Reading Media & Non-Fiction Texts How to answer questions on language by writing a PEEE paragraph

Question: How does Martin Luther King use language to interest and engage his audience, as well as persuade them? (8 marks) Underline the key words: HOW (so you know you need to explain the effect of his language on his audience); USE LANGUAGE (as in, not presentational devices – looking for techniques); INTEREST AND ENGAGE (how does he hook them and keep them interested?); PERSUADE (how do the techniques you’ve identified persuade the audience of King’s point of view?) You need to be clear on what King’s purpose is and who is his audience. It says persuade in the question so that has done part of the work for you, but persuade who to do what? You need to be clear on what King’s purpose is and who is his audience. It says persuade in the question so that has done part of the work for you, but persuade who to do what? But remember – using the PEEE chain, for an 8 mark question, you only need to thoroughly explore FOUR techniques, as well as showing your understanding of purpose and audience.

Purpose: to persuade people to end racism and prejudice in America. Audience: Several audiences – the politicians of America; the black people of America; the racists in America; all people of America

Techniques King uses: Repetition: “I have a dream”; “Let freedom ring”; “Free at last”. Effect: Makes people feel hopeful that his dream will come true; an imperative sentence insisting that what he says is done; emotive language – the word ‘free’ together with ‘at last’ makes the freedom feel well deserved and fought for. Power of three: “black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics”. Effect: three pairs allows King to cover a wide range of people who have been in conflict which extends his audience and his message. It also emphasises just how much struggle there currently is in the world.

Techniques continued… Emotive language: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Effect: By bringing children into it, King makes people realise that things must be improved for the future of their children. Alliteration: “dignity and discipline”. Effect: Gives these two words emphasis so King’s audience remembers them and remembers to act in this way. So how do you turn your notes into an answer?

Martin Luther King has a number of audiences for his speech including American politicians, black people, racists and the general public. His purpose is to persuade these people that America needs to be “free” from the “quicksands of racial injustice”. To do this he makes great use of repetition. “I have a dream”; “Let freedom ring”; and “Free at last”. “I have a dream” makes his audience feel hopeful that his dream will come true as it would generally be a dream they share; “Let freedom ring” is an imperative sentence insisting that what he says is done; “Free at last” uses emotive language – the word ‘free’ together with ‘at last’ makes the freedom feel well deserved and fought for so the audience want it to happen. King also uses the power of three, “black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics”. Using the three pairs allows King to cover a wide range of people who have been in conflict, which extends his audience and his message. It also emphasises just how much struggle there currently is in the world his audience can relate easier to his message. The triplet rolls off the tongue so that the audience remains interested and engaged. King uses emotive language to persuade his audience. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.” By bringing children into it, King makes people realise that things must be improved for the future of their children. This would also make any parents who hear it sit up and take notice. Alliteration is also used when explaining how he wants his audience to behave, with “dignity and discipline”. This gives these two words emphasis so King’s audience remembers them and remembers to act in this way.

Your turn… Now you are going to do the same thing for the question: ‘How does Attenborough use language to interest and engage his readers, as well as inform them? (8 marks – so needs four points in PEE chain)’ Now you are going to do the same thing for the question: ‘How does Attenborough use language to interest and engage his readers, as well as inform them? (8 marks – so needs four points in PEE chain)’ Remember the steps you need to take: underline, identify purpose and audience, identify four techniques for inform and explain the effect on the audience. Remember the steps you need to take: underline, identify purpose and audience, identify four techniques for inform and explain the effect on the audience.

How does Attenborough use language to interest and engage his readers, as well as inform them? (8 marks) (Exemplar to be written using ideas!) (Exemplar to be written using your ideas!)

Plenary: Write down the four stages that you would use to approach a higher mark question.