Young And Dyslexic?

Question 1

“You’ve got it going on”.

Answer 1

• The use of colloquialism and slang makes the article feel accessible, friendly and would draw in a younger reader. The positive connotations of the phrase suggests that young dyslexic people have extraordinary talents. Again this could draw in readers who are looking for a positive ‘take’ on dyslexia, almost as if the reader is trying to unite them.

Question 2

“As a child I suffered”.
“We are the architects, we are the designers”.

Answer 2

• The use of 1st person narrative makes the passage feel very personal and autobiographical, engaging the reader.
• The use of the repetition of the plural noun ‘we’ highlights how the writer embraces and includes the readers who are dyslexic, making the passage seem friendly and inclusive. Repetitive list of things dyslexic people are good at underlines the talents of people with dyslexia.

Question 3

“There was no compassion, no understanding and no humanity”.
“Shut up stupid boy”.
“If someone oppresses me because of my race I don’t sit down and think how can I become white? It’s not my problem it’s theirs”.

Answer 3

• Tripartite list and repetition of ‘no’ emphasises how little care was given to dyslexics when the writer was at school. Draws out a feeling of sympathy in the reader for the writer.
• The use of direct speech in the teachers response makes it sound more aggressive, hurtful and immediate, reinforcing the readers feeling of sympathy.
• The use of a conditional sentence and rhetorical question shows that just because one thing is true does not mean there is an obvious consequence. The writer underlines how foolish a response it would be to try and change his skin colour, again juxtaposing racism, which readers may be familiar with, with prejudice towards dyslexics. Both forms of discrimination are unfair. Writer is suggesting that although some people in society may be prejudiced against, this is not a reason that dyslexics should stop wanting to be themselves, highlighting how the writer believes that dyslexics have their own talents to be proud of.