reading 1.1 convicted killer

Assalamualaikum and very good evening to Mdm. Imasuzianna, lecturer of Critical Literacy subject. I’m Iylia Diyana Mohd Kamal from Decom 4B. Here I would like to comment and response on the task based on the unit 1 that is “An introduction-who produced this text, for whom and why?” The introduction to stage 1 introduce me to a whole new way of approaching a text critically. When I first heard about Critical Literacy from my seniors, I think that it would be a very tough and challenging subject in semester 4 that I have to face by hook or by crook. It is true. When I was given a task titled “convicted killer back at work”, I thought that it is quite simple as the article is easy to understand. But when I look at the ten elements that I must go through to complete the task, I’m scared because I don’t fully understand about the ten elements. I’m afraid that if I cannot complete the task then I’m not good enough compared to all my friends and I would be a laughing stock in class. To raise my spirit, I keep saying to myself that if everyone can do it, so do I. With what little courage left, I managed to complete the task.

Critical Literacy is a new subject to me and it requires us to think from many angles. The content and the way of approaching a text is difficult as it wants us to think critically based on a text or article given. In unit 1, the main thing that I have learned are about ten elements consist of topic, content, source, audience, the rhetorical function, purpose, perspective, positioning, impact and the last one is visual literacy. I found it difficult to elaborate on the rhetorical function, purpose, perspective and positioning. As for the rhetorical function and purpose, I was a bit confused because the information needed for both of it are a bit similar and I have doubt on what to write on its content. Due to that, I just write the same content but using different approach and sentence structure. For the perspective and positioning, I have difficulties in understanding and what it is needed from both words. I need to refer to the book and ask my friends every time when I’m doing the task given. Reading 1.2, chapter 1 “stories and facts”, Martin J R (1987) explores the relationship between the function and form of different types of writing. The chapter focuses on forms of factual writing like recount, procedure writing, descriptions, report writing, genre, explanations, nature or nurture and exposition. Meanwhile, in reading 1.3, chapter 2, I learned about rules and regulations. In this chapter, Fowler and Kress show how they can control and manipulate readers in their beliefs and actions. There are some ideas and terms in this chapter such as to manage our own behavior, rules, declarative, imperative, circumlocution and passive declarative.

In reading 1.1, we have discussed on a nurse, who had an innocent face that is convicted for murdering her Australian colleague, Gilford. I don’t know where the people got the idea that Deborah Parry, 40, who was employed at Holy Cross Hospital at Haslemere, Surrey, 16 years ago, was convicted of an awful murder. For me, if Parry wants to kill Gilford, she didn’t have to wait for 16 years. She can kill Gilford after she was employed there anytime. But she didn’t do that. But after 16 years working there, then she killed her colleague? What nonsense. I believed that after 16 years of friendship, the bond between them should be stronger and she would be unwilling to kill her colleague. Besides, there was no solid evidence found that show she is guilty. She said that she plead guilty after being tortured and was force to sign a confession. According to her, she was not on the wrong side of the law. I feel pity for her. It is a sickly thing when you are being accused of doing something that you didn’t do especially convicted of an awful murder. It is embarrassing and it tarnished her good name. May God help her.

I think I have to stop here since I have given my point of view through my critical thinking. Hope it can satisfy my lecturer, Mdm. Imasuzianna and have a debate over tea sometime. A thousand thanks to you for teaching and discussion on the ten elements that was so exciting in Critical Literacy. Thank you again Mdm. Hope u enjoy reading my comments and responses. Bye..=D