Re-cap some key things from yesterday’s language Q3 lesson What did judicious quotes mean? When can you say something about “without the writer’s____” Feature Evidence Analysis Reader’s Response

Bill Bryson’s Travel Writing to influence C/L Tuesday 6th February 2018 Bill Bryson’s Travel Writing to influence LESSON OBJECTIVE: To identify how the writer uses its language to give negative impressions. LESSON OUTCOME: To explain how the writer presents Manchester in an exam style response. travel writing

What is travel writing? It is non-fiction writing. It is where a person describes a place that they have been to and is very factual about what it was like. travel writing

Born in 1951, he is the best-selling author of travel writing. He was born in the United States of America but has lived in Britain for most of his life. He now lives in Kensington, London. He was at first a journalist for a British newspaper and then his desire to travel the hidden treasures of Britain led him to write his own books. His book Notes from a Small Island has won him several awards.

Let’s read Bryson’s article about Manchester. How does he use language to present it in a negative way? WORD BANK: Surly – abrupt/snotty Urban –city Impediment – obstruction, problem, obstacle. Abundantly – lots “in abundance”

Own up, who made me a brew with this mug? Can you find quotations to match these impressions that we get of Manchester? Own up, who made me a brew with this mug? It is an unfriendly/hostile place. It is a large city that has made it unfriendly. It is unwelcoming/threatening/intimidating. It is depressing and dark. The restaurants are disappointing.

How does Bryson present Manchester? [8 marks] Statement Evidence Analysis Bryson presents Manchester as a place where you will find horrible restaurants because he says that he went to restaurants were they were “The kind of national chains with big plastic menus and dismal food”. This suggests that Manchester doesn’t have tasteful and unique restaurants but just lots of the same kinds of restaurants. The phrase “the kind of” shows Bryson’s negative tone as he clearly seems unimpressed here. Also his use of the adjectives “big” and “plastic” show how fake and cheap the restaurants are which would discourage his readers to want to visit the place if they wanted a lovely meal.

How does Bryson use language to present Manchester in a negative way How does Bryson use language to present Manchester in a negative way? [12 marks] Feature Evidence Analysis Reader’s Response Bryson dark imagery across the article through adjectives such as “dim” and “dark” alongside the phrase “ill-lit streets”. Bryson deliberately repeats these dark words to suggest that Manchester is a frightening place which lacks light and happiness. It is clear that Bryson deliberately repeats these dark colours so that the reader is encouraged to feel that Manchester is a frightening place because a dark city would make people feel threatened and unsafe as it is often assosciated with crime and the unknown. In particular the adjective “ill-lit” not only shows that the city won’t put up enough street lights it also adds to the reader’s feeling of unease because streets that lack lighting would be a hostile place as it is worrying for a street to not have lighting and show what it looks like. Without this dark imagery, the reader wouldn’t have felt uncomfortable with Manchester and wouldn’t have felt like Manchester could be a threatening place. Bryson has managed to make the reader feel a sense of fear whilst using dark imagery to suggest that Manchester is a sinister place.

Your turn: write 3 paragraphs in the 15 minute time limit. How does Bryson use language to present Manchester in a negative way? [12 marks] This particular word… The writer deliberately… This encourages the reader to think… This shapes an image that… By using this, it…. This could suggest… Feature Evidence Analysis Reader’s Response Your turn: write 3 paragraphs in the 15 minute time limit. Success Criteria: Remember to use FEAR paragraphs. Stick to how it presents Manchester in a negative way and how that discourages the reader to want to visit. Keep using subject terminology. Look for even deeper things like sounds and Bryson’s sarcastic and negative tone of voice.