MYP English Lang & Lit Topic Agency Revision Notes

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MYP English Lang & Lit Topic Agency Revision Notes | RevisionDojo

What Is Agency?

Definition

Agency

Agency is the capacity of an individual to act intentionally and make choices, exercising control over actions and their consequences.

Agency is about who has the power to act, choose, and influence outcomes through language and texts.
It matters both for:
1. Creators (writers, journalists, advertisers, filmmakers, influencers): the choices they make when constructing a text.
2. Audiences (readers, viewers, users): the choices people make when interpreting, believing, sharing, resisting, or responding.

Tip

Note

When you analyze agency, you are often asking two questions at once:
- Who is trying to influence whom?
- How successfully do they do it, and at what cost?

How Does Agency Imply Bias?

Every text is built from decisions.
These decisions are never neutral; every author has an agenda.

Purpose and audience influence

A creator's purpose (to inform, persuade, entertain, criticize, satirize) influences what they select, emphasize, and omit.
For example, an advertisement's purpose is typically to persuade you to buy, click, or believe.
Because of this, advertisements tend to present information in the most appealing way possible.

Example

In holiday advertising, creators carefully choose an attractive setting (the time and place in which the action happens) because it helps the audience imagine themselves there.
You are unlikely to be shown a rainy beach scene, because that would weaken the persuasive effect.

Language, tone, and structure

Creators can increase their influence by using an objective tone.
This is a style that sounds neutral and factual, even when the text is shaped by a clear viewpoint.

Definition

Objective Tone

A neutral, factual style that avoids obvious bias, strong emotional language, and personal involvement.

Example

Common Mistake

In Animal Farm, Orwell often uses plain, report-like narration while delivering sharp criticism.
This can make the message feel more credible because it does not look like an "argument," even though it is.

Why Do Author's Blur Fact, Opinion, and "Alternative Facts"

Definition

Fact

A statement that can be checked and verified using reliable evidence.

Definition

Opinion

A judgment, belief, or viewpoint that cannot be proven true in the same way as a fact, even if it may be reasonable or supported.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Note

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Tip

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MYP English Lang & Lit Agency Notes

What Is Agency?

How Does Agency Imply Bias?

Purpose and audience influence

Language, tone, and structure

Why Do Author's Blur Fact, Opinion, and "Alternative Facts"

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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What Is Agency?

How Does Agency Imply Bias?

Purpose and audience influence

Language, tone, and structure

Why Do Author's Blur Fact, Opinion, and "Alternative Facts"

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Characterization and Human Behaviour5 subtopics

Dramatic Writing and Performance Techniques 4 subtopics

Narrative Perspective and Voice4 subtopics

Poetic Form and Expressive Techniques4 subtopics

Short Story Structure and Theme4 subtopics

Critical Reading and Media Interpretation4 subtopics

Travel Writing and Descriptive Craft3 subtopics

Ethical Reasoning in Texts3 subtopics

Argumentation and Persuasive Writing4 subtopics

Relationships and Interpersonal Themes3 subtopics

Duality, Conflict and Symbolism2 subtopics

Responsibility, Agency and Theme Development4 subtopics

MYP English Lang & Lit Agency Notes

Characterization and Human Behaviour5 subtopics

Dramatic Writing and Performance Techniques 4 subtopics

Narrative Perspective and Voice4 subtopics

Poetic Form and Expressive Techniques4 subtopics

Short Story Structure and Theme4 subtopics

Critical Reading and Media Interpretation4 subtopics

Travel Writing and Descriptive Craft3 subtopics

Ethical Reasoning in Texts3 subtopics

Argumentation and Persuasive Writing4 subtopics

Relationships and Interpersonal Themes3 subtopics

Duality, Conflict and Symbolism2 subtopics

Responsibility, Agency and Theme Development4 subtopics

What Is Agency?

How Does Agency Imply Bias?

Purpose and audience influence

Language, tone, and structure

Why Do Author's Blur Fact, Opinion, and "Alternative Facts"

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

What Is Agency?

How Does Agency Imply Bias?

Purpose and audience influence

Language, tone, and structure

Why Do Author's Blur Fact, Opinion, and "Alternative Facts"

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account