SASS EL P2 SectA Notes

ST ANDREW’S SECONDARY SCHOOL: Tackling 1184/02 Section A 1 Tackling Paper 2 Section A (EL 1184 Paper 2) Text 1: The Visual Text The visual text could be a webpage of an organisation, a campaign poster, a job advertisement or an advertisement of a product, service, etc. You could be asked questions about: • the effect of the headings (vocabulary: choice of words in context) • the effect of the pictures/illustrations/photograph • the effect of the information • the main sentence of the visual text Understanding the visual text In general, your understanding of a visual text depends on your knowledge of the overall objective of the text. The common objectives are: • to prove that the company/product/service will meet the target group’s needs • to project the right company image Target group’s needs Each visual text targets the needs of a particular group of people, in order to convince them that the company is capable of meeting their needs. People can be grouped according to their behaviour, dressing, age, occupation, gender, economic status, marital status, physical health, etc. Company’s image A visual can also be used to promote the credibility and reliability of the company to convince the reader that they can trust the company. A company can appear efficient, friendly, advanced or dedicated to its mission. Example 1 Write a full description of the target group and their needs next to each visual text. Visual Text Description of target group Are you trying hard to understand primary school mathematics? Come for a talk on primary school maths heuristics methods by Mr Yeo from Institute of Mathematics. People in their 30s with children in primary school/ Parents who are concerned about and involved in providing academic support/Parents who do not understand the new Maths methods.

ST ANDREW’S SECONDARY SCHOOL: Tackling 1184/02 Section A 2 Effect of heading, picture and information 1.What are the possible effects of a visual text? The effects of a visual text on the reader is the way it influences the reader’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Some effects are: • to persuade the reader to think that the company or product is… • to persuade the reader to buy… • to persuade the reader to register at the school/ apply for… • to attract the reader’s attention by… How to answer an ‘effect’ question? Step 1: Pick out the relevant detail from the visual text. It could be written words (e.g. heading or information) or a picture/illustration. Step 2: Explain how the detail leads to the effect. The following could be used as a guide to help you write your answer. The word ‘…’ (or detail) persuades the reader to … because… (e.g. it meets the reader’s needs or projects the company image as …). 2.The effect of the heading This question tests your understanding of the objective of headings. Headings are meant to attract attention and they normally aim to convince the reader that their most pressing need will be fulfilled, or bring out the most important quality of the company. Sometimes the heading targets the reader directly addressing the reader as ‘you’. Headings can also make use of language features like alliteration, imagery or puns. Literary device Use Examples Imagery • A simile contains the linking word ‘like’ or ‘as’. • A metaphor is like a simile but it does not contain the linking word. To compare the subject to another subject with similar characteristics My love is like a rose. (simile) My love is a rose with thorns. (metaphor) Alliteration To link sounds in consecutive words by repeating them. The big black bomb exploded on impact. Puns A humorous substitution of words that are alike in sound but different in meaning It's OK to watch an elephant bathe as they usually have their trunks on. (pun on the 2 meaning of the word ‘trunks’) “Can Iron Tulip make United bloom?” (ST headlines on Sport page)

ST ANDREW’S SECONDARY SCHOOL: Tackling 1184/02 Section A 3 Possible Question: What effect does the heading have on the reader? Or Which is the most effective title for this advertisement? How to get the answer? Analyse how this part of the visual text addresses the reader’s needs and company image. How to answer the question? Step 1: Pick out the relevant word from the heading. Step 2: Explain how the word leads to the effect. Use the following as a guide: The word ‘…’ persuades the reader to… because… Example The heading ‘You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving’ is taken from a gift company advertisement. What effect does it have on the reader? Answer The word ‘you’ makes the reader feel the heading is ‘speaking’ directly to them. It makes them feel they have to give something to their loved ones. The heading encourages them to check out the website. 3.The effect of the picture This question tests your understanding of the effect the picture has on the reader. There are three features of a picture: 1. Traits of the people in the picture represent the target group (their actions, dressing, age, occupation, gender, economic status, marital status, physical health, etc.) 2. Features of the object represent the product (size, shape, material, etc.) or the company 3. Aspects of the background will attract the reader or create an atmosphere (buildings, natural scenery, décor of the room, day/night time, etc.) Sometimes the people, objects or background will be something the reader can identify with. The purpose is to attract the reader’s attention and make the reader feel that the product or company is something that is useful to him/her. Possible questions: • How does the picture illustrate the characteristics of the people in the company? • How does the picture reflect the company’s mission? • What is the effect of the picture? How to get the answer? Analyse how this part of the visual addresses the reader’s needs and company image. How to answer the question? Step 1: Pick out a detail from the picture (e.g. clothes, facial expression, action, background). Step 2: Explain how the detail leads to the effect. Use the following as a guide: The detail of … persuades the reader to… because

ST ANDREW’S SECONDARY SCHOOL: Tackling 1184/02 Section A 4 Text 2: May be a social media post or something similar The effect of the information This question tests your ability to understand the intended effect of the given information for both Text 1 and Text 2 on the reader. Typically, the information elaborates on the features of the product of the work of the company, which will meet the reader’s needs. If it is a campaign poster, a paragraph will elaborate on the information that the campaign wants the public to be aware of. Possible question A guide to writing the answer Give reasons why the information will appeal to readers. The information will appeal to readers because it addresses the readers’ need for … through the words… (quote words from visual text) What effect will the information have on the reader? The information will make the reader think/feel/do… because the words… How will the information attract the reader to consider… The information will make the reader think/feel/do… because the words… Question about the tone in the texts So, how to detect tone in a text? What is tone? The tone used in writing refers to the feeling the words invoke in the reader. A written piece might have a positive or uplifting tone, or the tone might feel sad or tense. When you write, your mood at that time might have an impact on the overall tone of your piece. You might also use your feelings about the story or situation you are presenting in the written communication to reflect the tone. Additional factors that impact the tone of a piece include the verbs and adjectives you use and how you utilize imagery to tell the story.