Unit 2 – Perspectives: What stance does the writer take in the text?

Basically, this unit is focussing on developing the skills in the ten areas that had been introduced in Unit 1 which are topic, content, source, audience, purpose, perspective, positioning, impact and visual literacy. In addition, in unit 2, it elaborates more on how to emphasis the role of perspective in determining a critical understanding of text. Some of the key questions are what stance is taken in the text, what does the stance tell us about the writer or producer’s beliefs and what implications does this have for the understanding of the text.

We had been given three readings in this unit that we need to understand. Firstly is ‘Battling the bullies’. Secondly, ‘Language, perspective, ideology’ and lastly ‘Text and Textualities’. This week, the presentation for Unit 2 is presented by Dalila, Zalikha and Fatihah. On the whole, the presentation cannot be understood fully by the students because of some explanation explained by them did not answered the question given. Furthermore, they just read 100% from the paper and it shows that they also did not understand the unit too. But some of the explanation that came out with good example had made the students understands certain part of their presentation. They also admit that they did not understand this unit fully and I do agree with them because for reading 2 and 3, I found it hard for me in understanding the reading until I need to read it many times. Besides, some of the ideas and terms used is hardly understandable for instance the words paradigmatic, syntagmatic and others.