anything to do with climate change

All of us – we’re all in it together!

Metaphor – what does it mean? Hot potatoes – noone wants to hold onto them; they burn – gets passed around a lot! Statistic makes it seem like all (51% is a majority though!

Scientific explanation, makes it seem that the writer knows exactly what he is talking about and is highly credible! Makes the reader more inclined to believe him.

Read this next section independently. What language, structural, or persuasive techniques do you see being used here?

Word mankind – not we – makes the negative impersonal. We are not mankind, we are “we” Statistic used to state this as a fact Scientific explanation, makes it seem that the writer knows exactly what he is talking about and is highly credible! Makes the reader more inclined to believe him.

Factual anecdote being used to back up what the writer is saying. .

Subheading is a rhetorical question again – in keeping with the rest of it and to help us navigate through the article. Each subheading is answered in the text.

Explanation encourages us to understand the issues The word exceptional – never been done before; never seen Fact is used to back up what is being said.

Read this next section independently. What language, structural, or persuasive techniques do you see being used here?

All of us – we’re all in it together again now – not mankind but we! A series of unarguable facts – you can’t argue with statistics, so it’s believable AND, they are shocking statistics!

Metaphor! Like heroin, cocaine. Alcohol – we’re addicted to bad things!

Now we are in it together!

Not “we” but Humanity and mankind – again the negative is being made impersonal. “we” watch what mankind / humanity have done! Makes it seem like nearly everyone but, again, it could be 52% of people to be most!

Read this next section independently. What language, structural, or persuasive techniques do you see being used here?

Subheading is a rhetorical question again – in keeping with the rest of it and to help us navigate through the article. Each subheading is answered in the text.

Suggests that things are going to be bad in the future – why? What is saving us currently?

Read the next page independently. Q1 (comprehension) Answer these questions, in your own words, in full in your books: Is it just carbon dioxide we need to worry about? What are the tipping points? How will global warming effect us?

Question 3/4 (language) Spot as many language, structural, or persuasive techniques as you can Write 4 PEE paragraphs about this text Remember to explain the effect of these techniques on the reader.

What did we find?

Independent Study • Your class is debating the topic ‘The best place to live is in a city’. • Write the text for a speech to be given in this debate either arguing for or against living in a city. • (IGCSE June 2011 Syll A P2 Q2) • Due 1st October please EMAIL it to me as no lesson week

Why has this been added? Analyse the presentational features here. What are we being told, how and why? Colour use – why have these colours been chosen? What is their effect? Font use and colour – why this font? What effect does it give i.e friendly? Official? Important. Images – what are they suggesting and what are they being used to do? Layout – what information is where and why? Captions – what do they tell us? Headlines / Subheadings – always the most important information so what is it saying? Logo – tells us where this is coming from – who has created it. On webpages, buttons, menus, click troughs, navigation bars – all make information very easy to access. Colour Splashes – with separate information allow information to be chunked when delivered to the reader, so sections are kept apart. Bullet points – make information quick and easy to read.

Climate Change: The Facts • This article is for question 4.

• If it comes up, it is very likely that you will be asked to write some kind of letter / report that informs others or explains climate change to others, for question 5 (the 20 minute writing task. • You can use all of the facts and statistics in this article, if this is your written task!

Resources:

Question 4 does not just need you to look for language techniques; you’re also looking for structural techniques. Onomatopoeia – noise words. Personification – gives it characteristics that people have. Metaphors – describing it as another thing. Similes – like or as. Repetition – repeating the same words over and over Hyperbole – exaggeration. Word / Phrases with strong connotations – why was this chosen? Comparison – where two extremes are compared for emphasis. Types of sentences – short; why? Long: why? Use of punctuation – why has that particular piece been chosen? What is it’s effect? Presentational devices, if appropriate – the layout of a text