The third and final section of the VCE English exam is referred to as Language Analysis. It asks students to analyse how written and visual techniques are used to persuade readers. This wiki offers explanations of various words and ideas associated with Language Analysis.

Quick fire Language Analysis tips!

• After the first time you mention the writer, use only their last name when referring to them.

• Read carefully! If you leave 10 minutes of reading time you are able to read through a standard Language Analysis piece twice:

1. First time: look for the issue, contention, tone and key arguments
2. Second time: fine-tune your understanding of the above and look for techniques

• If the title of the piece is quite long, you can shorten it or simply say “the piece” throughout your essay.

• Be careful not to say “us” when talking about Australia. Instead you can say the country, the nation or discuss readers collectively.

• Not sure if something would actually persuade the reader? What was it intended to do.

• A persuasive technique effect that is not given enough credit in Language Analysis essays is that of lending credibility. When a writer is logical or seems quite knowledgeable about what they’re discussing it gives them expert status or increases their legitimacy, thereby making their argument a great deal more palatable.

• Can’t work out what the issue is? If you had to summarise the entire piece into one or two words, what would they be? For example, “same-sex marriage” or “puppy factories” or “global warming.” That will generally point you in the right direction to working out both the issue and the contention.

• Feel like you’re repeating yourself or not being too inventive with your analysis? Check out the sections of this wiki on the most commonly discussed techniques to see how you could write about these in an interesting way. See emotive language, inclusive language and statistics.

Key Terms and Knowledge:

• Rhythm
• Signposting
• Direct address
• Vested Interest
• Tone
• Persuasive techniques
• Inclusive language
• Contention
• Emotive Language
• Words with connotations
• Colloquial language
• Jargon
• Allusions to time
• Acknowledging the opposing argument
• Juxtaposition
• Appeal to nationalism
• Appeal
• Appeal to hip-pocket
• Appeal to sympathy
• Appeal to common sense
• Appeal to tradition
• Appeal to fairness
• Appeal to justice
• Appeal to family values
• Appeal to fear
• Vulnerable group
• Alliteration
• Assonance
• Consonance
• Phonetic agreement
• Rhyme
• Pun
• Cliche
• Rhetorical question
• Question
• Anecdote
• Personal anecdote
• Aim
• Listing
• Statistics
• Audience
• Quotes
• Background information
• Format
• Call to action
• Short sharp sentence
• Repetition
• Imagery
• Simile
• Analogy
• Headings
• Subheadings
• Logical Structure
• Image form
• Dot points
• Paragraph size
• Tables
• Graphs
• Capitalisation
• Italics
• Hyperlinks
• Image analysis
• Cropping
• Image size
• Text within an image
• Positioning
• Light and Shade