Rizki Ardhana (202303510005)

Katarina Maura (202303010003)

Felicia Laura (202303010012)

Hazel Josephine (202303010001)

Reading Comprehension: The author analyzes and reflects on various columns, demonstrating a deep understanding of their nuances and impact.

Writing/Composition: The piece itself is a column, showcasing the skills needed for this format: personal narrative, reflection, and insightful observation.

Critical Thinking: The author evaluates the ethics and motivations behind confessional writing, considering both the writer's and the reader's perspectives.

Populist : penganut populisme (pendekatan politik yang dengan sengaja menyebut kepentingan “rakyat” yang sering kali dilawankan dengan kepentingan suatu kelompok yang disebut "elite")

Solution : solusi

Problem : masalah

Public : masyarakat umum

Fix : memperbaiki

Political : politik

Violence : kekerasan

Rigged : dimanipulasi

Reportedly : dilaporkan

Allege : menyatakan

Describing events – Give descriptions and facts about current events or happenings, particularly that which is the focus of the article

Expressing opinion – Express the author’s own take on how things should be done, how the current problem should be handled, etc.

Describing events

• “Glorification of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson this month, has been chilling. Sympathy for Mangione’s reported aims has come not only from anonymous online hordes, but also supposedly serious public figures, including at least two federal lawmakers.”

• “Take, for example, Donald Trump, whose incoming administration is preparing mass purges of the “deep state” and prosecutions of the president-elect’s political enemies. His picks to run the FBI and IRS, among others, have pledged to destroy the institutions they would lead. Trump’s transition team is reportedly investigating ways to demolish even basic government functions, such as bank-deposit insurance.”

Expressing opinion

• “I fear we’re turning a corner after which voters might come to expect, and celebrate, literal violence against people they believe are conspiring against them.”

• “It’s easier to break something than to build it. But to solve a problem, something eventually needs to be built. That part is boring, hard and, lately, not well-appreciated by the public.”

Modal Verbs – Since columnists include their opinions in their articles and there is an element of persuasion present, they often use modal verbs to express what they think people should do. For example, this is visible in ‘But they help people, and that’s the work voters should reward.’

Indirect/Reported & Direct Speech (Quotations) – Columnists not only write their opinions, but they must also inform readers of the facts regarding the event/topic that they are opinionated about. Indirect or reported speech is usually used to do this, such as in ‘High housing prices, they allege, are driven by a few evil “corporate” investors, not insufficient housing supply and zoning restrictions, complex problems that require complex solutions.’ However, this is not only done through reported speech, but also by quoting the comments of the parties involved. For example, the author uses direct speech in ‘Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) also came awfully close to condoning vigilantism: “This is not to say that an act of violence is justified, but I think for anyone who is confused or shocked or appalled…”’ 

Semi-formal Register – Owing to the fact that it is not a research article, formality is not a must. Columnists often opt for semi-formal or, sometimes, even informal registers to somewhat speak the people’s language in hopes of making them understand better and persuading them to agree with their opinions. For example, this is seen in the contractions used in these sentences: ‘Here’s the thing about indulging this annihilative reflex to infuriating social problems: Besides the obvious moral odiousness, it doesn’t fix the problems.’ It is also visible in the slang used (‘Hottie’). 

Rule of Three (literary device) – There are many ways to make a written work memorable and flow well; this is especially important for columnists and others in the journalism world because their articles must have an impact on the audience. One of the most common ways to do this is by employing the rule of three. This literary device is implemented multiple times in the article, such as ‘Robin Hood. Folk Hero. Hottie.’ and ‘Murdering health-care executives won’t help more Americans get care. Purging the FBI won’t reduce crime. Jailing political enemies won’t lower egg prices.’

Confessional: A style of writing that reveals personal experiences and emotions.(Pengakuan)

Neuroses: Mental or emotional disorders involving anxiety or obsessiveness.(Neurosis)

Redemption: The act of being saved from sin, error, or evil.(Penebusan)

Editor: A person who prepares written material for publication.(Editor)

Narrating: Sharing personal experiences and anecdotes about writing columns.

Reflecting: Contemplating the motivations and consequences of confessional writing.

Analyzing: Examining the work of other columnists and the appeal of their writing.

Persuading: Subtly arguing that the true power of a column lies in the details of everyday life, not just dramatic events.

Narrating:

• "Gift-wrapped": Describing a readily available topic for a column (showing how events can become material).

• "36p a word": Highlighting the low pay for confessional writing (revealing a reality of the profession).

• "Odd disparate community": Describing the connection formed between writer and readers (illustrating a consequence of sharing personal experiences).

Reflecting:

• "Spitty debates": Lively and passionate discussions (showing the impact this type of writing can have).

• "Sharp slap of family tragedy": A powerful metaphor for the sudden impact of a tragic event (conveying the emotional weight of personal experiences).

• "Skitter around": Avoiding direct discussion of sensitive topics (revealing the internal struggle with what to share).

• "Addictive... the sharing of self": Expressing the internal pull towards revealing personal details (showing an awareness of the potential dangers of confessional writing).

Analyzing:

• "Lean in": Engaging closely with a story (demonstrating how readers connect with personal narratives).

• "Confessional queen": A label for a writer known for revealing personal details (categorizing a style of writing).

• "Seeking a kind of redemption": Analyzing the motivation behind some confessional writing (offering a possible explanation for the writer's actions).

Persuading:

• "The stuff of a memorable column is not in the drama, it’s the detail": A concise statement of the author's main argument (emphasizing the importance of everyday observations).

Use of first-person perspective ("I"): Establishes a personal and intimate tone.

Varied sentence structure: Combines short, impactful sentences with longer, more complex ones to maintain reader interest.

Figurative language: Employs metaphors ("gift-wrapped," "sharp slap") and vivid imagery to create a strong impression.

Direct quotes: Incorporates quotes from other columnists to support the author's arguments.

Perspective: pandangan - umum digunakan untuk pandangan individu yang lebih luas atau subjektif

Viewpoint: sudut pandang - mirip dengan perspective, tetapi lebih sering digunakan dalam konteks debat atau opini editorial

Analysis: analisis

Interpratation: penafsiran - lebih spesifik pada makna yang diberikan pada data atau fakta

Conclusion: kesimpulan - untuk mengakhiri artikel dengan dampak atau pesan kuat

Example: contoh

Fact-checking: pemeriksaan fakta

Analyzing problems  – The writer explains the challenges faced by businesses and consumers due to the tax policy.

Expressing opinion – The columnist shares their viewpoint on the GST holiday’s ineffectiveness.

Making prediction – The writer anticipates future consequences for consumers and retailers.

Analyzing problems

• "The temporary nature of the policy ensures its benefits will be short-lived at best."

Expressing opinion

• "This GST holiday was supposed to bring cheer to Canadians, but instead it’s a policy wrapped in chaos."

Making prediction

• "Consumers will likely question receipts, demand refunds, and reach out to government hotlines for answers."

Present Tense for Commentary – The columnist uses present tense to comment on ongoing situations or current states, providing direct observations on the situation. For example, "Consumers are confused, retailers are frustrated, and the temporary nature of the policy ensures its benefits will be short-lived." This sentence describes the ongoing confusion and frustration among consumers and retailers, emphasizing the immediate effects of the tax holiday.

Complex Sentences for Detailed Analysis – Complex sentences are used to explain or elaborate on the causes, effects, or situations, often presenting contrasting or additional information. For example,  "While some major food retailers had anticipated the bill’s passage and were prepared, others were caught off guard or chose to distance themselves entirely from the initiative." This sentence provides a detailed analysis of how different retailers reacted to the GST holiday policy.

Modal Verbs for Suggestion and Criticism – Modal verbs like "could have," "should," and "would" are used to suggest alternative actions or criticize decisions, which is common in opinion pieces. For example, "Ottawa could have focused on meaningful, permanent reforms to stabilize retail prices and protect Canadians from market volatility." This is a suggestion of how the government could have handled the issue differently.

Passive Voice for Neutral Reporting – The passive voice is used to present information neutrally, focusing more on the action or event rather than the person performing the action. For example, "The confusion started early," "Participation in the tax holiday would be voluntary." These sentences focus on the situation or event (confusion, participation) rather than who is directly responsible for it.