'Language And Literature Syllabus Access To Books Not Guns'

This task relates to Part 2 of the Language and Literature syllabus, “Language and Mass Communication”. Specifically, the task requires students to creatively assess or discuss language in a form of mass communication. I chose to address the learning outcome which refers to the way mass media uses language to inform, persuade or entertain.

My speech is titled “Access to Books Not Guns”. It’s a response to Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA)’s speech, delivered two weeks after Newtown school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in 2012. My speech argues with LaPierre’s in that I discuss the need to more gun control laws in the United States of America. I chose this topic because it’s come to my attention that every few weeks we hear in the news about another terrorist attack, school shooting or murder. More often than not, the school shootings we hear about are in the United States. In the speech I’m a representative of a pro-gun control organisation in America, for example the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), and I am rallying against the NRA, for legislation of gun control laws.

A speech is the best text type for this topic because it allows to to connect with an audience when presenting my ideas to a public directly. I can engage with an audience, appealing to their emotions and logic to persuade them into action towards gun control laws. The main features of a speech are the use of first and second person narrative, repetition, and rhetorical