Understanding Visual Language

When analysing visual texts, which of these questions should you consider?

• What is conveyed by the accompanying caption?

• Is the subject portrayed in a positive or a negative manner?

• all of these questions

• How has the image been positioned on the page?

How might the use of dark lighting affect the message portrayed in an image?

• It could be positioned directly under the headline.

• It could make the image, and therefore the issues, appear shadowy and dangerous.

• It could make the focus of the image appear strong and powerful.

• All of the above answers are correct.

Political cartoons usually:

• do all of these things.

• have a distinctive style, depending on the cartoonist.

• use exaggeration to make their point.

• make a political point about a current issue.

Why do you think political cartoons might use exaggeration?

• to generate irony

• for all of these reasons

• to quickly draw the reader’s attention to a particular feature or trait that is being mocked

• to increase the humour in the cartoon

When analysing a cartoon as a persuasive text, which of these should you do?

• only analyse whether the cartoon is humorous or not

• all of these are correct

• try to understand the context behind the issue being explored

• focus most of your attention on any text contained in the cartoon

Political cartoons are always paired with persuasive texts with the same contention or point of view. True or false?

• True

• False

Graphs, tables and charts can:

• be used to persuade or influence readers.

• always be trusted as reliable sources of information.

• only reveal an objective truth.

• not be analysed in a similar way to an image or photograph.

Why might a writer or editor choose to include a graph, table or chart with a persuasive text?

• to influence readers to take an issue more seriously than they may have otherwise

• for all of these reasons

• to provide a clear visual explanation of a complex phenomenon

• to imply that the view or opinion outlined in the text is supported by evidence

A writer or editor’s decision to use a certain visual text alongside a written text can be just as important as the language decisions made within the written text. True or false?

• True

• False