Explorers or boys messing about?

• Intro - GAP and ATQ

  GAP

  • Genre: Newspaper article (non-fiction)
  • Audience: Newspaper readers, general public
  • Purpose: To report a real-life incident and subtly criticise the recklessness of the men involved

  ATQ

  • Morris uses language, structure and form to portray the two men as irresponsible and foolish, subtly mocking them while highlighting the serious consequences of their actions
• Main Body 1 - Beginning: SPEAR

  • S: The opening lines introduce the situation with a dramatic and slightly sarcastic tone
  • P: Morris immediately frames the incident as more absurd than admirable
  • E: “Helicopter duo plucked form life-raft” ”These men were… forced to call for emergency rescue”
  • A: 1) Dramatic passive voice - “plucked from life-raft” highlights their helplessness
  • A: 2) Mocking tone - ”duo” sounds flippant, not heroic
  • A: 3) Loaded verb - “forced” adds drama, implying recklessness led to consequences
  • R: The reader is drawn in by the drama but already starts to question the professionalism of the “explorers”
• Main Body 2 - Early Middle: SPEAR

  • S: The article introduces the explorers’ backgrounds and qualifications, but in a way that still invites doubt
  • P: Morris uses selective detail to undermine the men’s credibility
  • E: “Despite their experience, one of the men… has been ‘forced’ to call for help before“
  • A: 1) Juxtaposition - “despite their experience“ contrasts with their past their past failures
  • A: 2) Quotation marks - around “forced” and “explorer” suggest sarcasm or doubt
  • A: 3) Repetition of rescue - highlights a pattern of poor judgement
  • R: The reader begins to see the men not as heroic adventures, bit as liabilities who repeatedly require rescuing
• Main Body 3 - Late Middle: SPEAR

  • S: Morris quotes experts to support the criticism of the explorers
  • P: These quotes are used to reinforce the idea that the men were reckless and irresponsible
  • E: “Experts questioned the wisdom of the attempt” “Farce,” “publicity stunt”
  • A: 1) Authoritative sources - use of “experts“ adds weight and objectivity of the criticism
  • A: 2) Emotive language - ”farce” is harshly mocking
  • A: 3) Direct quotation - allow other to voice what the writer implies: this wasn’t brave, it was foolish
  • R: The reader is persuaded that the expedition was more about ego than exploration, and that public resources were wasted
• Main Body 4 - End: SPEAR

  • S: The article ends by pointing out the costs and effort of the rescue
  • P: Morris concludes with a serious reminder of the consequences of the men’s actions
  • E: “The rescue involved… the Royal Navy the RAF and British coastguards” “£100,000 of taxpayers’ money”
  • A: 1) listing - of rescue services exaggerated the scale of the operation
  • A: 2) Precise figures - “£100,000“ adds impact and incites frustration
  • A: 3) Structural placement - ending with cost leaves a lasting negative impression
  • R: The reader is likely to feel anger or disapproval, believing the men wasted time, money and resources
• Conclusion

  Morris uses a mix of sarcasm, factual reporting, and expert opinion to undermine the image of the men as brave explorers. Through structural decisions and language loaded with irony, he paints them as irresponsible individuals who risk lives and waste public money, encouraging the reader to view their adventure as foolish rather than heroic.