Text 1 is an extract from “Martha Stewarts’s Homekeeping Handbook”, which was published in 2006. The main aim of the text is to inform the reader about the importance of cleaning products and remind them about the history of cleaning, and how it has changed. The author builds her argument through the use of contextual factors, stylistic features, and polyvocality.
The text is targeted towards females who are interested in housekeeping. This is indicated when the author, Martha Stewart uses “homemaker” and the pronoun ‘she’ in conjunction, which can be associated to a stereotype in society of women having to clean houses. Albeit, Martha Stewart is also well known for having the support of young, crafty, American housewives. With this contextual …show more content…
Firstly, the use of visual imagery in expressions such as “the disinfecting power of vinegar”, “grease cutting abilities of baking soda” and “bleaching properties of lemon juice”, all serve as conceptions of a clean house. The purpose is to create a vivid experience for the reader, so they can better imagine the advantages. Moreover, the first sentence of the extract: “As you walk down the aisles of your grocery store…” transports the reader into the setting, which is a way of capturing the attention. Secondly, ethos is present in the form of personification. Stewart describes that a tablecloth stained with blueberries will require “very different treatment”, as if it was hurt. By giving human qualities to essentials, the gentleness of housekeeping is shown, which the audience will sympathize with. Thirdly, the author uses parallel structures that make the extract easy and smooth to read. “Cupboards can quickly become cluttered, and confusion about which products to use can abound.” The aim of presenting these negative images is – the reader will keep on reading to find out the possible solutions. In a way, the author forces the audience to continue reading the rest of the
The text is targeted towards females who are interested in housekeeping. This is indicated when the author, Martha Stewart uses “homemaker” and the pronoun ‘she’ in conjunction, which can be associated to a stereotype in society of women having to clean houses. Albeit, Martha Stewart is also well known for having the support of young, crafty, American housewives. With this contextual …show more content…
Firstly, the use of visual imagery in expressions such as “the disinfecting power of vinegar”, “grease cutting abilities of baking soda” and “bleaching properties of lemon juice”, all serve as conceptions of a clean house. The purpose is to create a vivid experience for the reader, so they can better imagine the advantages. Moreover, the first sentence of the extract: “As you walk down the aisles of your grocery store…” transports the reader into the setting, which is a way of capturing the attention. Secondly, ethos is present in the form of personification. Stewart describes that a tablecloth stained with blueberries will require “very different treatment”, as if it was hurt. By giving human qualities to essentials, the gentleness of housekeeping is shown, which the audience will sympathize with. Thirdly, the author uses parallel structures that make the extract easy and smooth to read. “Cupboards can quickly become cluttered, and confusion about which products to use can abound.” The aim of presenting these negative images is – the reader will keep on reading to find out the possible solutions. In a way, the author forces the audience to continue reading the rest of the