In a language analysis, your first paragraph and introduction should address the context of the piece of writing in terms of: contention, form, purpose, writer and audience. Specific analysis of persuasive techniques should be the basis of your arguments in the body of your essay, (although techniques can be part of and influence some of these five elements to describe in your introduction).
Even youth psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg doesn’t seem to really understand kids or parents these days. His article “Scrap metal faces can be dangerous”, published in The Herald and Weekly Times, contends that new government legislation should be approved to ban teenagers from body piercing unless they have parental permission. Although the expert recognises the “risk-taking” behaviours of adolescents, and presents a long list of frightening “evidence” to dissuade even the most “responsible” teenager, the psychologist is ultimately mistaken to equate government regulation with parenting. This bland and boring article makes a case for general concern, but not for intervention through legislation. Indeed, the article seems to raise awareness of the issue for an audience of parents and kids, but does not successfully present arguments to government for action.
Can you see how this introduction is … well, an introduction, and not an analysis? It sums up what the rest of the essay will discuss, in that it sums up the context of the article written. It talks mostly about the purpose, method or thinking of the writer in general terms, thus signposting what the body of the essay will have to prove with evidence. The signposts are (in part) indicated with the “quotes” – in later body paragraphs the structure of TEEL or TEEEEEEL will prove these points through analytical argument.
In introducing the issue of facial piercings to readers, the writer is not subtle in their position. In an extreme close-up shot, the heavily black-outlined eyes of