EXPLORERS OR BOYS MESSING ABOUT?

EITHER WAY TAXPAYERS GET THE

RESCUE BILL
ANALYSIS
 The Title
• “Explorers, or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets
rescue bill”
• The title has a sarcastic tone as the rhetorical question adds
emphasis to the fact that whether they are real explorers or just
boys messing about
• The title has a mocking like tone its as if the writer is trying to
put emphasis on the “Explorers” section of the title as it is
separated by the rest of the sentence therefore mocking them
or making fun of them
• The title has an angry and tense tone as the “taxpayer gets
rescue bill” this shows the concern of the writer and the angry
tone in his voice that due to other “boys messing about” the
employed have to pay tax for the healthcare of these “boys
messing about”
 LINE BY LINE ANALYSIS
QUOTATION EXPLANATION
Their last expedition ended in farce
when the Russians threatened

almost led to tragedy when their

helicopter plunged into the sea off
Antarctica.

Mr Brooks contacted his wife, Jo Vestey,

on his satellite phone

Experts questioned the wisdom of

taking a small helicopter — the four-
seater

One was driven back because of poor

visibility
 LINE BY LINE ANALYSIS
QUOTATION EXPLANATION
Both men are experienced adventurers.

Despite their experience, it is not the first

time they have hit the headlines for the
wrong reasons.

The wisdom of the team’s latest adventure

was questioned by … Günter Endres…

The flying conditions had been ‘excellent’.

they’ll probably have their bottoms kicked

and be sent home the long way’.
 QUOTATION
Their last expedition ended in farce
when the Russians threatened
almost led to tragedy when their
helicopter plunged into the sea off
Antarctica.
Mr Brooks contacted his wife, Jo Vestey,
on his satellite phone
Experts questioned the wisdom of
taking a small helicopter — the four-
seater
One was driven back because of poor
visibility
EXPLANATION
short paragraphs are used to convey the
different opinions and to engage the reader,
the use of the noun ‘farce’ to describe the
ending of their previous expedition shows
the writer’s view of its absurdity
Use of informal, cartoonish imagery proves
the carelessness of the duo.
Lack of professionalism in the face of
dangers
suggests that the men were foolish
amateurs; the writer returns to the idea of
experts doubting the men’s good sense,
extra detail about the men’s helicopter is
inserted in parenthesis to clarify its small
size
Life threatening situation, hostile nature of
the circumstances
 QUOTATION EXPLANATION
To humiliate the expertise and experiences they
Both men are experienced adventurers.
have

Despite their experience, it is not the

Conjunction helps to understand the writer’s
first time they have hit the headlines for
critical stance of the writer on the explorer
the wrong reasons.

Expert opinions were used to prove his point on

The wisdom of the team’s latest the irresponsible nature of the men in selecting a
adventure was questioned by … Günter single engine helicopter, gives his credentials as
Endres… ‘editor of Jane’s Helicopter Market and Systems’
to demonstrate his expertise

The flying conditions had been Sarcasm when the writer describes the condition
‘excellent’. within inverted commas

the writer concludes the passage with the rather

they’ll probably have their bottoms patronising comments of Jo Vestey that the two
kicked and be sent home the long way’. men # further portraying her view of them as
immature children.
 Immature and Irresponsible
Behaviour of the Duo
The fact that Mr Smith has a nickname could be seen as childish.

The James Bond reference does make the men appear to be overgrown children
pretending to be in an adventure.

“There was also confusion about what exactly the men were trying to achieve.”

They were trying to fly from North Pole to South in their “trusty helicopter”.

“Ms Vestey claimed she did not know what the pair were up to, describing them
as “boys messing around with a helicopter”.
Even the wife admits their immaturity.
 Immature and Irresponsible
Behaviour of the Duo

Experts questioned the wisdom of taking a small helicopter.

“Nothing short of a miracle” that they had survived.

He has trekked solo to Everest base camp and walked barefoot for three days
in the Himalayas.

“I wouldn’t use a helicopter like that to go so far over the sea.”

 Experienced Explorers
“Both men are experienced adventurers.”

The pair wore survival suits.

“He is also a qualified mechanical engineer and pilot.”

has taken part in expeditions to 70 countries in 15 years.

He has trekked solo to Everest base camp and walked barefoot

for three days in the Himalayas.
 Experienced Explorers
Mr Smith, also from London, claims to have been flying since
the age of five. He has twice flown a helicopter around the
globe and won the world freestyle helicopter flying
championship.
He has negotiated the white water rapids of the Zambezi
river by kayak and survived a charge by a silver back gorilla
in the Congo.
 PAF
PURPOSE:
▪ To inform about the two FORMAT / GENRE:
explorers ▪ A newspaper article
▪ To elicit the critical stance on
what the writer sees as
irresponsible behaviour on THEMES:
the part of two explorers ▪ Social responsibility;
▪ nature of courage;
AUDIENCE: ▪ Consequences of reckless
▪ Those who are interested in behaviour.
tax paying
▪ Those who are keen on
explorations
 STRUCTURE

▪ This article is made up of a number of very short

paragraphs.
▪ The first paragraph makes reference to a previous
unsuccessful expedition but then the article quickly
provides the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why)
of the event.
▪ Some background information about the two men
is then provided and, towards the end of the
article, quotations from their spokesperson and
some unimpressed experts are included.