CAPITALS ANALYSIS - 2018 Karmil Nguyen

Introduction

Identify the Context - The context of Karmil Nguyen’s speech was the amount of domestic violence cases
what event happened to in Australia. “ As disturbing, but not surprising as it is – on average, at least one
woman is killed every week in Australia by a current or former partner.”
spark this debate?

Identify the Text details The author of the speech is Karmil Nguyen, from Suzanne Cory High School. This is
(author, title, form, date a speech based on Domestic Violence and the fact that it’s more than just a women’s
issue. Wednesday 25th of July 2018 is the date it was presented at the VCAA State
and place of publication) Finals 2018.

Outline the author’s The author’s contention on this issue is that domestic violence is not a women’s
Contention issue but men’s issue.

Identify the Audience / The speaker is targeting society and victims of domestic violence but I think she
Stakeholders wanted to target men more since “this perception of domestic violence as a women’s
issue has excluded men, who need to be targeted the most because men have the
power to influence other men, to redefine masculinity, and to act as role models for
the generations to follow.” - Karmil Nguyen

- Society in general
- Victims of domestic violence
- Men

A possible stakeholder is society in general. Society may not seem as powerful as

the government or other well known organisations however large groups and
organisations will take the ideas into consideration and listen to us - people in
society. It affects our values—what we consider right and wrong. This is how the
society we live in influences our choices. But our choices can also influence others
and ultimately help shape our society and hence is why society as one needs to work
to change this culture.

Identify the Purpose The purpose of this speech is to highlight the fact that domestic violence isn't a
‘women's’ issue but a men's issue. “All men can help prevent violence if they
challenge what it means to be a man.” The consequences the speaker suggests is
the abuse of mainly women and children by perpetrators which are most commonly
men.

Identify an argument

It's not a women’s issue, but a men’s issue.

Identify a persuasive device Provide an example of the Analyse the intended effect on the
(WHAT) persuasive device (HOW) audience (WHY)

Evidence / Statistics
“ It’s a men’s issue because in
Victoria, 98 percent of reported
sexual assaults and 87 percent of
homicides were committed against
both men and women, by a man. ”
This aids the intended audience in
understanding the severity and
urgency of this problem better as
well as her ( Karmil’s ) point of view.
Endorsement “ As Malcolm Turnbull said, we
must ‘change the hearts of men’
and ‘start with the youngest ones’. ”
Endorsement helps raise awareness
of the issue: domestic violence. If a
well-known person gives the
approval of something then others
are likely to also follow.

Colloquialism “-and the everyday bloke who Creates a sense of community and
can’t even cry without feeling like society.
his sense of masculinity is being
eroded. ”

Identify and analyse the tone

In this argument, the speaker prevails on domestic violence not being a women's issue, but a men’s issue.
Violence is more common in relationships in which men control decision-making and limit women's autonomy,
have a sense of ownership of or entitlement to women. The speaker also presents the many facts that prove this
argument, causing the audience to be more drawn to this issue and taking action. The argument is conveyed in a
serious manner which is appropriate for this topic as conveying this argument in a humorous manner would not
have made an impact on the audience.

Identify another argument

We need to take action on domestic violence.

Identify a persuasive device Provide an example of the Analyse the intended effect on the
(WHAT) persuasive device (HOW) audience (WHY)

Call to Action / “ -we must no longer stay silent. ” The word must is used as a call to action
Inclusive Language and converts passive observers into active
participants. The word ‘we’ is used to help
create respectful and welcoming
communications that impact more people.

Rhetorical Questions
“ We feel sorrow, and grief, and
remorse, but why is there no sense
of urgency? Why do we not reflect
upon our own society, and question
what is it that creates so many
perpetrators? ”
The intended effect the persuasive
device has on the audience is that it
causes the audience to stop and think
about the questions being asked and
underlining the ideas being
presented.

Evidence / Statistics “ In Australia alone, the police This persuasive device increases the
process 657 incidents of family reliability of the claims being said and
violence on an average every day. makes it more memorable.
That’s one every second minute. ”

Identify and analyse the tone

From the beginning of the speech, Karmil establishes that domestic violence is this age-old issue that some of us
will never see firsthand; she states: “If we are lucky, we will be able to sit back on our couches, to mourn the tragic
losses of the victims on TV, while still being grateful that the name on the news isn’t our sister; that the name isn’t
our mother; and that it isn’t our best friend. We count ourselves lucky, for we are not the victims.” The argument is
conveyed in a serious manner which impacts the audience. Karmil immediately outlines the consequences
associated with domestic violence by reinforcing that urgent action is required to stop the ‘escalating domestic
violence cases in Australia’.
 Closing Lines
Identify a persuasive device Provide an example of the Analyse the intended effect on
(WHAT) persuasive device (HOW) the audience (WHY)

Repetition “ One voice is already permanently The intended effect on the audience
silenced every week in Australia. is to make the speech more
And because of them, we must no consequential as it correlates to the
longer stay silent. ” phrase previously said.

Identify and analyse the overall thoughts/feelings/actions the audience is left with.

The audience is haunted with a sense of urgency, obliged to take action against the issue.

Using the structure that unpacks the argument, write a cohesive paragraph that
analyses an argument and the language used within this argument.
Use the sentence starters from the previous lesson.

The speaker, Karmil Nguyen, commences by immediately outlining the consequences associated with
domestic violence by reinforcing that urgent action is required to stop the ‘escalating domestic violence
cases in Australia’ by revealing that in Australia alone, the police process 657 incidents of family violence
on an average every day. This argument is effective because Nguyen uses different reasons on why it's
mainly a men's issue and not a women’s issue which builds logos, ethos, and pathos. The speaker
supports the argument that domestic violence is not a women’s issue, but a men’s issue with the use of
statistics. Readers would be likely to respond to this by understanding the severity and urgency of this
problem better as well as her (Karmil’s) point of view and feeling haste to raise awareness. Karmil
Nguyen uses an authoritative tone to persuade the audience to change this culture – a culture entrenched
in our playgrounds, our classrooms, and our boardrooms where the majority of men are violent. She cites:
“because while not all men are violent, all men can help prevent violence if they challenge what it means
to be a man.” The consequences the speaker suggests here is the abuse of mainly women and children
by perpetrators which are most commonly men. Intending to generate a sense of community and society,
the author deploys colloquialism when arguing that fundamenatly, domestic violence is a men's issue. As
a speaker, Karmil builds credibility to persuade the audience to change the culture of men, which builds
ethos.

Pair up with another student who analysed the same speech. Compare your
CAPITALS analysis.