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[|**A SAC Persuasive Lanaguage Analysis article**] Are you an ugly sports parent? by Susie O'Brien
 * Sunday, April, 21, 2013, (11:48am)**

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THUGS ARE TO FEEL THE FEAR

A major focus of media attention in recent weeks and months has been the range of alcohol related problems within Australian society today. The __Herald Sun__ has become involved with its Stop the Madness campaign against alcohol fuelled violence. The tone of the editorial, “Thugs are to feel the fear”, published on November 19, 2009, reflects ongoing concern about the issue and admiration for the proposed actions by police to address this issue. The editorial writer feels that Australians will support the strong policy developed by police to address the problem of alcohol fuelled violence.
 * Student Sample - single article analysis**

Readers’ eyes will immediately be drawn to the collection of newspaper pages pictured under the paper’s masthead. The eye catching and alliterative headlines in two of the articles, “Barassi Bashed” and ‘Our sick, scared city” combine with the emotional appeal of the headline in the third article, “Tears for selfless hero” to arouse sympathy and anger in the readers. They also serve as a reminder that this is an ongoing issue. The use of a graphic depicting a map ofAustraliawith the police symbol and the words “Operation Unite” reinforce the contention that this problem isAustraliawide and needs a united and well planned “Operation” to deal with the problem.

The colloquial description of “Thugs” in the headline and repetition of this description later in the paragraph leaves the reader in no doubt of the contempt felt for offenders; they will be relieved these offenders will “feel the fear’. Readers are further drawn into the issue as one that is a shared community concern with the writer’s inclusive reference to “our…campaign”. The vivid image created by the metaphor “the voice of…readers …..has been heard acrossAustralia” will be reassuring as well as appealing to readers’ patriotism. Further reassurance that action is being taken is provided in the military connotation of “campaign” which is reinforced with the description of the “war” and the image of “taking back the streets”.

The writer makes detailed reference to the views and actions of a well known authority figure, Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland. He is described as having “stepped up” and “taking a hard line”; the positive image created by this colloquial language invites readers’ support for Commissioner Overland. The writer’s clear statement, “He is to be commended” leaves readers in no doubt about the paper’s support. The quotes from the Chief Commissioner contrasting “good people who want…a good night out’ to “all the idiots’ and his strong message to those who offend: “Stay home or get locked up” provide readers with more reassurance that a strong position is being taken. The eye catching effect of the alliteration in the description of a “booze-and-bash culture” reminds readers of the extent of the problem.

When describing the proposed police action the writer uses language with connotations of strong action like “unprecedented” and “ultimatum” and includes a detailed list of the specific actions proposed (“air wings, dog patrols” and so on), to emphasise the level of this response. The writer refers to recent “racist attacks on Indian students”, which will be familiar to readers, to highlight one aspect of the problem. The comparison of the “zero-tolerance line” taken by another authority figure, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, with the approach taken by Mr Overland adds strength to the argument that strong action will be taken.

The editorial comes to a close with a strongly worded reassurance in the form of a generalisation, “All Australians will take comfort from the promised crackdown”. The need for this action is reiterated in a final reminder of the consequences of the violence: “victims brain damaged”, “families devastated” after the “viciousness shown by street thugs” and their “cowardly assaults” will arouse anger and disgust in readers. The image of “Good Samaritans….being bashed” will further outrage readers. The concluding paragraph has a repeated declaration of support “We commend police and politicians” as well as reminding readers of the role of the Herald Sun’s campaign.

The issue of alcohol fuelled violence will continue to be the focus of attention of the media and many sections of the community. The __Herald Sun__ has become strongly involved in this issue and is likely to continue to direct the attention of its readers to this problem. This editorial is part of the ongoing involvement of the paper.

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 * STUDENT SAMPLE - single article analysis **

Karl Quinn’s opinion piece ‘The good, bad and ugly of social media’, written in //The Saturday Age// on Saturday the third of March 2012, is expressed in a concerned and threatening tone. This is shown by the author when he expresses his shock at how easily, and in such a short time social media can override democracy. The author's main contention is that social media can be a powerful and motivational resource for change, when used correctly.

The heading ‘ The good, bad and ugly of social media’ is The article also includes a picture of Australian T.V. host Yumi Stynes. Her photo shows an elegant, sophisticated and very driven well-resected woman. This image would have been chosen by Quinn to create the idea for the reader that she is a woman whose opinion is one to take on board. Stynes is also a mother and the photo in ways depicts her innocence and vulnerability, this making the reader feel sorry for her and makes the taunts she was faced with seem foolish and nasty.

The author also uses appeals to express his points. Appealing to all of the readers' sense of justice, family values and fear and insecurity. His greatest would be the appeals to family values, by saying that ‘death threats were made against her and her children..’ on social media would strike fear into the reader and compel them to believe that violent, scary people are out there online, waiting for you and your children. In the Kyle Sandilands part of the article, an appeal to the readers' fear and insecurity is evident when the author describes Sandilands' attacks on a journalist as “personal and vicious” and even went as far as quoting Sandilands saying that he “would hunt her down”. These two quotes, direct from Sandilands would presumably make the reader feel frightened and think that if someone of Kyle Sandilands’ well known and respected position in society could say things like this, imagine what people with ‘no-name’ and with nothing to lose would say and do.

While Sandilands did make those comments about the journalist, the author uses evidence as his dominant method in an attack on Sandilands. Quinn used Sandilands’ words against him to make the reader think in further depth that Kyle Sandilands is not a man be messed with. The author attempts to create the persona that Sandilands is cold, cruel and brutal in his attack on the journalist. He quoted Sandliands saying she is just “some fat slag… a bullshit artist… a piece of shit... that she should be sacked” Sandilands “also criticised her small titties”. The use of this language by anyone at all let alone a celebrity would shock the reader and even further so because of the manner it was intended.

The closing paragraph in the article is “The power of social media is far greater than any single message. And it will be used for misinformation as well as information, for ill and for good.”I believe that that single paragraph ties up with the contention of the piece perfectly, accompanying the techniques used the author has grasped the readers attention and directed it into the direction that he wanted.

**__Student Sample__**

The good, bad and ugly of social media In the article “The good, bad and ugly of social media” written by Karl Quinn, Published in The Saturday Age on the 3rd of March 2012. Karl’s contention of the article is to inform readers of all the “good, bad and ugly sides of social media”. He speaks in a serious and attacking ton yet it sounds as if he is sympathetic at the same time.

Quinn has written the article with a personal approach, stating his opinion towards the context of his piece, also using informative language to try educate his targeted audience about the topic. Using these two types of writing languages allows Quinn to gauge the audience by explaining the problem and voicing his own opinion at the same to and hopefully, have the readers come onto his side after reading the article.

An image of Yumi Stynes is present within the article, this pictures makes Yumi more real for readers which allows what’s written about her easier for the readers to absorb. Quinn has included this picture to try make readers take his sympathetic side towards Yumi.

The title “The good, bad and ugly of social media” is a cliché, having a cliché in the title of the article is really eye catching for readers, as it is something familiar. When readers see this they are almost drawn to wanting to know what the good, bad and ugly is of social media.

The author uses many different argumentative techniques throughout the article, the most frequently used techniques is colloquial language, this techniques is evident throughout the article, an example of when this technique is used is when he refers to a photo saying “showing a beefcake photo of him in a swimming pool”, Quinn uses this technique when writing because using informal way to of writing makes it easier for all readers to understand, it also helps with the fact the text isn’t necessarily going to be aimed towards a more formal reader. Quinn also uses quotes from Sandilands and Stynes with contain emotive language and loaded words in order to try show both of their real sides. In conclusion the overall effect that the article has is that Quinn has written it with the intention to having the readers learn about what the social media can actually be like, all sides of it and to make his point of view seem like the better one. Karl has used techniques that have benefited him well, they all help into persuade the targeted audience as best he could.

Karl Quinn, The good, bad and ugly of social media Martin Rowson, 'The big society' cartoon Jacqueline Maley, 'It aint easy bein' pretty as a brick'
 * Sample Analysis - multiple article analysis**

__**Basic Introduction:**__ The three articles, 'The good, bad and ugly of social media', 'It aint easy bein' pretty as a brick' and 'The big society' all express their points of vew on how social media is an agent for change in society. They each discuss different issues that have appeared in recent media, but all make the point social media can have far-reaching consequences for people and we need to be wise and careful about the ways we use it. In 'The good, the bad and the ugly of social media', writer Karl Quinn uses an informative and considered tone to acknowledge that while social media can be used for good, like in the Kony 2012 campaign, it can also be used for evil like when people made irrelevant racist and sexist attacks in response to one ignorant comment Yumi Stynes made about soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. In ' 'It aint easy bein' pretty as a brick', Jacqueline Malley discusses the self absorbed article Samantha Brick wrote to complain about how hard it is for her to be as beautiful as she is. Malley uses a humourous tone to sarcastically deride Brick's viewpoint and express her disbelief that this woman's ramblings should ignite such intense global media reaction. The cartoon, 'The big society', by Martin Rowson uses dark humour as Malley does, but it is a serious article in much the way that Quinn's is. Rowson's cartoon reflects on how social media was used by the lower classes in London to create fiery protests about their poverty levels. Visual imagery, appeals to fear, inclusive language and anecdotes are among the variety of persuasive techniques these articles use to convince their readers. Each writer compels their readers to acknowledge people should use social media with care and respect the power it has to impact our lives.

__**Advanced Introduction:**__ The use of social media has exploded in recent years. The world over, people are connecting via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, text messages, blogs and other communication tools. Many of these connections are nothing more than people going through the general, everyday motions of their lives, making use of the power of technology to disseminate and access information with ease. However, a phemonenon has arisen as the real power of social media is harnessed through people using it as a platform to mobilise united actions of protest both digitally and in real life. The opinion articles, 'The good, bad and ugly of social media', by Karl Quinn and 'It aint easy bein' pretty as a brick', by Jacqueline Maley, both consider how what people choose to say in the realm of social media can resonate in negative ways with audiences. They both admonish ignorant commentators for their thoughtlessness and arrogance, yet the delivery of their viewpoints is strikingly different. In a concerned tone Quinn provides a balanced exploration of the good and bad of social media through examples ranging from the Arab Springs and Kony 2012 movements to the Yumi Styne and Kyle Sandilands scandals, while Maley uses a scathingly mocking tone to deride the way Samantha Brick's diatribe of self-import could inspire such social media interest globally. 'The big society' cartoon by Martin Rowson also reflects on the impact of social media. Rowson's topic of focus is the 2011 London riots that took place as disenfranchised English citizens rallied in outrage at lower class living standards. Just as Quinn, Rowson imparts his view with a concerned tone. He expresses the belief that British Prime Minister David Cameron's Big Society idea is doomed to fail as the disenchanfrised co-ordinate themselves through social media to tear and burn down the social structures they see as repressing them. All three articles persuade social media consumers to think about the far-reaching consequences social media interaction can have, and leave their readers convinced they need to be wise in their social media participation to ensure they avoid hypocrisy when they speak or stand up for what they believe in and keep their self worth in tact.

Article 1: 'The good, bad and ugly of social media' appeared in __The Age__ on March 10, 2012. The most serious of the three articles, it provides broad discussion of social media incidents that have taken place in recent times. Quinn considers the Kony 2012 and Arab Spring movements alongside of the Stynes and Sandilands' scandals to evidence his headline's statement that social media is 'good, bad and ugly'. Through putting this cliche in the headline Quinn works with the rule of three to impress his contention upon the reader from the moment they start reading his article. The point that social media is 'good, bad and ugly' is reinforced throughout the entire article, Quinn stating firmly in his conclusion that 'social media...will be used for misinformation as well as information, for ill will as well as good'. To build up to this imperative finale, Quinn employs an array of persuasive techniques to express his position convincingly.
 * __Body paragraphs - possible openings:__**

Quinn opens the article with a rebuttal...

The visual imagery employed asserts to the reader... ETC.....

Article 2: __The Sydney Morning Herald__ featured Maley's article, 'It aint easy bein' pretty as a brick' on May 10, 2012. The pun in the title outlines the humourous tone that extends throughout the entirety of the opinion piece. Maley expresses her disregard for Samantha Brick as openly as Quinn does his for 'vyle Kyle' Sandilands. At the heart of Maley's pun is the intimation that, rather than being 'pretty' Mrs Brick, Brick is actually thick as brick... ETC...

Article 3: In the cartoon, 'The big society', Rowson explores social media's capacity to bring chaos into the lives of people from a similar angle to Quinn. He asserts it can be a vehicle for transformation, and especially the negative kind, when people use it to mobilise one another into action for a cause. Maley also presents her point of view in such a way that it showcases the chaos social media can ignite, but she does not tackle how it can affect the political sphere of society. The cartoon was published in __The Guardian__, on the 9 August, 2011. The vivid use of colour by Rowson instantly evokes....

__**Conclusion:**__ The three texts, 'The good, bad and ugly of social media', 'It aint easy bein' pretty as a brick' and 'The big society, present clearly outlined contentions that readers will find difficult to reject. Effective use of persuasive techniques such as visual imagery, appeals to fear, inclusive language and anecdotes, work to substantiate their claims that social media is a powerful tool in aiding human connection, but this does not mean that this new phenomenon of hyperconnectedness will certainly be a positive for humankind. Quinn's article was the most compelling due to its detailed case studies and considered point of view on the topic. Unfortunately, the choice of visual imagery for Quinn's article was lacking when compared to Maley and Rowson's. The series of photographs in Maley's article added to her sarcastic tone, with repeated visuals of Mrs Brick enhancing the positioning of her as self-obsessed to the point of delusion. Rowson's .... =SO, the features of a multiple article analysis structure are:= //__INTRO:__// · Identify three articles/authors · Tone · Context – agent for change (contention) · Awareness of audience · ( FAACCTTTS) //__BODY PARAGRAPHS:__// ARTICLE ONE o Open with a single article analysis (aim for two to three paragraph minimum)
 * Comparison!
 * You can include a comparative comment at this stage also,e.g, the most humuorous of the articles.

//ARTICLE TWO:// o Link to previous article – comparison (aim for two to three paragraph minimum) o Single article analysis style

//ARTICLE THREE:// o Link to previous articles – comparison (aim for two to three paragraph minimum) o Single article analysis style

//__CONCLUSION:__// o Discuss all three, their overall level of persuasiveness o Compare and contrast (similarities and differences) - Can be one or two paragraphs