Understanding Headlines and Tone

When analysing the layout of a persuasive text, you should consider:

• all of these things.

• whether/how the visual material contradicts the viewpoint expressed in the text.

• the kinds of text that appear on the page.

• whether/how the visual material supports the viewpoint expressed in the text.

Headlines are usually designed to:

• summarise the article so the reader doesn’t need to read the whole article.

• do all of these things.

• attract the reader’s attention and encourage them to read the article.

• make the reader laugh.

What is alliteration?

• the repetition of the same word

• the repetition of the initial sound in a word

• emphasising one element of a story

• a play on words

Which of these is an example of a headline using alliteration?

• ‘Flu York City’

• ‘Murray Wins Historic Victory’

• ‘Franks for Nothing!’

• ‘Sesame Street Strikes Seven’

How might headlines catch a reader’s attention?

• sensationalising a dramatic aspect of the story or issue

• using large, bold font

• all of these ways

• using a pun

Which of these headlines presents the most balanced point of view?

• ‘Teenage Gangs Roam Streets without Consequence’

• ‘More Young People on the Streets’

• ‘Disengaged Youth Abandoned by Government’

• ‘Youth Dying for a Place to Sleep’

The language used in a headline can indicate to readers the point of view expressed in the article before they read it. True or false?

• True

• False

What does ‘tone’ refer to when analysing persuasive texts?

• a musical sound

• the attitude the writer takes towards the subject that comes through the sound of the language employed

• the writer’s overall use of language

• how strong or weak an argument is

A good way to determine the tone of a text is to read it aloud. True or false?

• True

• False

Choose which word would best describe the tone of this sentence: ‘The distressing truth is that many of our young people will not learn the skills they need to be successful in the workplace.’

• dismissive

• sarcastic

• concerned

• aggressive