May 2017 Paper 1 Higher Level

In today’s world, companies have found that an increasing number of young people are accessible through online platforms.  Even though this trend has only been established recently, many groups and companies have capitalized on reading younger demographics using appealing websites.  Texts A and B are examples of companies reaching out to this young demographic.  Text A is a page taken from the website “arcadiatheapp.com” that introduces a new, app-based, interactive novel, complete with a fame spin-off.  It aims to encourage its viewers to download the app and contains many elements that appeal to its target demographic: teenagers.  Text B is a page taken from the website of the “Enid Blyton Society” that introduces a digitalized version of the “Famous Five” children’s book series and a number of cartoons and games adapted from the series.  Due to the texts’ platform, Texts A and B contain structural and literary similarities and differences; however, each text contains distinct features that allow it to succeed in reaching their audiences and the context of each provides an interesting lens for comparison. 

The structure of Texts A and B play a key role in reaching their demographics and fulfilling their aims.  One main difference in structure between the two texts is in their relative complexity.  Text A has a simple and clean structure in comparison to Text B’s complexity.  A key reason for this is that Text A has a simple aim to convince readers to download an app whereas Text B’s aims are multi-faceted.  The text’s many hyperlinks, large menu of options, and full detail suggest that the page’s goal is more than just sell a product.  It wants to engage readers with the stories through other means – games, cartoons, and so on.

Other key differences in structure exists as well.  Text A is structured in four sections.  The first section is the title of the app, written in a gold, uppercase typeface.  This allows readers to understand that the entire aim of the page is centered around the app.  This is enhanced by the color of the typeface, as a reader is drawn to the bright orange on the black background, thus reading the name of the app before the rest of the text.  The second section is a short summary of the story’s narrative.  The spacing of the section is optimized for fast reading.  The narrative is split into two-lined phrases allowing readers to quickly skim the text for meaning.  Each phrase uses emotive and descriptive language to engage with the reader and make the story sound exciting.  For example, the first phrase in lines 4 and 5 uses juxtaposition between “[searching] for a missing cat” and “[finding] herself in a different world.”  The placement of the phrases together allows for the excitement of “a different world” to be considered relative to the menial task of “searching for a missing cat.”  Readers will make the clear distinction that the former is more exciting, and the ambiguity of the diction in “a different world” provokes the curiosity of the reader.  Another example of this is in line 8, where the “sterile laboratory” is juxtaposed with a “rebellious scientist.”  In this example, the rebelliousness is once again heightened when it is places in such a calm environment.  The third section of the text clearly aims to sell the app to the reader.  The orange box states “Download the app” using an imperative to coerce readers into acting.  The use of the statement “for free” after the imperative is effective, convincing the reader that there is a low risk in downloading the app.  This attempts to encourage readers to download the app even if they are unsure, as the imperative is very commanding and the risks are mitigated. 

In addition to the structure, the visual elements of three iPhones placed in a row along the page develops a sense that the app is modern.  iPhones are seen as very technologically advanced, and by showing the app on the iPhone’s screen, the phone’s technological advancement is projected onto the app.  This is an effective element when the target audience is considered.  The app is aimed at teenagers, an age group that is most aware of the latest advances in technology.  The iPhone is very present in popular culture, so its image is also relatable to the audience.  The grouping of three iPhones, each with a short heading underneath creates a sense that the while the app is advanced, it is user friendly too.  The group of three makes the app’s complexity seem understandable, which is a way to attract anyone, no matter the level of expertise in gaming.  The final section, a “Q and A” with the app developer intends to provide a personal connection with the person who created the app.  This connection allows readers to understand that a lot of work has gone into the app and this encourages them to download it out of emotional compassion for the developer. 

Many of the same structural features are present in Text B, but they are reflected through different means.  Text B also uses a title in bold to show the site’s purpose; however, it uses different techniques.  Whereas text A uses a light typeface on a plain dark background to draw readers to the meaning of the title, Text B’s title is surrounded by several different images.  These images are encompassing the diverse purposes of the text.  The images are from different adaptations of the series, which is evident by the different illustration styles.  Such a feature allows the text to convey that there will be many different options for entertainment within the domain, therefore allowing readers to be interested even if they aren’t avid readers.  Text B also has a summary of the stories in the series, but it is structured in paragraph form with images throughout.  The images provide a context for the story.  Still, the paragraph does similarly contain language aiming to gain reader’s interest such as in line 22-24 when the reader build up excitement because of the listing of many different adventures from different stories, all in a row.  The listing has the effect of gradually adding to the excitement of the previous item in the list, resulting in a very bold description of the narrative.  This is key in relating to the purpose of intriguing young readers.  The series is a children’s book series, so fantastical elements will be an effective means of intriguing readers as they are likely to enjoy the story.  Text B also references the author, though it is much shorter and refers less to the inner workings of his writing and more to the reception of it.  This is likely to result of the text’s origin.  Text A is from the perspective of an app developer himself.  This means his aim to make a living off of the app is at the core of the purpose of the text.  On the other hand, Text B is written by a society devoted to remembering the author rather than earning the author a profit.  This provides an explanation for the text’s unique structural elements and many hyperlinks on the left side, encouraging readers to engage in a multitude of ways.  Such a variety implies the aim was also to find readers who are genuinely interested in the series as there is something for every interested reader.

In conclusion, both texts are webpages, which accounts for the impersonal tone and informal register of the language.  Readers are not reading the text’s pages to learn; they are looking for entertainment.  As such, the sites are effective.  They are also visually appealing, while aiming for different looks.  Text A is aimed at older teenagers so its dark colors promote an almost mysteriousness.  Older individuals appreciate this more than the colorful, childish images and typeface used in Text B.  While these similarities are seen in both texts, the purposes are what ultimately result in the texts showing different features.  Text A is epitomized towards convincing a reader to buy and app, so it is simple.  This allows for little distraction from the app.  Text B aims to provide an entertainment platform to young kids who enjoy stories.  While it does contain some elements that persuade readers to purchase the books, the vast majority of the text is devoted to giving readers a multi-platform means of entertainment.