2. 1 2 3 4
Analyse and evaluate
the effectiveness of
rhetorical devices in
achieving the author's
purpose.
Understand how style,
structure and content
contribute to the
power, persuasiveness
or beauty of a text.
Learning Objectives
Identify an author’s
point of view,
perspective, argument
or purpose for writing
a text.
Understand how
different types of
information texts are
shaped according to
their form, context,
purpose and audience.
3. Think, Pair, Share
With a partner, spend 5 minutes discussing the
following two questions.
Be prepared to share your answers with the class:
• What types of texts might be considered
informational texts?
• What makes an informational text effective?
5. An informational text is a type of non-fiction writing, that is created with the
intention of informing the reader about a specific topic. We encounter them
every day whenever we read or view something that provides us with
information.
They can be written on a variety of different topics, but usually centre around
real people, places, events or issues. Informational texts help us to expand our
knowledge and learn more about the world around us.
It's important to recognise that although information texts focus on factual
information, many contain opinions and bias and some are even written in a
narrative style. Let's have a look at some of the main groups of information
texts.
What is an information text?
6. A genre of writing that uses literary styles
and techniques to create factually accurate
stories e.g. biography, autobiography,
memoirs, personal essay, narrative
journalism and narrative history.
Texts whereby the author takes an
argumentative position and tries to
persuade the reader through evidence e.g.
opinion pieces, editorials, open letters,
advertisements and political speeches.
Types of texts that exist to provide facts in
a way that is educational and informative.
They usually aim to have a more neutral
and unbiased tone e.g. text books,
newspaper or magazine articles, self-help
books, history books, encyclopaedias etc.
This category includes academic, technical
or procedural writing whereby a
professional or expert conveys information
about specialized topics or provides
instructions to explain technical concepts
e.g. scientific texts, scholarly articles,
instruction manuals etc.
Literary Non-Fiction
Expository Writing
Persuasive Texts
Technical Writing
7. Considering Purpose
When deconstructing an informational text, you will often be
asked to determine the author's purpose.
We can discuss purpose in a general sense by using words such
as to inform, persuade, critique, argue, comment on, entertain,
advise, satirise, protest, reflect and so on.
Sometimes you'll be asked to identify the author's point of view.
This means you'll be looking for their particular position, stance
or attitude towards a topic.
If this is presented in a strong and assertive way, we might refer
to it as the author's argument. That is, when they give a reason
or set of reasons with the aim of persuading the audience to
agree with their viewpoint.
8. The word ‘bias’ is usually used to mean ‘one-sidedness’ as in when a writer seems to have a positive view
towards something or a negative view against something. Bias can be presented when a writer deliberately
tries to persuade the audience, is favourable towards something, is influenced by their own experiences or
has incomplete information on a topic.
It's important to remember that in some informational texts, the author directly states his or her argument
on the topic, uses a strong, assertive tone and gives plenty of evidence to back it up. We refer to these texts
as persuasive texts and they make it fairly easy to trace the development of the author's argument.
But sometimes, an author might present more of a balanced or neutral point of view on a topic, use a more
unbiased tone and provide evidence to support multiple perspectives. We can refer to these texts as
interpretive or expository texts and when analysing these text types, we might have to scour the text more
thoroughly to discern the author's point of view or purpose.
Considering Tone & Bias
9. Fact vs. Opinion
Many informational texts will be made up of a mix between statements of fact and expressions of
opinion. It's important that we can discern the difference between them as we read and analyse.
Statements of Fact Expressions of Opinion
A statement of fact is a piece of information,
usually about the nature of the physical world
(things we can see, hear, touch, taste, smell)
that can be proven correct or incorrect by
observations or records.
An expression of opinion involves a value
judgement (such as whether something is
good or bad or right or wrong). It might also
include statements about how people should
behave or the quality of something. These
can be supported or refuted but they cannot
be proven to be true or false like a fact can.
10. Activity
With the person next to you, read the following examples and determine
which are statements of fact and which are expressions of opinion.
• The fastest land animal is the cheetah.
• Australians are friendly, happy-go-lucky people.
• Cheating on a test is wrong.
• The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest.
• Sharks are dangerous.
• William Shakespeare was the greatest playwright who ever lived.
• It is easier to be a boy than a girl.
• Earth is the third planet from the Sun.
• Education is the key to success.
• The elderly should be treated with kindness and respect.
12. Once we've established the overall purpose, point of view or
argument, we then need to consider the choices the author
has made in relation to the content, structure and style of
the information text that has helped them to successfully
achieve their purpose.
It is during this stage of analysis that we can also start to
evaluate the text by considering the effectiveness of the
rhetorical devices as well as how the content structure and
stylistic choices contribute to the overall power,
persuasiveness or beauty of the text.
Analysis & evaluation
13. Context,
Purpose &
Audience
The first thing we need to
consider when analysing the
effectiveness of the author's
choices in content, structure
and style is how they have
been shaped to reflect a
particular context, purpose
and audience.
Context refers to the environment in which a text is created and
responded to. This might include the authorial context (the author's
background, style and other work), the situational context (the date,
place and style of publication) or the broader societal context (the
historical, social, cultural or political factors that have shaped the
text).
Purpose refers to the reason for which a text is created. A text might
be constructed to persuade, inform, entertain, advise, analyse,
satirise, parody, reflect, protest etc.
Audience refers to the group of readers or viewers that the creator of
a text is addressing. Often this group has shared characteristics such
as age, gender, ethnicity, location, occupation, life experiences,
education, hobbies or interests.
Context
Purpose
Audience
14. An argument based on facts,
evidence and reason.
The writer uses techniques that
add credible proof to their
argument. This makes the
writer seem more methodical
and precise.
Logos
An argument based on feelings.
Writers use techniques that
enhance emotions such as
humour, shock, excitement or
sympathy. This makes the writer
seem more relatable, likeable or
compassionate.
Pathos
An argument based on
character.
Writers use techniques that
reinforce their expertise and
authority on a topic. This makes
the writer seem more credible,
trustworthy, honest and ethical.
Ethos
The next thing we might consider is the type of rhetoric employed by the author to persuade their
audience. There are three main types of appeals and often an author will use all three although they
might focus on one more than others depending on their purpose. They are:
Modes of Persuasion
15. Content
• Title - Usually summarises or hints towards the topic. Can be straightforward or
creative.
• Headings and sub-headings - Used to introduce the content of different sections
and help the reader navigate the text.
• Paragraphs or chapters - The main bodies of text grouped by topic or argument.
• Evidence - a range of different types (outlined on the next slide) to support the
author's argument/s.
• Lists or bullet points - Ordering information in a clear and concise way
• Photographs, graphics or illustrations - Visual guides to help the reader digest
the topic. These can include realistic photos, annotated diagrams, charts or
graphs.
• Captions - Used to describe the visual content.
• Bold or italicised words - Sometimes linking to a glossary of terms
The content of an information text will of course depend on the form and type of of
text. Many information texts will include features such as the following:
16. Evidence
Evidence is the information and examples provided to support the authors argument.
We can split evidence into hard and soft.
Hard evidence Soft evidence
Hard evidence might include things such as
facts and statistics, scientific data, carefully
controlled observations, measurements,
surveys, case studies and information from
experts in a particular field.
Soft evidence might include personal
anecdotes, word-of-mouth information
(things heard from another person) and
appeals to false authority (quoting from
sources that are not experts on the topic).
Let's look at three of the most common types of evidence used in information texts.
17. Facts & Statistics Expert Opinion
Facts are pieces of information
that are known to be true based
on evidence or experience.
Statistics, on the other hand,
involve the collection, analysis,
and interpretation of numerical
data to draw conclusions about
a particular topic or
phenomenon.
Together, they can provide
valuable insights and support
arguments in various fields.
When a viewpoint or advice is
given by someone who is
considered a specialist in a
particular field. It is sometimes
referred to as appeal to
authority and it can be direct
(quotes) or indirect
(paraphrasing).
The fact that experts can draw
different conclusions from the
same information shows that
they may not be as reliable as
facts and still contain bias but
they are still a useful means of
supporting an argument.
Anecdotes
Personal anecdotes are short
stories about a personal
experience or event that
happened to the writer or
another known individual . They
are often used to illustrate a
point or to make a connection
with the audience.
Anecdotes are considered soft
evidence because they are
open to interpretation and
present a subjective account
that is not proven.
18. Style
When we discuss the author's style we consider the overall types of language
and literary devices used. These contribute to our overall understanding of
and response towards the text and we can analyse them to compare the
overall power, persuasiveness or beauty of a work. When analysing style we
might might look at elements such as:
• Diction - particular word choice and connotative language
• Tone or register e.g. formal language, colloquial language, emotive
language etc.
• Syntax used for effect e.g. parallel structure, sentence length and
arrangement
• Descriptive language and sensory imagery including visual, aural, olfactory,
gustatory, tactile and kinaesthetic
• Figurative language e.g. simile, metaphor, personification, metonymy, idiom
• Rhetorical devices such as rhetorical question, hyperbole, repetition,
inclusive language, direct address, jargon, tricolon or tetracolon
19. Structure
Again, the structure of an information text will depend on the form and type of text it is. Some common
structures of information texts include the following:
Describes a person, place, event, issue or concept. It might use
sections to organise main ideas.
Description
Sequence or Timeline
Problem & Solution
Cause & Effect
Links information, arguments or events usually in chronological
order, steps of a process or in the form of a hierarchy.
Presents one or more problems (discussing the significance or
implications of the problem) before exploring the possible solutions.
Compare & Contrast Highlights the similarities and differences between two topics,
people or events. The writer usually moves back and forth
between qualities that are similar and qualities that are different.
Traces the relationship between two things whereby one thing
makes something else happen.
20. Your Turn
As we've seen, the range of texts considered to be information texts is broad and the form, content, style
and structure will depend on which category they fit into.
We be looking at a range of information texts across this unit and you will be required to:
• Identify an author’s point of view, perspective, argument or purpose for writing a text.
• Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of rhetorical devices in achieving the author's purpose.
• Explain how the style, structure and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of a text.
Good luck and let's get reading!
