Step 1·2·3·4

Analyze · Understand · Impact

A simple 4-step method to analyze any text and write high-scoring responses!

1

Technique

What does the writer do?

2

Purpose

Why does the writer do it?

3

Effect

What effect does it have on the reader?

4

Linking Phrase

How do we link them together?

The 4 Steps in Detail

1. Technique

Identify what the writer does.

  • The writer / states...
  • The writer / cites...
  • The writer / makes reference to...
  • The writer / labels ... as ...

2. Purpose

Explain why the writer does it.

  • In (by) doing so, the writer aims to / intends to / attempts to / seeks to ...

OR

This is aimed to / designed to / intended to evoke / trigger / elicit / engender / inspire a feeling of ... in the reader / audience.

OR

This aims to position / lead / sway / compel / encourage / invite / entice / force / prompt the reader to ...

3. Effect

Analyze the effect on the reader.

  • As a result / as a consequence / hence / thus,

the reader may / might / is inclined to / is encouraged to / is compelled to / is swayed to ...

4. Linking Phrases

Use linking phrases to connect purpose and effect.

常用句型 1

In order to....... / In an attempt to....... / In a bid to ..........2.........., the writer..........1..........

As a result / as a consequence, the reader is inclined to / encouraged / compelled / swayed to..........

常用句型 2

As a result / as a consequence / hence / thus, the reader may / might / is inclined to / is encouraged to / is compelled to / is swayed to..........

Put It All Together

In order to ... / In an attempt to ... / In a bid to ... [PURPOSE],

the writer [TECHNIQUE].

As a result / as a consequence,

the reader is inclined to ... [EFFECT].

Example

In order to evoke a sense of concern about environmental damage,

the writer cites scientific data and real-life examples.

As a result, the reader is compelled to take the issue seriously and reflect on their own responsibility.

High-Scoring Tips

1+1

1 + 1 (T1 + T2)

T1 intends to / is intended to elicit a feeling of ... / convey a message [PURPOSE]; the feeling of ... / the message is reinforced / strengthened / compounded / accentuated / cemented by T2 ...

Chain Effect

As a result / consequently / as a consequence / hence / thus, the reader ...

Power Verbs

Position / encourage / lead / sway / compel / invite / force sb. to do ...

Strong Verbs

Contend, assert, state, argue, claim, insist, maintain, berate, criticise ...

Visualization

Always add the reader's feeling or reaction! (e.g., convinced, worried, inspired, motivated, skeptical...)

Sentence Bank

Opening

Opening
(第一句话)

  • (The issue) has sparked a lot of controversy / concern.
  • ...has attracted much attention (from ...)
  • ...has been heatedly debated (amongst ...)
  • ...has ignited much heated debate (among ...)

Body Paragraph (Arguments)

主体段第一句
(arguments)

  • The writer commences by stating that ...
  • Upon commencement, ...
  • The writer proceeds to / moves on to argue that ...
  • The writer concludes by asserting ...
  • The writer emphasises the importance of ...
  • The writer berates the companies for ...

Contrast Paragraph

对比段第一句
(3rd body paragraph)

  • Despite their shared interest in / concern about ..., the two writers diverge on ...
  • On the other side of the argument, B challenges A's contention / proposal, stating ...
  • Conversely, B contends ...

Comparison Phrases

对比段
点对点对比

  • As a response to A's argument that ..., B ...
  • Unlike A (who insists ...), B ...
  • As opposed to A (who ...), B ...
  • While A ..., B ...
  • B retorts A's argument, stating ...
  • The two writers share ..., yet they differ on ...