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Sometimes comparing two texts is a useful way to learn more about them: it points out things you would not have realised just looking at one of them. The effectiveness of a text is one of the things which you can see more clearly in comparison: which text achieves its purpose better?

In comparison you can see the effect of making different choices about:

• vocabulary
• imagery
• sentence length and complexity
• paragraph length
• structuring of ideas
• rhetorical devices

You can also make a judgement about which is more effective. This is where your personal opinion and reaction to the text can be included within your analysis.

Example

Read the two extracts that reported on the exit of the England football team from the World Cup in different ways. Which do you feel is more effective in presenting its viewpoint, and achieving its purpose to inform?

Article 1

World cup 2014: Five things England need to do after disappointing exit in Brazil

Now what? England have been dumped out of the World Cup after just two group games. But what can they do to make sure it isn’t a wasted journey to Brazil?

Steven Gerrard’s face was a study in despair in Sao Paulo. The skipper has been brilliant and loyal England servant, but he knows it’s probably time to pull down the curtain and prolong his club career.

For Frank Lampard, Phil Jagielka and Glen Johnson, too, this is the Three Lions swansong.

Martin Lipton, The Mirror

Example

Article 2

Who should take the blame for England’s early World Cup exit?

World Cup behind us, the England manager now has the task of turning the latest crop of raw, but undoubtedly talented, young England players into a European force. Their club performances under the expert tutelage of Brendan Rodgers, Arsene Wenger, Roberto Martinez and Mauricio Pochettino have given us hope of another golden generation. These managers have received huge praise for the way that they have taken the Premier League to new levels of excitement, technical ability and professionalism. They are all progressive, technical students of the game who preach a positive brand possession, pace and passing football.

Andrew Maxwell, The Guardian

Both articles report on the same event, but use specific techniques in an attempt to achieve their purpose - to present their opinion of the team’s efforts and subsequent failure to win the Cup.

Analysis

• Both articles give an immediate indication of their opinion from their initial headlines - The Guardian uses a rhetorical question ‘Who Should take the blame for England’s early World Cup exit?’ The Mirror’s headline ‘Five Things England need to do after disappointing exit in Brazil’ presents more imperative language, eg ‘need’ to provide practical advice for the team that the reader would be then inclined to agree with.
• Both articles use language to convey their opinion – The Guardian uses sophisticated vocabulary, eg ‘tutelage’ and alliteration, eg ‘possession, pace and passing football’ to emphasise their support of the team’s performance. The Mirror uses a less formal standard of language to present a viewpoint, including the pun ‘probably time to pull down the curtain’ and refers to Steven Gerrard as a ‘loyal England servant’ to encourage the reader to feel gratitude for the player’s efforts.
• Both articles assume that the reader is both knowledgeable of football and a supporter of the national team - they refer to several names within the profession to support and develop their viewpoint; The Guardian refers to a series of managerial level names ‘Brendan Rodgers, Arsene Wenger, Roberto Martinez and Mauricio Pochettino’ whilst the Mirror’s focus is more directed at the players ‘Frank Lampard, Phil Jagielka and Glen Johnson’.

Once you have considered how each article fulfils its purpose, you can decide to what extent you think the article is effective. Things to consider:

• What efforts has the writer made to persuade you to agree with their ideas, either with particular language choices, or the way that the piece of writing is structured?
• Is the purpose of the text clear enough for you to agree or disagree?
• Is there any way that you think the text could be improved to make it more effective?