Analysing a media non-fiction text

Choose from the drop-down menus to complete this evaluation of the ways in which language is being used in the Greenpeace webpage.

The writer starts by using a short sentence compound sentence complex sentence( short sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence ), written as a statement question exclamation( statement, question, exclamation ). They then develop the point made in this opening sentence by presenting the reader with a series of shocking statistics to make the opinions stated as facts facts stated as opinions false facts( opinions stated as facts, facts stated as opinions, false facts ) appear to be true.

The intended audience for this text would be people who have an existing interest ion climate change and other environmental issues so the use of the first person collective pronoun second person singular pronoun third person generic pronoun( first person collective pronoun, second person singular pronoun, third person generic pronoun ) 'we' helps to make the reader feel involved and empowered to make a real difference. The writer also uses the second person first person third person( second person, first person, third person ) 'you' to challenge the reader to take some decisive action in relation to climate change and make them feel responsible for bringing about the changes that are needed.

Throughout the text language is used emotively emphatically descriptively( emotively, emphatically, descriptively ) with the term 'catastrophe' being repeated several times. Although this is an exaggeration untrue a lie( an exaggeration, untrue, a lie ), it is done to emphasise the seriousness of the problem and would probably appeal to the intended audience who are already aware of the issue.

To maintain the readers' interest the writer varies the length of sentences words paragraphs( sentences, words, paragraphs ) throughout the text using short long medium( short, long, medium ) sentences for impact. These short sentences tend to be opinions stated as fact facts stated as opinions facts and figures( opinions stated as fact, facts stated as opinions, facts and figures ) and often contain emotive, exaggerated emphatic, descriptive factual, balanced( emotive, exaggerated, emphatic, descriptive, factual, balanced ) language.

Throughout the text modal imperative active( modal, imperative, active ) verbs are used to suggest that there is a solution and the possibility of change. This serves to balance out the scare tactics employed through the use of emotive language and hyperbole emphatic language and description facts, opinions and false-facts( emotive language and hyperbole, emphatic language and description, facts, opinions and false-facts ). In addition to modal verbs, imperative active passive( imperative, active, passive ) verbs are used in the links to encourage the readers to take positive action. These tend to appear towards the end beginning middle( end, beginning, middle ) of the texts once the reader has had a chance to take on board the information they have been presented with.