'Drug addicts are not criminals - they're patients' AS coursework style model

Click here for a Guardian article on the concerning wage earned by Brixton's 'Ritzy cinema' workers.

Some notes & quotes on this article:

1. "both ironic and perverse" – First engagement made with the reader through use of light humour. Furthermore, regarding the context of the article this is important as it illustrates the incoherence of the opposition, and also immediately states the opinion of the writer as a fact.

2. "Hard-pressed workers" – This is a pre-modified emotive noun, and it immediately induces sympathy from the reader for the subjects of the article and offers introduces a theme.

3. Frequent use of the word "we". This demonstrates collaboration between the writer and the audience, thereby consolidating the idea that they are working together. This makes the writer’s point more agreeable with.

4. Use of statistics "5.2 million British workers are now trapped in low-paid jobs". Hard-hitting facts like this are an excellent persuasive technique because you cannot argue with facts, even though they are often a shock-factor for the reader.

5. Use of quote from a public figure "conservative writer and activist Tim Montgomerie". The quote was correctly sourced and by adding it into the article, it creates the illusion that an army of followers has already been built-up, therefore inclining the reader to agree with the writer more.

6. "Pinko-lefty commentator" – This humerous use of colloquial language softens the overall tone of the piece because it creates a change from a formal register to an informal register, to maintain a high level of engagement with the audience. No one wants to read big wordy paragraphs that drone on and on about the same thing!

7. Lots of emotive verbs: "Forced", "attack", etc. These are powerful words which provoke thought and strong imagery. The use of such potent lexis adds a touch of drama to the piece, and creates feelings in the reader.

8. Shorter sentences - "then you face the sack." – This is another powerful technique to add drama. By using shorter sentences after long, wordy ones, not only is a dramatic effect created but often it is used to sum up what has been said briefly for the reader, making an easier read.

9. "We should" – This use of deontic modal auxiliaries is a forceful way of stating an opinion. It offers no room for different opinions because it seems to the reader imperative that we do as we are told.

10. "Deficit-deniers" – More colloquial language, but what is significant about this in particular is the alliteration used. The writer has literally created a potential new slang term to label the objects of his anger – and what’s more is he has used alliteration to make it sound more catchy and to create a rhythmatic pattern for the reader, therefore making the phrase more memorable and convincing.