Q1 Analyse how text A uses language to create meanings and representations.
The genre of text A is a webpage. This webpage is very interactive and has an interface which allows users to answer questions for polls and to view results of polls easily. The text would've been received via email or recommendation or perhaps searching for YouGov in an internet browser. The audience of this text would be someone who is interested in politics and wants to find out the response to a specific poll or and individual who wants to take part in a poll.The primary purpose of this text is to gather information in the form of running polls. The secondary purpose is to inform by uploading the results of previous polls. The expectations the audience would have of this text is that it would be an easy to use site, this is met via the simplistic design and interactive features.
At the top of the text the interrogative ''What would you like to do?'' instantly invites the reader to the website, giving them power by asking for their input. This technique is clever as it makes the reader feel in control of the way the website runs. The interactivity of the website adds to this by allowing the audience to control which aspects of the website they view. This text portrays a negative face (according to Brown and Levinson's face models) this means it enhances and meets our wish to have the freedom to do what we want and to have independence. Below the interrogative there are two imperatives ''take part'' ''see results'', this contradicts the interrogative at the top of the webpage as these are seemingly forceful added to by the graphology of this part of the text being in all caps.
Q2
The genre of the text is an online article, this particular article is by BBC News. This text would have been received by email, recommendation or found through a search on an internet search engine. The intended audience for this text would be someone who is interested in politics and is looking to find out which political party has taken over Bristol in the form of an elected mayor. The primary purpose of this text is to inform, this text would inform the audience about political agenda in Bristol. The secondary purpose would be to entertain, this is achieved through the use of images and links to other articles. The expectations of the reader would be that since this is a BBC article it would be factual and user friendly.
Q3
Text A and text B are both political texts, however Text B is more bias as it only covers one party and one event. The YouGov website explores several aspects of politics and various events, the BBC article covers the election of mayor in Bristol and focuses on the Labour party.
The graphology in the texts is the most noticeable initial aspect of the two. Text A has a modern layout in terms of colours and the way that when you scroll down the page a small red dot points out your location on the site.This text also has a red 'join' button at the top of the webpage, the colour chosen means that the button stands out from the rest of the page, enhancing the fact that YouGov want more members. Text B is less modern and has a more traditional BBC feel with the red banner and logo, and relatively generic layout for a news paper/ BBC webpage. The more informal language and modern layout of Text A would appeal to a younger audience, this combined with the words ''Take part'' encourages the younger audience to join in where they would usually feel out of place, especially when talking about politics.
The graphology in the texts is the most noticeable initial aspect of the two. Text A has a modern layout in terms of colours and the way that when you scroll down the page a small red dot points out your location on the site.This text also has a red 'join' button at the top of the webpage, the colour chosen means that the button stands out from the rest of the page, enhancing the fact that YouGov want more members. Text B is less modern and has a more traditional BBC feel with the red banner and logo, and relatively generic layout for a news paper/ BBC webpage. The more informal language and modern layout of Text A would appeal to a younger audience, this combined with the words ''Take part'' encourages the younger audience to join in where they would usually feel out of place, especially when talking about politics.
You are developing a concise style that will help you in the exam.
ReplyDeleteQ1 You didn't mention persuade in your intro as a significant purpose of the YouGov text producer's language - ensure you have explored the key aspects of the GRAPE properly.
Is the design "simplistic" (a derogatory term) or 'uncluttered'? Think about the representations you are making.
When looking at the imperatives, spend longer exploring the use of them - although they are grammatical imperatives and the orthography of them is presented in capital letters, and this might have some force in exerting influential power because it seems almost like instrumental power, they are really options, which is suggested by the interrogative that introduces them, so they offer the user the affordance of going deeper into any of those areas of the website or scrolling down if those options don't meet their needs. If you can offer that level of discussion rather than making assumptions then it will really lift your grade.
Check Goffman and Brown and Levinson - face needs are Goffman and the politeness strategies you use when dealing with an FTA are B&L - you would need to do close analysis to show how the text is using a negative politeness strategy to mitigate the threat to users' negative face needs (not to be imposed on) by looking at mitigation, proposals etc. I feel you might be better off investigating the positive politeness displayed in the use of synthetic personalisation so that the imperatives seem less imposing on users' negative face needs.
Q2 Link the GRAPE to specific linguistic techniques used - always combine the graphology comments (remember to link to mixed mode) with how it links to the language used in any event but close analysis requires terminology and also remember to cluster quotes, noticing patterns. Fewer points in more depth is better although you do want to try and get all that GRAPE in, so look at how points can be combined at the planning stage. The 'Because...' structure really helps so use it!
Q3 Biased (adjective) not bias (noun). Do you think YouGov may be biased towards the ruling party? Either way, support your assertions with PEE proof - you get no credit for unsupported ideas.
You might want to address the idea that YouGov has a wider audience but the people it most needs to attract are those who might stereotypically by less motivated to participate, so it appears to be aimed at them but is just as clear and useful for older users.
Promising - try and use my examples and warnings about developing points to guide your revision - remember that you can always create your own questions by finding linked texts like we did a few weeks ago.