LANGUAGE FOR ARGUMENT ANALYSIS

DON’T SUMMARISE!!!
PHRASES YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING
- the writer states/says/discusses
- persuades/informs the reader
- this makes the reader agree with the writer’s contention.
- the writer uses a range of persuasive techniques to persuade.

Any sentences you write should be SPECIFIC to the writer, the audience and the purpose and effect.

Considering the effect of the tone

Explaining the effect of a particular tone of voice is more important than identifying the tone itself. For example,
if someone adopted an aggressive and confrontational tone throughout an article, many readers would feel
alienated, threatened or perhaps offended. These feelings are the effect of the tone.

Below is a brief List of ways to introduce a particular tone when writing about a text

The - contends that [opinion in a [tone word/s] - fashion

writer/speaker - expresses the view that , issue] - manner
- urges for

- condemns
- criticises
- denounces

The following are examples of how the grid above could be used:

- He criticises the government's new legislation in a scathing yet humorous fashion.

- He contends, in a scathing yet humorous fashion, that this new legislation will have a negative effect on the
average Australian.
 Avoid says that
When you are explaining what a writer or speaker is saying in a persuasive text, it becomes easy to overuse the
various forms of the words say and tell.

The following are examples of useful alternatives to says that or tells. Use this phrase bank to help you to write
more interesting sentences. You can add to it as you find more examples.

- advances the argument

- advocates that
- argues that
- asserts that
- concludes that
- condemns the idea that
- contends that
- explains that
- expresses the view/ idea that
- highlights that
- is critical/ sceptical of
- maintains that
- observes that
- outlines the idea that
- points out that
- proposes that
- puts forward the view that
- reasons that
- rejects the idea of
- urges the audience to
 Phrases to use and improve your Argument Analysis
 The phrase “…” creates the impression that/ has the effect of...
 By describing …as…the audience/reader is positioned to view …as…
 Loaded words words such as ' ... 'and ' ... 'are designed to ...
 The repetition of … serves to emphasise the point that ...
 The writer begins with a/an (persuasive language technique) in order to ...
 The writer launches a scathing attack on …
 The repetition of the word... emphasises how/ that...
 The description of … invites the audience of …. to visualise … and it evokes feelings of ...
 The author draws upon her personal/professional experience in order to…
 By appealing to a sense of … the author garners the support of …

 Here, the writer is pleading to the writer's sympathy. The writer is trying to paint a picture in
which ...
 The writer appeals to the reader's sense of justice as they are made to feel that…
 The writer hopes to evoke sympathy and understanding for....
 Through descriptive and imaginative choice of words such as “…” and “…”, the writer attempts to
create a scenario where the reader ...
 The language here is designed to elicit the reader's sympathy for ...

 The writer uses powerful and provocative words such as...to position the reader to feel...
 By playing to the reader's fear that ... the writer tries to persuade the reader that ...and agree with
the writer’s contention that the best course of action is…
 The example of… illustrates the absurdity and lack of logic in ...
 By using... the writer is trying to make the audience of …. feel resentful towards those people
who ....and therefore condemn their actions.
 The writer attempts to discredit the opposition/counter arguments by ...
 The depiction of … as… is designed to alarm the audience of … about the consequences of …
 The emotional impact of the argument is reinforced by the accompanying image of ..
 The focal point of the image is… which supports/complements the writer’s view that…

This quick structure guide will also help you avoid summarising:
 Argument Analysis: Sentence /paragraph guide

1. (The author’s point of view): … using/adopting a (tone word), the author

(verb)supports/challenges/condemns/urges/criticises … .

2. The author relies on her/his personal/professional background … to suggest/imply that …

3. By making a (what appeal/s?) the author encourages concerned members of the audience

to …. (impact)

4. By depicting … as … the author encourages concerned members of the audience to

question/to consider …

Note this structure in the following sample:

Adopting an emotional and caring tone, Ms Winter urges members of her audience to recognise
the need to defend the current Race Hate laws that protect people from offensive language. As a
counsellor, Ms Winter relies on her professional experience and recounts real-life examples to
encourage her audience to recognise the humiliation suffered by others. For example, the
hypothetical scenario asking the audience to “just imagine” if they were called offensive or
derogatory names, invites people to feel the pain of those who experience racism. The
implication is that those who have had first-hand experience of the humiliation associated with
racist speech are more likely to defend the current laws. Consequently, having portrayed the
harm, members of the audience are encouraged to support her defence of laws that Ms Winter
contends, do provide the victims with a degree of power and even an apology can help their self
esteem and protect them from excessive harm. One would be heartless not to agree.

Contrastingly, Ms Winter contends that those who lack real experience and who are unable to
identify with the victims are those who are most likely to want the changes to the laws. She
presents such people, who prefer the unrestrained rights to freedom of speech, as self-serving
and uncaring. Sarcastically, Ms Winter discredits Senator Brandis’, reforms; specifically, she
contends that the victims would no longer be able to seek “legal redress”, which means their
rights to live free from harm would not be supported by the law reforms. Additionally, Ms Winter
describes Andrew Bolt’s comments as “unhelpful and self-serving” suggesting that he is exploiting
his position of power for his own selfish gain. Accordingly, Ms Winter appeals to a fair-minded
audience whom she hopes will prioritise values such as tolerance and respect. Ms Winter also
encourages the audience to understand and support the system that legally provides the best
protection for vulnerable members of the community.