USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR YEAR 12 ENGLISH

Verbs (use these words in Text Responses in order to demonstrate an awareness of the texts as a
construct, or more commonly in Language Analysis so that youre focusing on authors intent)

Accentuate
Allay
Alleviate
Ameliorate
Assuage
Awaken
Deride
Elicit
Encourage
Engender

Generate
Harangue
Negate
Obviate
Placate
Prevaricate
Provoke
Renege
Rescind
Spark

Adjectives (grouped together for synonimity or at least similarity)

Disregarding/ unfeeling/ phlegmatic/ heartless/ callous/ brutal
Selfish/ egotistic/ mercenary/ dissembling/ duplicitous/ unscrupulous/ corrupt/ despicable
Ill-informed/ ignorant/ nave/ irrational/ hypocritical/ foolish/ heavy-handed/ excessive
Impartial/ balanced/ reasonable/ broad-minded/ tolerant/ accepting/ compassionate
Discerning/ perceptive/ insightful/ well-informed/ educated/ intelligent/ expert
Tone (this sheet is not mine, it was given to our class last year, I dont know the original
source, apologies for quality. A very good visual reference, especially for L.A. with mild
words in the centre through to extremes on the outside)

Example sentences:
1. The governments attempts to ameliorate the situation were met with derision and
contempt, as evidenced by the authors frustrated tone.
2. The author placates his readership by assuring them of his impartiality.
3. The confronting tone of the article dichotomises its readership, separating those who
abide by the horror and those capable of demonstrating the courage to dissent.
4. The author seeks to depict the government as unscrupulous and self-serving, eliciting
further disgust and outrage on the readers behalf.
5. The contentious and seditious nature of the issue is exacerbated by the authors
hyperbole and unsubstantiated personal attacks.
Once you are comfortable with the vocabulary, these sentences will flow as you write. Youll
start to notice how these words force you to analyse and prevent summarising. Be careful of
over usage though; assessors are more impressed with your ability to use the language at your
disposal than a convoluted paragraph full of syntax errors and filler sentences that try to
cram in or flaunt the ten dollar words.