Using language to persuade student Study Guide Unit 1-4 English Simonds Catholic College 2012-2013 Name: Contents

Example paragraph on cartoon

Mark Knight’s cartoon which appeared in the Herald Sun illustrates not only the issue of live exports, but also the fact that Australian farmers are losing their livelihood due to the cessation of exportations. Readers are presented with an image depicting the Indonesian butchers in their abattoir. Each of the Indonesians is carrying a menacing machete, adding to the general consensus that these people are savages, and alluding to the horrendous slaughtering of the cattle. The ground surrounding the Indonesians and the Indonesians themselves are bathed in blood, representing Knights point of view that the slaughtering is a gruesome, inhumane process. The readers eye is drawn to a line of quintessentially ‘Aussie’ farmers; their ‘Akubra’ hats and work shirts allowing readers to understand that there are the “cattle farmers [being sent] to the slaughter.” The coupling of the visual metaphor with the verbal one, aids in Knight’s satirical presentation of his main contention.

Sample article and cartoon 1

Increasing child obesity rates leaving children weaker Brigid O'Connell , Herald Sun , September 11, 2011 THEY are now taller, have better teeth, are more comfortable in social situations and have higher chances of beating chronic disease, but Victorian experts are divided over whether children today are healthier than they were 50 years ago. Health experts say the increasing number of children who are overweight and less active, leaving them physically weaker and poorer sleepers, are putting them at greater risk of developing heart disease and cancers at an earlier age. Monash University's head of nutrition and dietetics, Prof Helen Truby, said it was more difficult now for parents to make the right choices for their children. "Rather than the acute conditions that killed children in the '60s, the explosion of overweight and obesity in young people is starting to be life-limiting," Prof Truby said. And as waistlines expand, fitness levels are declining, with recent studies suggesting up to 30 per cent of children have low levels of fitness and 60 per cent have poor motor skills. Prof Truby said increased availability of convenience foods and fewer families eating meals together meant children were often eating the wrong foods, and more of them. "The high-fat sugary foods can be very cheap now - things that would have been rare treats in the '60s - so it's more difficult for parents to make healthier choices." And mentally, today's children aren't coping as well. Suicide rates in teenagers have increased fivefold for females over the past 50 years, and more than tripled for males. Social analyst Richard Eckersley said increasingly unhealthy lifestyles and a rise in anxiety and depression were counterbalancing medical advances among young people. "When you look at the overall picture you're getting a story that contradicts the notion that decade by decade, generation by generation, health is continuing to improve," Mr Eckersley said. Coburg grandmother Bruna Rubin, who still keeps active through a Merri Community Health Services walking group, said the health of children was largely determined by their parents. "My children played a lot more in the back yard, they didn't have the TV or the computer games like my grandchildren," the 65-year-old said.

Mark Knight, Herald Sun, September 12, 2011.

Sample article and cartoon 2

Go jump: keep the horses on course Michael Lynch, May 4, 2011, The Age, Opinion I love jumps racing and I think there should be more of it. This week, when the Warrnambool carnival is on, would be a good time to start. Does that make me a horse hater? Of course not, although given the success of the anti-jumps racing protest group's lobbying, you could be forgiven for thinking so. In common with all those involved in steeplechasing and hurdling, I have the greatest regard for animals. And to suggest that people in Ireland, England, France, Australia and parts of the US (where jumps racing is successfully staged) who work with steeplechasers and hurdlers are not concerned for horses and their well-being is at best the ill-conceived view of a partisan critic pursuing an agenda. At worst, it's insulting. The horses involved get better care than many humans, and owners can spend more than $30,000 a year on all the related costs that come with keeping a horse in training. There are no million-dollar races over obstacles, so to suggest that the incentive for keeping a horse jumping against its will is a money-making venture is drawing a rather long bow. Of course, jumps racing is not everyone's cup of tea. Fair enough. And horses do get injured or killed. But they do so in flat racing, too - rarely on a racecourse, but not infrequently on the gallops at home or out in paddocks when spelling. There will always be some degree of risk in equestrian sports, both for the horse and the human involved. Given that racing, three-day eventing, hunting, showjumping etc are still legal pursuits, the key is to ensure that risk is minimised. In the end, you have to accept that sometimes lives will be lost - and I do. It is inevitable when dealing with livestock. The issue is how many and at what point the numbers become unacceptable. The protesters believe that one death or injury is too much. I believe that, given the size of the industry, the number of horses involved and the sporting and economic benefits it brings to many rural parts of Victoria, society should be prepared to accept a certain degree of wastage. A zero deaths policy, while it would be lovely, is not rational or realistic. Jumps racing provides a haven for many horses who would otherwise have met a much earlier end. In Britain, where jumps racing is much more popular, the RSPCA and animal welfare groups are co-opted and become part of the process. They are involved in the monitoring of races, the design of the obstacles and, in some cases; help decide on the sitting of the fences on the track. They accept the sport's right to exist, and understand that the best way to ensure animal welfare is to minimise risk where possible. Racing Victoria and the jumping fraternity have spent heavily and worked hard in the past two years to improve the design of the fences. The hurdles can now be knocked down by a horse if he doesn't measure his jump appropriately. The new steeplechase fences are a bigger, more imposing obstacle and the horses jump them better. Jumps racing is an easy target because it is in the public eye and television footage of spectacular falls is easy to come by. It's an easy story for the media to run because the protest lobby is well organised. In my view, the sport's future should be guaranteed so that owners are encouraged to buy jumping horses, extending the pool available to race, and trainers and jockeys given a stable career option to learn and develop better skills. The races should be made longer and the fences higher, so that speed - the big determinant in falls - is reduced and the premium is put on jumping ability and horsemanship. Of course it should continue to be monitored and ways found to make it safer. But there will always be a risk involved. I believe it's a risk worth taking.

Mark Knight, Herald Sun, 07/05/11

Unit 1, 2, 3
Oral Presentations
Echo Online
Echo Online is an online database of current issues which contains the following-

• 
  Search capabilities to find out which Australian newspapers contain articles about certain issues.
  
• 
  Current issues packages- which are packages containing background information to issues, arguments for and arguments against, as well as a list of newspaper articles addressing the issue.
  

To access Echo-

1. 
   Search in Google for ‘Echo online’
   
2. 
   Go to the website – it is a good idea to save this as one of your favourites
   
3. 
   Click on the login link on the right hand side of the page
   

(User name: simonds, password: victoria)
To search through all newspapers for any issue-

• 
  Click on ‘Newspaper indexes’
  
• 
  Click on the year you would like to search
  
• 
  Enter some key words and click ‘Search’
  
• 
  You will now see a list of newspaper articles, grouped under subheadings. Write down some relevant articles and these articles can be found in room F1 in the library.
  

To search for a current issues package-

• 
  Click on ‘Issues Outlines’
  
• 
  Click on the year you wish to search
  
• 
  A list of issues that you can use will come up. Browse through these, and you may use one if you wish.
  
• 
  If you would like to print a copy of the issues outline, there is a link on the left hand side of the page which allows you to do this.
  

Collect 3 or more articles on the issue you would like to present. Two of the articles should support your contention; one should be against your contention.

For each article please complete the following table. (Draw in exercise book)

Article- title and source:
What is the issue discussed?
What is the contention?
key arguments with supporting evidence (quotes):
Evidence used within the article: (i.e. statistics, expert opinion)

Once you have used Echo Online, any newspaper articles you have found as well as the internet to research your issue, you now need to formulate some key ideas that support the contention of your presentation.
Using your research, fill in the following table:

Contention:
Key argument one: (plus any evidence used to support)
Key argument two: (plus any evidence used to support)
Key argument three: (plus any evidence used to support)
Rebuttal:

Structure – persuasive speech

PLANNING	Step One: What is your contention? Step Two: What are your key arguments? Step Three: How are you going to support your key arguments (tone, persuasive techniques, evidence)
INTRODUCTION	Introduce yourself and the topic, including any important background information State your contention Briefly introduce your key points which support your contention
BODY 1 (Key argument 1)	TEEL paragraph T – Topic sentence This is your first and most important key argument E/E – Explanation and Evidence Explain your key point using evidence and persuasive techniques to support L – Link sentence Link your ideas to your overall contention
BODY 2 (Key argument 2)	TEEL paragraph T – Topic sentence This is your first and most important key argument E/E – Explanation and Evidence Explain your key point using evidence and persuasive techniques to support L – Link sentence Link your ideas to your overall contention
BODY 3 (Key argument 3)	TEEL paragraph T – Topic sentence This is your first and most important key argument E/E – Explanation and Evidence Explain your key point using evidence and persuasive techniques to support L – Link sentence Link your ideas to your overall contention
BODY 4 (Rebuttal)	TEEL paragraph T – Topic sentence Introduce an opposing argument and why it is wrong E/E – Explanation and Evidence Use evidence and persuasive techniques to disprove opposing argument L – Link sentence Link your ideas to your overall contention
CONCLUSION	Sum up your key points Restate your contention

Effective speaking – body language

Feature	Importance	Note
Stance The was your stand	Stance can communicate a great deal about your attitude – enthusiasm, half-heartedness, anxiety. Try to stand upright, not slouched. Be confident!	Try to avoid pacing or moving about too much. Confident speakers are able to do this, however inexperience and lack of confidence can make you appear nervous. Do not lean on furniture or against the whiteboard.
Eye contact Looking directly at audience members	Eye contact helps you build a rapport with your audience. It allows you to create a connection and make a good impression on them.	Avoid looking at only one person, or worse, staring at a single spot on the back wall. Let your eyes wander from person to person in different parts of the room. You will be surprised at how much this can tell you about how persuasive you are being. If people appear confused you may need to explain something again or repeat a point.
Gesture Deliberate hand movements	These can assist you in making a point or stressing something important.	Avoid crossing your arms or placing your hands on your hips or pointing at people aggressively. Try to use friendly open gestures that show your palms – an audience will subconsciously feel that you are trustworthy. Be aware of facial gestures too! Smile!

Using your voice

FEATURE	IMPORTANCE	ACTIVITY
Diction Pronouncing words clearly and fully	Clear audible speech- no mumbling- is essential for your message to be easily understood. Ensure that you know how to pronounce any unfamiliar words.	Listen to newsreaders on the radio or the television (especially SBS) to help with proper diction and pronunciation.
Pitch and Tone The level of your voice- high, medium, low.	Vary the pitch of your voice to gain and retain interest, otherwise you will be speaking in a monotone.	Practice your speech in front of family or friends, and ask them to give feedback about the tone and pitch of your voice.
Volume The loudness of your voice	How loudly do you normally speak? What are the acoustics of the place in which you will be speaking?	Practice your speech out loud to make sure that you are not yelling or speaking too softly.
Pace Talking Speed	Many people speak too fast when they are nervous which results in a garbled delivery, or too slowly because they are trying to avoid going too fast, which sounds monotonous! Be conscious of this when you are speaking.	A good idea is to make brief notes to yourself on your cue cards, such as: ‘Slow down’ or ‘Take a deep breath’. It is useful to highlight these as the colour itself often acts as a reminder.
Emphasis Placing stress on important words or phrases	Emphasis makes words stand out to your listeners. Imagine that a word in a sentence is in italics- this invites you to stress or emphasise this particular word.	Read your speech out loud and practice placing emphasis on particular words and phrases. Which ones sound the best and add persuasion to your speech?

Words and phrases to link ideas

Signposting each point and linking it to the next will help the audience to follow the arguments being presented. This is particularly important if your piece is a speech, as your listening audience need to be able to follow and remember your line of argument. The following words and phrases can be used to link your ideas.

To signpost ideas and indicate a sequence of ideas

• 
  
  

To establish a priority order

• 
  
  

To suggest a cause and effect relationship

• 
  
  

To add similar ideas

To contrast ideas

Please note- ‘However’ is NOT interchangeable with ‘but’ and therefore it cannot join together two clauses. Use ‘however’ in the same way you would use ‘on the other hand’.

To rebut the opponents arguments

• 
  
  

Sample speech
Good afternoon students and teachers,
Thank you for listening to my important speech on a very serious topic that will affect future generations to come if we do not act now. I am referring to the new data that shows that dramatic increase in childhood obesity that has occurred over the past decade. By not taking action now, the incidence of childhood obesity will continue to increase and out population will become prone to many other diseases, an increase in early mortality, as well as an increase in the burden on out health services and tax payers. There is obviously as need to try to curb the problem before it gets even worse, but the government’s proposal does not offer enough to make a difference.
The government has proposed a new plan to tackle childhood obesity by measuring and weighing students in schools and surveying children on key details about their diet and exercise levels, to chart the factors that led to childhood obesity. About 1200 primary students will hit the scale in 35 schools. The announcement comes after staggering figures showed that 17 percent of Australian students are overweight and 6 percent are obese. The intentions behind this scheme are well and good, but how is this plan going to reduce obesity levels? This proposal will only confirm what we already know: that too many Australian children are overweight. This government plan will not help to fix childhood obesity- it will only highlight it even further. The intentions of the government are noble, but much more needs to be done.
Parents have become one of the most significant factors to blame for childhood obesity. Many parents give their children sugar laden snacks and fizzy drinks, and this has contributed to the increase in obese children over the past decade. Dr Peter Clifton believed the problem is greater than fast foods and restaurants, and lies with what the parents are feeding their children at home. I believe that a significant change to childhood obesity can be made by simply replacing much of this high-in-fat and sugary food with healthy options. It is up to parents to monitor what their children eat, and to ensure that fruit and vegetables are a regular part of their diets. Celery and carrot sticks are ideal alternatives to chips and biscuits, while water is much better that soft drink. It does not take Einstein to work this out, but it seems that parents are ignoring the messages that they are being given by health experts.
In addition to poor diets, the lack of physical activity and endless hours of video games and television have also contributed to an increase in obesity. Statistics reveal that, on average, a child spends 5 hours a day watching television, playing video games or using the computer. It is up to the parents to encourage their children to take a more active role in physical activity. They can do this by enrolling their child in a sporting tem or going for a half an hour walk at night with them. Parents need to be alerted to the fact that their children’s future health can be determined by their lifestyle choices at a very young age. Parents have the responsibility to instill health lifestyle habits from a very young age, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
It seems unfair that schools always get the blame for our children getting fatter. Yes, the school canteen has the responsibility to provide a variety of healthy food for the children, but what is the benefit of banning all junk food? Schools across the state have been introducing healthier menus as a response to childhood obesity. Healthier options such as salads and sushi have replaced hot chips and pies. However, no matter what schools do, some students continue to buy junk food from shops on the way to school or bring unhealthy foods from home. Parents need to monitor this by restricting their children’s pocket money and educating them on healthy lifestyle choices rather than expecting the school to fix the problem. Schools have helped in starting the decline in childhood obesity, but other factors have restricted these plans in becoming effective.
As far as the media goes, they have played a large part in the increase of childhood obesity. Snack and fast-food companies deliberately encourage children to eat their junk-food products by advertising them during commonly watched children’s programs. On television, nearly a third of advertising is for unhealthy or non-essential foods. Former Federal Health Minister, Tony Abbott, believes advertising of junk-food is a key factor that is aiding childhood obesity rates. A new initiative is being formed to reduce junk-food advertising during programs most commonly watched by children. This will certainly lead to less promoting of unhealthy food, however, more needs to be done to stop our youth from eating unhealthy food and to encourage them to start practicing better lifestyle choices.
A survey conducted by the government on childhood obesity showed that 26 percent of boys and 23 percent of girls are now overweight or obese. This is a scary thought. Furthermore, these figures are expected to rise by 6 percent in the next three years if we do not take immediate action. While we continue to debate the causes of obesity, it is obvious that poor diet and lack of exercise are aspects of the problem that cannot be ignored. Surely it is time to implement a plan now before it is too late and out health system buckles under the strain lifestyle-related disease.
This speech is not intended to criticize the government’s attempts to address the very serious problem of childhood obesity, but we need to look at other avenues to find a more appropriate solution. It is not enough to focus on one aspect. We need to focus on the elements within society that all contribute to the future health of our children.
I hope you will consider the issues that I have raised and that we can work together to reduce the epidemic of childhood obesity. After all, it is our children and grand children that we will be helping in the long run.
Thank you for listening.

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