The blurb taken as illustration for genre analysis represents an interesting and thought-provoking series of events. It is interesting to note the nature and range of adjectives, complex-nominals and verbs. It is important to analyze the text for its structure and would be done by identifying the move structure of the blurb.
The data used here presents the typical six move structure which includes:
Headlines: This move is to attract the attention of the reader and in the data used for this analysis; the headlines include the text which gives detail of anthrax attack on US post 9/11 attacks. This is the first paragraph of the data and presents the mystery before reader by stating that “World Trade Center attacks are clear and well understood compared to the anthrax mystery”. This builds the interest of the reader.
Establishing field & Indicating value of Chapter: The next paragraph simultaneously establishes the field of the chapter and indicates value of the chapter for reader by justifying the need of the writer to explain the biological attack in the physics book. Author’s statement that “…to do a better job at directing the FBI in its attempts to track the terrorists” indicates the value of the chapter for the readers.
Targeting the Reader: When author states that it is important for the future president to know the physics behind threat, author is targeting the readers and explaining why the chapter should be read.
Establishing credentials: The next two paragraphs of the chapter starting with author describing about biological threats and comparing smallpox with anthrax, author establishes credentials by convincing the readers that though author is a physicist, he possess good knowledge of biological infections and applies mathematical approach to the spread of infection.
Appraising the chapter: After establishing his credentials, author moves on to describe the theory related to the events happened during anthrax attack and assumes, supports and describes the rational of terrorists for doing second anthrax attack.
Describing: This move initiates when author describes in detail the logic behind failure of anthrax attack, from the point of view of terrorist and is intermixed with chapter appraising.
2A: Vocabulary
1. Fizzle – Fizzle means to fail, a failure
2. Demonstration – It is the act of proving through display of evidence
3. Victim – It is a person who suffers from harm due to action of some impersonal agency
Sample Sentence
The program, though initiated with great efforts soon fizzled.
Demonstration of higher success rate in exams by reading thoroughly convinced students.
Many innocent people are victim of car accidents due to reckless driving.
The author uses the word fizzle as he wanted to convey to readers that the reasonable assumption that the anthrax attack was just intended to spread panic is not true and the attack failed in its aim as it was directed to do mass killing and not to kill five people only. This word arouses the interest of the reader by denying the accepted notion about the anthrax attack. The use of fizzle in the sentence adds drama to the paragraph and provokes reader to continue reading as the sentence ends at word fizzle, giving no more information. This word imparts feeling of stunned on the reader.
Demonstration word is used in the text with a subtle ironic tone. The author rejects the opinion that anthrax attack was to scare US people; instead it was to commit mass murder. The word demonstration gives the reader the message that the pre-agreed notion of anthrax attack was not correct and the actual meaning is described by the author.
Victim word is used by author to define the state of the people who were the target of the terrorists. The word victim in the text is associated with high profile people to lay stress on the fact that the attacks were intended to harm influential people, the attack on whom would terrorize people.
2B: Grammar
In the genre, verb is used in imperative mood and subjunctive mood. The paragraph which stated that anthrax attack was intended to cause more damage and the imperative mood reflects in the sentence that “it is just as reasonable to conclude, however, that it was fizzle’. In this sentence, author gives strong suggestion that the attack didn’t kill the number of people it was expected to. After the imperative mood of the verb, the text then moves to subjunctive verbs in which author discusses the possible motives of the terrorist and the cause of second attack. The sentence “……terrorists may have panicked” expresses the suggestion that terrorists were panicked due to unexpected results and hence, mailed out all the anthrax they had. All through the genre, the verbs takes imperative or subjunctive mood. The genre also includes the causative verbs which defines the cause of the action.
As the author is explaining the events of biological attack and has stated that anthrax attack was to kill millions of people and turned out to be a failed mission for terrorists, the moods of the genre varies. Author starts with giving strong suggestion and continues with discussing the assumptions that would have been driven the anthrax attacks. The tone of the text is convincing as the author is breaking a profound notion and suggesting a new notion about attacks. The change of verbal moods enables the reader to relate with the text.
Part 3
Blurb 1: Terrorism Nine-Eleven
Nine-Eleven discuss the unanticipated and unique approach adopted by terrorists for the attack. The chapter delves the details of the events involving the attack and the reason behind the fall of twin towers in physical terms.
In Nine-Eleven, Richard Muller offers an approach to the understanding of the events of the attack and provides a framework based on physics which is applied in practical sense to reveal the exact cause of destruction by attack. He explains the attack events in relation to physics and its significance for the future presidents.
The chapter examines and develops the series of events which occurred during the attack. It goes on to explore a number of options which would have happened during attacks.
Blurb 2: Terrorist Nukes
Terrorist Nukes reveals the nuclear weapon approach by terrorist for attack as anticipated by people. The chapter formulates and tests the hypothesis in the event of nuclear attack.
In terrorist nukes, Richard Muller frames and tests the hypothesis in relation to the nuclear attack and the damage which can be caused by the nuclear attack. The chapter in detail develops and explains the several type of nuclear attacks and the type of bombs. It also shares the detail of the nuclear bomb and the physics involved in the explosion.
The chapter represents very informative and educative aspect of the nuclear explosion and is aimed to educate the future presidents about the physics of nuclear explosion.
Works Cited
Dictionary. "Demonstration." Dictionary.com. 02 Oct 2011 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/demonstration>.
—. "Fizzle." Dictionary.com. 02 Oct 2011 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fizzle>.
—. "Victim." Dictionary.com. 02 Oct 2011 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/victim>.
