EXPLORERS OR BOYS MESSING ABOUT? Flashcards
What is the form?
Newspaper article however presented as factual but more a personal opinion piece
Title: ‘Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill’
Rhetorical question
Judgemental language
‘boys’ childish connotations, judging
‘facre’
Strong judgemental language
Ridiculous situation connotations
Strong criticism
‘…as they tried to cross into Siberia’
Confusing - who is ‘they’?
In medias res
Judgemental first paragraph
Structurally sets the mood
Starts with previous failure the current one
‘…tragedy when their helicopter’
Dramatic language
‘…there was resentment’
Passive tenses shows annoyance
‘…the Royal Navy, the RAF and British coastguards’
Tricolon list
Emphasizes seriousness and massive inconvenience their rescue caused
‘…the four-seater Robinson R44 has a single engine’
Factual language (newspaper)
Gives him authority
‘…“trusty helicopter”’
Judging/sarcasm shown by inverted commas
Irony (was last seen plunging into the sea)
‘…“boys messing about with a helicopter”’
Extreme childish negative connotations
Not viewed seriously
Quote - journalistic piece
Uses experts to voice his opinion for him
‘drama’
Childish petty connotations
Shows his opinion of the situation
‘…also known as Q’
Ironic link to James Bond the smart gadget guy ‘Q’
Nickname as well - suggest juvenile childish nature
‘scrambled’
Shows how desperate and frantic they are with no planning
‘…emergency watch’
Shows they do know what they are doing/have experience despite their failures
‘…which was 180 miles away surveying uncharted waters’
Got called away from an important job/mission
Expensive as well
Factual language (journalism)
‘poor visability’
Pilots putting themselves at risk and in danger to rescue them
‘…both men are experienced adventurers’
Tone shift
Talking about positives
Balancing argument (journalism)
‘…claims to have been flying since the age of five’
Sceptical and uncertain
Back to normal tone of voice
‘…have hit the headlines’
Metaphor and alliteration
Negative and judgemental
‘…I wouldn’t use a helicopter like that’
Expert opinion
Emphasizes how foolish and badly planned their expedition was
‘…the taxpayer would pick up the bill’
Metaphor
Highlights his annoyance to have to pay
‘…have their bottoms kicked’
Imagery
Childish/baby connotations
Punishment for doing something ‘naughty’
Infantilising language
What is the effect of the structure?
Mix between factual reportage and opinion piece
Short paragraphs shows journalism
What are the themes of this non-fiction text?
Consequences
Judgement
Responsibility
Annoyance
Foolishness
‘…nothing short of a miracle’
Hyperbole
Shows how lucky they were to survive and the desperation of their situation
