A text can take many forms including posters, maps, movies, social media posts, advertisements, books, and more. The purpose, audience, and context are important to understand when interpreting a text. A product advertisement aims to persuade an audience to buy something, while services like plumbers or public transport want to sell their services. Other purposes can be to explain, inform, or raise awareness of issues through school reports, instructions, recipes, signs, or warnings. Understanding the purpose is key to interpreting the overall message.
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Part 1 Viewing and responding to visual texts for EALD Levels 2 and 3
1. Viewing & responding to Multimodal Texts
How to ¡°interpret¡± texts
What is a text?
Poster, map, movie, YouTube clip, GIF, Phone or WhatsApp message,
TikTok clip, TV advertisement, book, magazine, textbook, JPG
3. What is the purpose?
The purpose of a product advertisement is ALWAYS to
persuade the audience to buy (or download!) something.
4. The purpose might be to
sell a service (not a
product):
? Tradespeople (plumbers,
electricians, builders)
? Public transport
? Medical (doctors, dentists)
? hairdressing, beauticians, nail
therapists
? Courier/Delivery driver
5. Or, is the purpose to
explain OR inform?
? School report or newsletter
? Instructions
? Recipes
? Road signs
? Public health & safety warnings (e.g. flood, fire)
6. Is the purpose to raise public awareness of a
social or environmental issue?
