Analysing texts: Useful functions

 
 

Steps Functions Expressions

1. Kind of text : The text "(heading)" is a * about (main idea)  *sort of texts: narration, description,
advertisement, report, brochure, instruction
What sort of text is it?
manual, conversation, dialogue, discussion,
interview, song, poem, cartoon, photograph,
letter, comic, story, fairy tale, short story

2. Contents: This*is about 1)  (1) the question wh.., the problem of ....ing,
the statement that.., the idea that , the vision
What does the text tell us? of..., the situation of ..., the advantages and
The 2) tells the (3) about 1)
disadvantages of ..., the conflict / the
comparison / the relationship between ...
reports on (1)
and ...., 
deals with (1)  (2) narrator, author, advertiser, reporter,
persons, interviewer, song writer, poet,
  cartoonist, photographer, letter writer, story-
teller, 
 3) the reader, the listener, us, the viewer, 

3. Setting: The setting of the * is in (4) / near (4)  places: (4) at a school, in Sydney, in
Australia, 
Where and when does the  time: (5) in the morning of a bright day, in
The action takes place in (5) / during the time
action take place? July, in 1999, 
when (5) in an atmosphere of (6)
 atmosphere: in an atmosphere of (6)
peacefulness, calmness, in an unfriendly /
friendly / tense / hostile atmosphere, in the ..
 world of 

4. Characters: The main characters are (7) because... (7) clever - stupid, interesting - boring, lazy -

Who are the main / minor X is a person who seems to me to be ... hard-working,  difficult - simple, honest - dishonest,
characters?
There are some details in the text which sensible - careless, strong - weak, fair - unfair,
show that X is (7) friendly -

In line ... he/she says/reacts in a (5) way. unfriendly, independent - dependent, happy -
unhappy,
His/her feelings/reasons/ motives are (8)
lucky - unlucky 
I don't find X likeable because...
(8) realistic, understandable, hard to understand
I don't think X is very convincing because...

His/her behaviour seems to change in the

course of the story.

The story might have ended differently if X..

5. Plot:  The text can be divided into ... parts.
 
Into how many parts can the The first part is about...  
text be divided?   
The turning point / the climax is reached
Find a heading to each when  (8) great, interesting, exciting, terrific, sad, awful,
paragraph. funny, simple, realistic, far-fetched, absurd,
The happy ending is (isn't) surprising
Is there a development because....
(beginning, climax, turning
point, ending) ?
 I find the plot of the story (8)

The story is told from ........'s point of view.

The story shows some positive/ negative

aspects of ......
6. Message:  (2) mentions.../ presents.../ attempts to  
(The author's point of view): catch.../ voices his/her..

What are the main points? The main points are..... In line .... it says for
What's the problem?  example that..
Which solution is suggested or
formulated? The beginning / climax/ ending is (isn't)
surprising (at all).

Some questions can't be answered for

example why ......
7. Your point of view I find the * (9) because it reminds me of ... (10) good, great, interesting, exciting, terrific, sad,
(Your opinion)  awful, funny, simple, realistic, far-fetched, absurd
My first impression was that ......., but later ....
What do you think about the (11) the question, the problem of ....ing, the
text? Give reasons.:  statement that.., the idea that ..., the vision of...,
In my opinion the *is right when he/she says the situation of ..., the advantages and
Which impressions do you that ..... disadvantages of ..., the solution to the conflict the
have? Give quotations. relationship between .. and ....
So all in all I liked/enjoyed the * because it
What's your view of the
gave me the idea that I could see the (11) in
matter?
the same way./So all in all I disliked the *
because I would feel, act differently.
Analysing texts: Useful expressions
 
 
1. Kind of text : What sort of text is it? narration, description, advertisement, report, story, brochure,
instruction manual, conversation, dialogue, discussion, song,
poem, cartoon, letter, comic, fairy tale 
2. Contents: What does the text tell us ? This story/poem/song is about...
3. Setting: Where and when does the action The action takes place in.../during .... 
take place? The setting of the story is in / near....
4. Characters: Who are the main / minor The main / minor characters are ... 
characters? I would describe him / her as ..
He / She seems to be....
5. Plot: Into how many parts can the text The beginning 
be divided? The first part 
The (happy) ending
Find a heading to each The turning point is..
paragraph. I would suggest the following headings:
6. Message  What are the main points? There are some details in the text that show that...

(The author's point of view): What's the problem? 

Which solution is suggested or

formulated?
7. Your point of What do you think about the text? My first impression was...., but later .... 
    view:  Give reasons.  In my opinion.../ I think..
It reminds me of..
(Your opinion):  Which impressions do you have? My point of view is that...
Give quotations.
In line.. it says that
Preparing summary writing: Shift to Present Tense
 

1. Rebecca's problem with her trouble - missed -  Rebecca has a lot of trouble with her teacher of English because
homework twice she has missed her homework twice.
2. The task a 20th century story about She has to write a story about 20th century smuggling which all
smuggling -  the posh kids know by flights abroad which she doesn't.
posh kids
3. Smuggling King Kong to NY a kick - film - King Kong - She gets a kick by a tv-film about King Kong who is smuggled
customs - NY through the customs to New York.
4. Contents of the film huge King Kong hairy When they try to go with him through the customs they can't
carpet - customs officer - hide him completely and declare him to be a hairy carpet. But
squashed when the customs officer asks too many questions huge King
Kong squashes him and the customs.
5. Rebecca's thinking feeling better - Bacon's She feels much better when she goes to bed although she thinks
opinion - not brilliant that Bacon won't find her story very brilliant
6. The brainy kids' hope English lesson - reading When Mr Bacon is going to read out some of the best stories in
out best - stories -  the English lesson the brainy kids start whispering which story
brainy kids he will read.
7. Sarah's story all similar plot -  He reads Sarah's story which is good, but which follows the
R's story different same plot as a lot of others, but the next story is different.
 
8. Rebecca's story and thoughts customs - clever - good The kids want to know whose it is,
story but Rebecca fears that Mr. Bacon will say how terrible it is. But
he states that it is excellent.
9. Reading the story B's excellent reading - Mr. Bacon does a good job reading the story out in different
different voices voices.
10. Happy ending flabbergasted - stupid - Everybody is flabbergasted when they hear whose story it is.
good They thought that Rebecca is stupid, but this story really is very
 good.

Preparing summary writing: Adding functions

 

1. Rebecca's problem trouble - missed -  In the first part the author explains that Rebecca has a lot of trouble with
with her homework twice her teacher of English because she has missed her homework twice.
2. The task a 20th century story In the main part the reader is informed that she has to write a story about
about smuggling -  20th century smuggling which all the posh kids know by flights abroad
posh kids which she doesn't.
3. Smuggling King Kong a kick - film - King Then the author describes how she gets a kick by a tv-film about King
to NY Kong -  customs - NY Kong who is smuggled through the customs to New York.
4. Contents of the film huge King Kong - Further on we are told that when they try to go with him through the
hairy carpet -  customs they can't hide him completely and declare him to be a hairy
customs officer -  carpet. But when the customs officer asks too many questions huge King
squashed Kong squashes him and the customs.
5. Rebecca's thinking feeling better -  Afterwards we read that she feels much better when she goes to bed
Bacon's opinion -  although she thinks that Bacon won't find her story very brilliant
not brilliant
6. The the brainy kids' English lesson -  Next the author stresses that when Mr Bacon is going to read out some of
hope reading out best the best stories in the English lesson the brainy kids start whispering
stories - brainy kids which story he will read.
7. Sarah's story all similar plot -  Moreover the writer goes on readingSarah's story which is good, but which
Rebecca's different follows the same plot as a lot of others, but the next story is different.
story
8. Rebecca's story and customs - clever In the end the author emphasises that the kids want to know whose it is,
thoughts good story but Rebecca fears that Mr. Bacon will say how terrible it is. But he states
 that it is excellent.
9. Reading the story Bacon's excellent At last the writer stresses that Mr. Bacon does a good job reading the story
reading - different out in different voices.
voices
10. Happy ending flabbergasted -  As a conclusion the author hints that everybody is flabbergasted when they
stupid - good hear whose story it is. They thought that Rebecca is stupid, but this story
really is very good.

A global view on the way

 

Headlines Key-words Shift into the presence of the reader Summary

1. Rebecca's problem trouble -  Rebecca has a lot of trouble with her teacher of In the first part the author explains that Rebecca
with her homework missed -  English because she has missed her homework has a lot of trouble with her teacher of English
twice twice. because she has missed her homework twice.
2. The task a 20th century She has to write a story about 20th century In the main part the reader is informed that she
story about smuggling which all the posh kids know by flights has to write a story about 20th century smuggling
smuggling - abroad which she doesn't. which all the posh kids know by flights abroad
posh kids which she doesn't.
3. Smuggling King a kick -film - King She gets a kick by a tv-film about King Kong who Then the author describes how she gets a kick
Kong to NY Kong - customs - is smuggled through the customs to New York. by a tv-film about King Kong who is smuggled
NY through the customs to New York.
4. Contents of the film huge King Kong - When they try to go with him through the customs Further on we are told that when they try to go
hairy carpet - they can't hide him completely and declare him to with him through the customs they can't hide
customs officer - be a hairy carpet. But when the customs officer him completely and declare him to be a hairy
squashed asks too many questions huge King Kong carpet. But when the customs officer asks too
squashes him and the customs. many questions huge King Kong squashes him
and the customs.
5. Rebecca's thinking feeling better -  She feels much better when she goes to bed Afterwards we read that she feels much better
Bacon's opinion -  although she thinks that Bacon won't find her when she goes to bed although she thinks that
story very brilliant Bacon won't find her story very brilliant
 not brilliant
6. The brainy kids' English lesson - When Mr Bacon is going to read out some of the Next the author stresses that when Mr Bacon is
hope reading out best best stories in the English lesson the brainy kids going to read out some of the best stories in the
stories -  start whispering which story he will read. English lesson the brainy kids start whispering
  brainy kids which story he will read.
7. Sarah's story all similar plot - He reads Sarah's story which is good, but which Moreover the writer goes on readingSarah's
  Rebecca's follows the same plot as a lot of others, but the story which is good, but which follows the same
different story  next story is different. plot as a lot of others, but the next story is
  different.
8. Rebecca's story and customs -  The kids want to know whose it is, In the end the author emphasises that the kids
thoughts clever - good but Rebecca fears that Mr. Bacon will say how want to know whose it is, but Rebecca fears that
story terrible it is. But he states that it is excellent. Mr. Bacon will say how terrible it is. But he
states that it is excellent.
9. Reading the story Mr. Bacon's Mr. Bacon does a good job reading the story out At last the writer stresses that Mr. Bacon does a
excellent reading in different voices. good job reading the story out in different
- different voices voices.
10. Happy ending flabbergasted - Everybody is flabbergasted when they hear As a conclusion the author hints that everybody
stupid - good whose story it is. They thought that Rebecca is is flabbergasted when they hear whose story it
stupid, but this story really is very good. is. They thought that Rebecca is stupid, but this
story really is very good.

Rebecca's Story
(Adapted from Your friend, Rebecca by Linda Hoy, 1982)
When I get home from school, I decide to do something unusual. I decide to do my English homework for Mr Bacon. I don't want any trouble with teachers this
week; lessons are bad enough. I missed the English homework twice last week, and Mr Bacon will be furious if I miss it again.

We've got to write a story about smugglers. All because of this stupid book that we're reading -it's about smugglers in ... I don't know, the twenty-first century
B.C., I think it is. Whenever it is, it's rubbish. Streaky - that's Mr Bacon (in case you hadn't guessed) - said that we could write about modern day smugglers if we
wanted to. He said this as if he was doing us a really big favour. And all the posh kids in our class started to show off - about going through customs at airports
and things like that. I've never been through customs, so you can just imagine how easy it's going to be for me to write this story.  I haven't much energy tonight.
So I sit down and switch on this old King Kong film on the television, to help me think while I'm writing.

 I like King Kong. And then it gets to the part where they've caught him and they're taking him to America. This suddenly reminds me of the story that I've got to
write. Because I notice that they don't take King Kong through the customs. The man who wrote the film just cheats and misses that part altogether. A really good
story would be the scene when they try to smuggle King Kong through the customs.
It's quite a good story. King Kong is huge, and when he walks through the customs, people can only see his hairy legs. The people who are trying to get him into
the country say it's a special black hairy carpet. When the customs officer starts to get difficult and asks too many questions, King Kong steps on him - and all the
customs hall gets squashed. It's a very good plot. I like it anyway.
 
I feel a bit better when I go upstairs to bed because I think I've written something good.
Streaky Bacon will probably say that it's stupid,  but I don't care. He always reads out Amelia Hamlet's stories, or Sarah Swille's, and he says mine are rubbish.
Of course, I usually write them while I'm on my way to the lesson, so they're never very brilliant.

The first lesson on Monday is English. Mr Bacon says he's going to read out some of the best stories from last week. Some of the brainy kids start to whisper,
"Mine's rubbish", and "Ooooh, I hope he doesn't read mine out". This really means that they think their story's fantastic, and that they hope he'll read it out to the
class.
I don't say anything. Streaky takes Sarah Swille's book and starts to read out her story.
Her work is always read out, but really I don't think it's so good. Streaky gives Sarah her book back. Then he says, "Most of the stories were good, but they were
all very similar. Most of you used exactly the same plot. All except this one. .." And he picks up my book and starts to read the story out. The brainy kids look at
each other and whisper, "Whose is it?" and "Is it yours?" - but none of them know. I don't say anything. I expect that Streaky will soon say how terrible it is. But he
doesn't. He reads it very well and uses different voices for the customs man and for King Kong.

When he gets to the part where the customs man tells King Kong that he'll have to go into quarantine in case he's got rabies, everybody starts to laugh. They
laugh more when King Kong steps on him. I even smile myself. Streaky reads it out very well, so it sounds really funny. When he's finished, Streaky says what a
clever story it is. He even says it would make a very good play. Everybody else in the class agrees.

Then he gives the books back. Everybody in the class is flabbergasted when they find out that the story that Streaky's been reading is mine. They think I'm too
stupid to write anything more exciting than the date. I can write good stories when I feel like it, you see.
And poems. It's just that I don't feel like it very often.