Language techniques and their effects

Question 1

First person narrative

Answer 1

First person involves the narrator talking of and about themselves, which makes the text more personal and may make the reader feel like they relate more to the narrator.

Question 2

Facts

Answer 2

Facts are used to demonstrate or emphasise a writer’s point by providing evidence to support their claims, perhaps making them seem more trustworthy/formal.

Question 3

Personification

Answer 3

Personification is where you give human characteristics to animals/objects. It is used to give a more in depth and detailed image for the reader whilst keeping them interested through use of various devices.

Question 4

Opinions

Answer 4

An opinion is an individuals own beliefs, they also emphasise the point of the writer however make the message more personal rather than necessarily factual.

Question 5

Direct Address

Answer 5

Direct address is where the writer directly dresses the reader e.g. you/our. It involves the reader more in the text and makes them focus more on what the writer/text is ‘saying’.

Question 6

Emotive Language

Answer 6

Emotive language is used to make the reader feel something and have an emotional response to the text, it helps to involve the reader and keeps them interested in the text.

Question 7

Irony

Answer 7

Irony is saying one thing where usually the opposite is actually meant, this much like a pun creates humour, it also engages the reader and forces them to think about expectations of certain statements.

Question 8

Five senses

Answer 8

The five senses are imagery descriptions of sight,smell,taste,sound and feeling. The five senses give more detail to text and helps create a set image in the readers mind.

Question 9

Metaphor

Answer 9

A metaphor is a figure of speech where you say something “is” something else. This depicts a certain image into the readers mind.

Question 10

Rhetorical question

Answer 10

A rhetorical question is a question that doesn’t require an answer, they are used to engage and involve the reader in the text by making them think. These are typically used to make a text more persuasive.

Question 11

What techniques should you use when writing to persuade?

Answer 11

Rhetorical questions, direct address, emotive language, first person narration. repetition, facts, clear laid out and planned structure.

Question 12

Taboo language

Answer 12

Taboo language is language that is typically avoided due to it being considered offensive. It can be used to shock the reader.

Question 13

Jargon

Answer 13

Jargon refers to technical language which relates to a specific topic/subject which can seem like jibberish to someone who isn’t knowledgeable in that subject. It is used to make a text sound more professional, may also reflect the target audience of the text.

Question 14

Rule of three

Answer 14

Rule of three lists three words or reasons to emphasise the point in the text and involves the reader by giving a variation of sentence structures.

Question 15

Semi-colon

Answer 15

Semi colons ( ; ) can be used as a “super-comma” e.g. in a list saying “I have a sister in Columbus,Ohio;another sister in Florida; and a third sister in London, England.

Question 16

Statistics

Answer 16

A statistic is a numerical fact, they are used to prove your knowledge and to persuade the reader that you know what you’re talking about.

Question 17

Pun

Answer 17

A pun is a play on words, usually they use a word with a double meaning. They are used to engage the reader by making them laugh as they are usually considered witty.