Text Analysis Using Pee

QUESTION 6 - SAMPLE ANSWER - How does the writer present teenagers` attitudes towards reading? ( 10 Marks)

David Denby explores teenage reading habits, which tend to be declining at a perplexing rate using a wide variety of language and structural features to effectively present his thoughts and feelings.

Firstly, the use of a critical tone portrays teenagers in a negative way, which accentuates the disquieting lifestyle that most teenagers have succumbed to. For instance the phrase, three or four kids, hooded leaning over like monks or druids explicitly implies that teenager s addiction to smartphones is immense and enslaving. They are portrayed as being totally obsessed with their devices as compared to dedicating their time to a series of books due to the fact that they are dispassionate about reading books as a form of entertainment or pastime. This idea is also evident in the phrase reading has lost its privileged status few kids are ashamed that they are not doing it much. This suggests that the reading culture has become valueless, unexciting and uninspiring which has resulted to teenagers having a pessimistic view of it and extremely unenthusiastic in adopting the norm. By use of a negative language to establish the reading habits of teenagers, the writer evokes a feeling of discomposure (agitation) and perturbation from the readers, which serves to provoke them into contemplating about the effects of technology on teenagers lifestyle thereby making the text perceptive.

Secondly, the writer employs the use of listing to itemize all the distractions that teenagers have and to elaborate more on each idea expressed. For instance the phrase, But they often read scraps, excerpts, articles, parts of articles, messages outlines the counterproductive/ unfavorable online resources that are readily available on different devices that most teenagers preoccupy themselves with, instead of actively reading ingenious books that are likely to spur their imagination and creativity while at the same time making them more knowledgeable about different concepts. The aforementioned is emphasized by the phrase, school, homework, jobs, parents, brothers, sisters love affairs, hanging out most of all screens.. which candidly shows how teenagers are more predisposed with anything else but books , which they find irksome ( annoying/ burdening) and uninteresting to fully commit themselves with a book is a weak claim on their time . By use of this technique, the writer provides basis for his argument that makes the text more informative and compelling to the reader.

Thirdly, the use of rhetorical questions is evident in the text, which makes the readers more engaged. The phrase, Yet what happens when they move towards adolescence? arouses the readers thoughts and feelings towards the subject matter. The transition from childhood to teenage hood has a tremendous effect on teenagers way of life especially when it comes to reading, which is completely forsaken and definitely relinquished/ forgotten as teenagers become excessively active on their smart phones, which serves as a comfort zone. This idea can also be seen in the phrase, Digital culture has enveloped us more quickly But what can be done about it? This shows how social platforms have become the norm of the day making it difficult for most individuals including teenagers to have a reading culture that is quite disturbing. By use of this technique, it enables the writer to subtly influence the readers while evoking different reactions from them effectively and creating variety within the text thus breaking monotony.

In addition to, Denby uses external sources/ references to back up his ideas and perspectives about teenagers reading habits. This can be seen in the phrase, Work by the Pew Research center and other organizations Few late teenagers are reading many books which clearly suggests that poor reading habits are at most exhibited by teenagers during the adolescence phase, which discourages active reading. This notion is accentuated by the phrase, Common Sense Media indicates that American Teenagers are less likely to read for fun at seventeen than thirteen which progresses the fact that as children grow older , it becomes burdensome for them to read different books as compared to when they are younger. This is further emphasized by the phrase reading has become a chore that explicitly portrays teenager s reading habits as strenuous and very demanding. By use of reference sources, it makes the text more authentic and unbiased as the reader gets a wider perspective of the subject matter that enables the writer to appeal to them.

Conclusively, the writer uses a wide range of punctuation marks in communicating his key ideas. For instance, the use of parenthesis can be seen in the phrase , for fun is itself a little depressing divides reading into duty (for school) and pleasure ( sitting on a beach towel) . The writer juxtaposes teenagers perception of reading which he finds unreasonable as they all serve the same purpose. This technique can also be seen in the phrase, most of all screens (TV, internet, games, texting, and instagramming) . This alludes to the fact that digital media has replaced the traditional conventions of reading books for enjoyment and enlightment, as more teenagers are addicted to digital platforms which takes much of their time. Moreover, the use of hyphens can beseen in the phrase, be reading a book- that notion, which all readers share doesn t flourish in many kids . This implies that as far as reading books is concerned, it is ultimately becoming of no effect especially to teenagers who are yet to fully master the art of reading and the endless benefits it has. By using a variety of punctuation marks, the readers create variety within the text that captures the reader s attention progressively making them more engrossed.