VCE English Text Study: How to Approach Persuasive Language in Media

1. Understand the Purpose and Contention

Start by identifying:

• The main contention (what the writer is arguing)
• The tone (serious, sarcastic, urgent, etc.)
• The audience (who the article is aimed at)

Once you know these, you can begin breaking down the article into arguments and persuasive devices.

2. Identify Key Persuasive Techniques

Look for techniques such as:

• Emotive language
• Rhetorical questions
• Inclusive and exclusive language
• Repetition
• Appeals (e.g. to fear, logic, or justice)
• Evidence (statistics, expert opinion)

Every time you spot a technique, ask: What is the intended effect on the audience?

3. Use TEEL to Structure Your Analysis

The TEEL paragraph format helps you organise your ideas clearly and logically:

• T - Topic sentence - Introduce the argument or technique used in that section.
• E - Evidence - Include a short, relevant quote that shows the technique in action.
• E - Explanation - Explain how the technique works and what idea it supports.
• L - Link - Show how it positions the audience or supports the writer's overall contention.

Repeat this structure for each major point or paragraph you analyse.

4. Don't Ignore the Visual

If the article includes an image or cartoon, always analyse it. Consider:

• What is shown?
• How does it support the written argument?
• What is the visual tone or message?

Images are part of the persuasive package - not an extra.

5. Practise With Real Articles

The best way to improve is by practising with real media articles. Use Study Marker's quiz tool to generate questions from sample pieces - or upload a paragraph of your analysis and get instant feedback on:

• Technique identification
• Clarity and structure
• Depth of explanation
• Effectiveness of your link