ENG2601
JANUARY/FEBRUARY SUPPLEMENTARY EXAM (PORTFOLIO)
DUE 21 January 2026
Title:
How Genre, Tone, Audience and Register Establish the Purpose of the Article on
Literacy in South Africa
The article “Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock” by Tamar
Kahn discusses a serious education problem in South Africa. It highlights that many
households with young children do not have books, and it links this situation to the poor
results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021.
The purpose of the text is to inform the public about the literacy crisis, explain the
reasons behind it, and motivate caregivers, educators, and government bodies to take
action. The writer achieves this by using a clear genre, a serious tone, a specific
audience, and a formal register. These elements work together to make the message
credible and persuasive, encouraging the reader to recognise that literacy is a national
priority.
The genre of the text is a news report. A news report aims to present facts, statistics,
and expert opinions to the public. This article is clearly based on research, as shown by
the statistics given at the beginning. For example, the article states that “there are no
books at all in 43% of SA households with young children” and that “just 16% of homes
contain more than five books” (Kahn, 2023). These figures are presented in a
straightforward way, without personal emotion, which is typical of news reporting. By
using this genre, the writer positions the article as trustworthy and factual. Readers
expect news articles to be accurate and evidence-based, and this expectation supports
the purpose of informing the public about the literacy crisis.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY SUPPLEMENTARY EXAM (PORTFOLIO)
DUE 21 January 2026
Title:
How Genre, Tone, Audience and Register Establish the Purpose of the Article on
Literacy in South Africa
The article “Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock” by Tamar
Kahn discusses a serious education problem in South Africa. It highlights that many
households with young children do not have books, and it links this situation to the poor
results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021.
The purpose of the text is to inform the public about the literacy crisis, explain the
reasons behind it, and motivate caregivers, educators, and government bodies to take
action. The writer achieves this by using a clear genre, a serious tone, a specific
audience, and a formal register. These elements work together to make the message
credible and persuasive, encouraging the reader to recognise that literacy is a national
priority.
The genre of the text is a news report. A news report aims to present facts, statistics,
and expert opinions to the public. This article is clearly based on research, as shown by
the statistics given at the beginning. For example, the article states that “there are no
books at all in 43% of SA households with young children” and that “just 16% of homes
contain more than five books” (Kahn, 2023). These figures are presented in a
straightforward way, without personal emotion, which is typical of news reporting. By
using this genre, the writer positions the article as trustworthy and factual. Readers
expect news articles to be accurate and evidence-based, and this expectation supports
the purpose of informing the public about the literacy crisis.
