Essay
i) The main text type evident in this writing sample
The text “Environmental Resources” belongs to the class of non-fiction informative texts. The type of the text provided is description because such texts tell about location of things and people in space, about the foreground and background of them (Types of Texts). This report will enable students to meet stage four-outcome on e- ACELY1733: Apply increasing knowledge of vocabulary, text structures and language features to understand the content of texts (NSW, 2016). The text offers analysis, explanation, evidence and facts, because it is a set of statements made to describe facts that interpret causes and consequences. There are no personal points of view about the topic discussed in the text. The analyzed pages incorporate images for the readers that support scientific language and general terms.
ii) The (stated) purpose of the text
The primary purpose of the text is informative, that is, to provide information on renewable, non-renewable and continuous resources, to attract attention to the contamination problem and make it clearer and more understandable for the reader. Informative texts inform readers about peculiarities of natural and social world (ACARA, 2016). These are natural phenomena that are usually described in the informative texts. The selected pages discuss the future Earth’s environmental functions, where the main function is the production of environmental resources. All of them originate from biophysical environment. The last part of the text is devoted to water as a main resource of our planet.
iii) The text’s structure and organizational features
First of all, the author represents a problem – concern of sustainability of resources. After that the author introduces three kinds of resources in the way of comparison. The headings play a crucial role for this type of text. When the student starts working on the assignment to this unit, it is easier for him or her to find the necessary information, similar role is played by key words within the text. Moreover, the text contains in-text notes that provide the reader with the supplemental information (Text Structure). These two pages are a part of a larger unit that is devoted the topic “Water in the World”. The author uses scientific technical language as it is a textbook, and the students are to be taught to use terms correctly.
iv) The types of language and grammatical features employed within the text, using samples to support your analysis
The type of language used in the text is informative language. For instance, environmental resources are classified as They are formed over geological time scales Meta-language is used throughout the text in order to engage students with understanding of the topic, this will enable students to meet stage four, outcome eight – EN4-8D: identify consider and appreciate cultural expression in texts (NSW, 2016). To convey a message that is moral is achieved through didactic.
As for the grammar peculiarities the use of Present Simple Tense is the first thing to be mentioned. As to the language of the text it is common for a broad cross-section of society. “This means your language needs to be accessible and interesting for a range of readers” (Writing Styles and Forms). Despite the fact that it contains scientific issues it is not aimed to be a professional one, it is understandable for school children and students and anybody who is concerned about the question discovered. This is the main factor that there is absence of specialized and technical language, slang and offensive language is omitted as well.
i) Potential purposes of the visual images
The picture of the water cycle is as well presented in the text as a visual support to that that was described. The image of tides helps to visualize the image of a rather complex system in order for readers to get better understanding. The picture of industrial waste at the end of the provided scientific information plays an important role; it makes the aim of the text memorable and impressive and draws the readers’ attention to a very hardened problem.
References
Writing Styles and Forms. Retrieved from http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/creating/Future/pages/stylewrite.htm
Types of Texts In English. Retrieved from http://aarin93.blogspot.ru/2013/11/types-of-text-in-english.html
Types of Texts. Retrieved from http://syllabus.bostes.nsw.edu.au/glossary/eng/types-of-texts/?ajax
NSW, B. (2016). NSW Syllabus :: English K-10. Syllabus.bostes.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved from http://syllabus.bostes.nsw.edu.au
Text Structure. Retrieved from http://hoodriver.schoolwires.net/cms/lib06/OR01000849/Centricity/Domain/873/LA_res_TxtStruc_ORS_Module%20copy.pdf
ACARA. (2016). Australiancurriculum.edu.au. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
