Comparing a Writer’s Methods

This section explains comparing a Writer’s methods. Writers use various methods to achieve their purpose, and these methods can vary depending on the form of the text. When comparing two texts, it’s crucial to focus on how the writer’s methods—including their tone, language choices, literary techniques, and structure—are similar or different. These methods are designed to engage the reader and influence their emotional or intellectual response to the text.

Some of the key methods to consider when comparing texts are:

• Tone: This refers to the writer's attitude or the emotional quality of the text. It could be serious, humorous, satirical, tragic, etc.
• Language: This encompasses word choice, vocabulary, and the overall style of the language. Writers might use informal, colloquial, or formal language depending on the form of the text and the audience.
• Literary Techniques: These include devices like imagery, metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, etc.
• Rhetorical Devices: These include techniques such as questions, repetition, exaggeration, or direct address to engage the reader.
• Structure: This refers to the way the text is organised. It could involve the order of ideas, sentence length, paragraph structure, use of headings or subheadings, or chronological vs. non-chronological ordering.
• Sentence Structure: Writers might use short, punchy sentences for impact or long, complex sentences to build tension or provide detailed information.

The choice of these methods will have an impact on how the reader responds emotionally or intellectually to the text. When comparing texts, consider how the different methods create specific effects on the reader. This is where you can offer your personal response to how the text made you feel.

Example of Comparing Methods: Two Descriptions of Dramatic Accidents

By comparing these two descriptions of dramatic accidents, we can see how the form, language, and tone of a text vary based on the time period, audience, and purpose. The modern article tends to be more informative, focusing on facts and logistical details, while the older article uses more dramatic, emotional language to engage the reader. Both texts, however, rely on vivid imagery, dramatic verbs, and eyewitness accounts to create a sense of urgency and heighten the emotional impact of the accidents.

Example 1: Train Crash

Event: A catastrophic train crash during a storm.

Extract 1: Contemporary News Article (The Times, 2023)

“Storm Strikes Train, Leading to Fatal Crash”

The train screeched to a halt as the force of the storm took hold. The violent winds pushed against the carriages, causing them to lurch and jerk, as the passengers inside held on for dear life. Within moments, the train was derailed, crashing into the mud and debris of the storm-battered tracks. At least 10 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens more injured. Eyewitnesses describe the terrifying sound of metal twisting and snapping as the train was thrown from the tracks. Rescue operations are underway, but the wreckage is severe.

Extract 2: Victorian Newspaper Report (The Daily Telegraph, 1892)

“Horrific Train Accident During Storm in the Midlands”

The unrelenting gales assailed the ill-fated train as it made its way across the Midlands. The force of the wind was such that the passengers feared the worst. Suddenly, with a great crash, the train was thrown from its tracks. The carriages were torn apart, and many unfortunate souls met a tragic end. Eyewitnesses report the horrific sound of shattering glass and splintering wood. At least 15 people have perished in the disaster, and many more are injured, with some trapped within the wreckage. Rescue efforts are slow, hampered by the inclement weather.

Analysis: Similarities

• Purpose: Both texts aim to inform readers about the train crash while also creating a sense of urgency and tragic impact.
• Use of Dramatic Language: Both articles use dramatic verbs to highlight the force of the storm and the violence of the crash. In the modern article, the phrase "train screeched to a halt" is echoed in the older report's description of the crash as "a great crash". Both use emotive language to emphasise the devastation.
• Imagery: Both use vivid imagery to describe the accident. In the contemporary article, the "metal twisting and snapping" paints a vivid picture of the destruction, while the Victorian report describes "shattering glass and splintering wood", creating a similar sense of the violent impact.
• Technical Language: Both texts use technical vocabulary to describe the accident. The modern article mentions "derailed" and "wreckage", while the older text uses "thrown from its tracks" and "carriages torn apart".
• Eyewitness Accounts: Both texts include eyewitness testimony, with the modern article describing the sounds of the crash, and the older text noting "eyewitnesses report the horrific sound" to emphasise the chaos of the moment.

Analysis: Differences

• Form and Structure:

1. The modern article is straightforward and factual, with short, direct sentences. For instance, "At least 10 people have been confirmed dead" provides the key information quickly.
2. The Victorian report, on the other hand, uses more descriptive and elaborate language, such as "The unrelenting gales assailed the ill-fated train", making it more dramatic and rich in detail. This is a characteristic of older news reports that often aimed to paint a picture for the reader.

• Tone:
  1. The modern article is matter-of-fact but still conveys empathy with phrases like "rescue operations are underway", focusing on the aftermath and recovery.
  2. The Victorian article has a more tragic tone, with expressions like "tragic end" and "many unfortunate souls", reflecting the more sensational style of 19th-century reporting, which often emphasised moral and emotional weight.
• Perspective:
  1. The modern article provides an almost objective account, while the Victorian report uses more personal and emotional language ("unfortunate souls", "the worst").
  2. The Victorian report places a greater emphasis on the moral and emotional aspects of the tragedy, whereas the modern article stays focused on the facts and logistics of the accident.

Example 2: Fire in a Building

Event: A fire breaks out in a high-rise building, trapping people inside.

Extract 1: News Article (BBC News, 2022)

“Fire Traps Residents in High-Rise Building”

A massive fire broke out in a residential high-rise building late last night, leaving dozens of people trapped inside. Smoke billowed from the upper floors as fire engines arrived on the scene. Firefighters worked tirelessly to rescue those who were stranded, using ladders and ropes to reach the windows of higher floors. It is feared that at least five people have perished in the blaze, with many others reported missing. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

Extract 2: 20th-Century Newspaper Report (The Times, 1938)

“Terrifying Blaze Engulfs High-Rise Building”

The horror unfolded late last evening as a great fire took hold of a high-rise building, trapping several people in their homes. The blaze, which engulfed the top floors, sent a dark cloud of smoke billowing into the night sky. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the heat was so intense that they could not immediately access the upper floors. Eyewitnesses recount hearing desperate cries from those trapped inside, and many feared for their lives. The death toll is currently unknown, and investigators are working to determine the cause.

Analysis: Similarities

• Purpose: Both texts aim to inform readers about the fire and the danger it posed to the residents. They also convey a sense of urgency and disaster.
• Descriptive Language: Both use strong verbs to describe the fire and its effects. In the modern article, "massive fire" and "billowed from the upper floors" convey the intensity of the fire. Similarly, in the 20th-century report, "engulfed" and "dark cloud of smoke" depict the devastating impact of the fire.
• Eyewitness and Rescue Efforts: Both texts describe the efforts of emergency responders and include eyewitness accounts. In the modern article, "firefighters worked tirelessly", while the older text includes the personal perspective of those witnessing the fire from the ground, recalling "desperate cries from those trapped inside".
• Immediacy and Urgency: Both reports focus on the immediacy of the event. The modern article talks about "fire engines arriving on the scene" and "rescue operations underway", while the 1938 report mentions the rushing of emergency responders to the scene.

Analysis: Differences

• Tone:
  1. The modern article is relatively neutral, with an emphasis on factual information ("dozens of people trapped", "firefighters worked tirelessly").
  2. The older article has a more emotional tone, with phrases like "horror unfolded", "desperate cries", and "many feared for their lives", which create a heightened sense of drama and desperation.
• Sentence Structure:
  1. The modern article is concise and to the point. For example, "It is feared that at least five people have perished" is a direct, factual statement.
  2. The 1938 article uses more complex sentence structures and a descriptive approach, as seen in phrases like "The blaze, which engulfed the top floors, sent a dark cloud of smoke billowing into the night sky." This style was more common in earlier journalistic writing, which favoured a descriptive, storytelling approach.
• Perspective:
  1. The modern article is written from a more observational perspective, presenting the event as it happened with a focus on the actions of responders.
  2. The 1938 article, on the other hand, incorporates emotional responses from eyewitnesses, enhancing the dramatic tone. Phrases like "many feared for their lives" suggest an element of human experience that is less prominent in the modern account.
• Use of Headlines:
  1. The modern article uses a simple, factual headline ("Fire Traps Residents in High-Rise Building") to inform the reader about the key event.
  2. The older article has a more dramatic headline ("Terrifying Blaze Engulfs High-Rise Building"), using the word "terrifying" to emphasise the emotional weight of the incident.

Conclusion

When comparing the methods used in both texts, it’s clear that the form, structure, tone, and language choices differ significantly due to the different contexts in which these texts were written. The 19th-century news report uses formal, grave language to convey the seriousness of the ballooning accident, while the modern magazine article adopts a more personal, informal tone that mixes humour with serious reflection. Both texts, however, use dramatic language and vivid imagery to engage the reader and convey the intensity of the accidents, making them both compelling despite their differences in style.