Notes on Analyzing Nonfiction Techniques and Literary Texts

Scanning Feature Articles

• Scanning for Key Elements: When reading feature articles, focus on identifying the distinct points where the argument is constructed. These might include personal anecdotes, studies, facts, statistics, historical allusions, or candid reflections.
• Argument Construction: Analyze how the argument is built by identifying its crucial stages and the nonfiction techniques used.
• Nonfiction Techniques: Nonfiction texts employ specific techniques, distinct from figurative or emotive language, aimed at making an argument.
• Appeals vs. Techniques: Note that appeals (e.g., logos) are different from techniques. Using facts appeals to logos, but the technique is the incorporation of those facts. Therefore, provide specific quotes, statistics, or references to credible opinions.

"The Peas" Analysis

• Initial Observation: The opening includes short sentences, creating a sense of abruptness: "There was nothing for it. There was only so much room in the freezer."
• Inner Monologue: The passage contains inner monologues, not dialogues. For instance, "It's just a bag of peas, she told herself. I can order more online. So why was she crying?"
• Symbolism: The character's surroundings symbolize her disoriented state. Open jars and remnants of food indicate negligence and consumption.
• Negation and Disjunction: Phrases like "no one to see, no one to judge" indicate negation and disjunction.
• Temporal Marker: The fact that she is still in pajamas at 3 PM serves as a temporal marker.
• Anaphora/Parallelism: The repetition of "not in the world, not in her life, not in her heart" exemplifies anaphora or parallelism, and also a tricolon.
• Backstory: The canceled book launch explains the character's current state.
• Visual Imagery: Her unkempt appearance (e.g., overgrown hair) provides visual imagery that links external untidiness to inner disorder.
• Listing: The listing of actions she took to prepare for fame highlights her efforts, such as losing weight, managing social media, and taking an online meditation course.
• Metaphor: The peas serve as a metaphor, as indicated by the title.
• Juxtaposition: The contrast between her inner and outer voices is presented through juxtaposition. "Millions of them, the world over, came to read the debut novel… Or there won't, said the other voice."

Exploring Disappointment and Acceptance

• Disappointment: The disappointment is apparent in the text.
• Acceptance: Acceptance is more subtle, requiring reading between the lines.
• Example of Acceptance: The character reassures herself that there will be other readers in the future.
• Topic Sentence Structure: A suitable topic sentence structure is: "Text four explores the disappointment of a writer whose publishing opportunity was derailed by a pandemic, juxtaposed to her acceptance that an opportunity may arise in the future."
• Novel in the Freezer: She metaphorically puts her novel "on ice" in the freezer, indicating hopeful acceptance that she may publish it one day.
• Symbols of Disappointment: The wine, cheese, crackers, and Vegemite jar symbolize her disappointment.
• Domestic Images: These are domestic images associated with the kitchen, illustrating her disorderliness and disconnection because of her disappointment. This shows the disorderliness of her inner life.
• Lack of Self-Care: Enhanced through the image of her not showering and being in pajamas at 3 PM.