Form, Structure and Language
Analysing Form, Structure, and Language
1. Genre, Audience, Subject, Purpose, and Context
Genre
Definition: The category or type of text (e.g., fiction, non-fiction, reportage,
opinion piece, etc.).
Identify the genre of the text.
What are the expectations of this genre in terms of language, structure,
and form?
How does text influence language and structure?
Audience
Definition: The intended readership or listenership of the text.
Identify who the text is aimed at. Is it designed for a general audience,
specialists, young people, or professionals?
How does the audience influence the text’s form, structure, and language
(e.g., formal language for professionals, more informal language for
younger audiences).
Subject
Definition: The main topic or content of the text.
Identify the subject matter of the text. What is it about?
How does the subject influence language choices (e.g., a report on climate
change may use scientific terms, while an opinion piece on the same topic
might use persuasive language).
Purpose
Definition: The reason the text was created (e.g., to inform, entertain, persuade,
describe).
Identify the purpose of the text and discuss how the form, structure, and
language help achieve this purpose.
Compare two texts on the same subject but with different purposes (e.g., a
report vs. an opinion piece). How do they differ in language, structure, and
form?
Context
Definition: The broader situation or background in which the text was created
and how it might influence the text.
Discuss the context of production and reception. What historical, social, or
political factors might influence the text?
Consider how the text’s context impacts the form, structure, and language
(e.g., a wartime report vs. a modern news article on conflict).
2. Form
Definition: Form refers to the type of text you are analysing (e.g., article, report,
email, podcast, review) and its conventions.
Identify the form: Determine what type of text they are working with. Is it
a report, a podcast script, an article, or a review? Discuss the
characteristics of different forms.
Conventions of the form: Help students recognize the conventions typical
of the form they are analysing.
For example:
o Articles: May include headlines, subheadings, and bylines.
o Reports: These will have structured sections such as an
introduction, body, and conclusion.
o Emails: Typically include subject, salutations, and concise
paragraphs.
o Podcasts: Rely on a conversational tone, often including dialogue
and pauses.
Purpose: What is the form's impact on the purpose?
For instance, a report is structured to present findings clearly and
objectively, whereas a podcast may engage and entertain the audience
through a more relaxed style.
3. Structure
Definition: Structure refers to how a text is organized and sequenced.
Layout and sequence: Analyse how the text is arranged. Is it chronological,
thematic, or logical in structure?
Sections and paragraphs: Discuss how the text is divided into sections or
paragraphs. Identify whether the text follows a conventional structure
(e.g., introduction, body, conclusion) or a more creative, less formal
structure.
Signposting and transitions: Identify any clear markers that guide the
reader (e.g., subheadings, numbering, topic sentences).
Ask: how do these contribute to clarity?
Explain why a text is structured in a particular way and how it affects
readability and purpose.
Examples:
o News Articles: Structured with a lead (most important information
first) followed by supporting details.
o Reviews: May begin with an overview, followed by an analysis of
specific elements (e.g., plot, characters, themes).
o Emails: Typically organized from the most relevant information to
action points or a conclusion.
4. Language
Definition: Language refers to the choice of words, tone, and stylistic devices
used in the text.
Lexical choices: Focus on the words the writer uses. Are they formal,
informal, technical, or persuasive? How does word choice reflect the text’s
purpose and audience?
Tone and register: Identify the tone (e.g., formal, casual, authoritative,
persuasive) and the register (e.g., technical language, colloquial phrases).
How does tone reflect the intended audience?
Rhetorical and stylistic devices: Identify devices such as metaphors,
similes, rhetorical questions, repetition, etc. How do these contribute to
the text’s purpose (e.g., to persuade, inform, or entertain)?
Sentence variety: Analyse sentence structure and length. For example,
short sentences may add urgency, while longer, more complex sentences
may provide detailed explanations.
Highlight language features and discuss how these influence meaning and
impact the reader.