2026
ENG2601
SUPPLEMENTARY EXAM (PORTFOLIO)
DUE: 21 JANUARY 2026
Title:
How Genre, Tone, Audience and Register Establish the Purpose of the Text on Literacy in
South Africa
The article “Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock” by Tamar Kahn is
a journalistic report that highlights the poor reading culture in South African homes. It
draws attention to the fact 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 article’s purpose is to inform the public about the seriousness of the literacy crisis, to
explain the causes, and to motivate action from parents, educators, and government
bodies. This purpose is achieved through the use of a specific genre, a serious tone, a
targeted audience, and a formal register. These features work together to build credibility
and urgency, making the reader understand that literacy is a national concern that
requires immediate intervention.
A+ WORK
The genre of the text is a newspaper article with an informative and analytical approach.
STUDENT GYDE
It is based on research findings and includes expert comments, which are typical
GUIDING
characteristics of journalistic STUDENTS
reporting. The article is not a ON THEIR
personal ACADEMIC
opinion piece or a
JOURNEY
fictional story; instead, it is grounded in evidence. For example, the article states, “There
are no books at all in 43% of SA households with young children” and that only “16% of
homes contain more than five books” (Kahn, 2023). These statistics are presented in a
, Title:
How Genre, Tone, Audience and Register Establish the Purpose of the Text on Literacy in
South Africa
The article “Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock” by Tamar Kahn is a
journalistic report that highlights the poor reading culture in South African homes. It draws
attention to the fact 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 article’s purpose is to inform the public about the seriousness of the literacy crisis, to
explain the causes, and to motivate action from parents, educators, and government bodies.
This purpose is achieved through the use of a specific genre, a serious tone, a targeted
audience, and a formal register. These features work together to build credibility and
urgency, making the reader understand that literacy is a national concern that requires
immediate intervention.
The genre of the text is a newspaper article with an informative and analytical approach. It
is based on research findings and includes expert comments, which are typical
characteristics of journalistic reporting. The article is not a personal opinion piece or a
fictional story; instead, it is grounded in evidence. For example, the article states, “There are
no books at all in 43% of SA households with young children” and that only “16% of homes
contain more than five books” (Kahn, 2023). These statistics are presented in a factual way,
which shows that the text aims to inform rather than entertain.
The genre is important because it establishes the writer’s credibility. A newspaper article is
expected to be accurate, objective, and well-researched. The inclusion of data and expert
quotations makes the message trustworthy. Moreover, the article refers to a national study
and the Pirls results, which are well-known educational measures. By doing this, the writer
positions the text as a serious and reliable source of information about literacy in South
Africa. This supports the purpose of raising awareness and encouraging action.
ENG2601
SUPPLEMENTARY EXAM (PORTFOLIO)
DUE: 21 JANUARY 2026
Title:
How Genre, Tone, Audience and Register Establish the Purpose of the Text on Literacy in
South Africa
The article “Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock” by Tamar Kahn is
a journalistic report that highlights the poor reading culture in South African homes. It
draws attention to the fact 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 article’s purpose is to inform the public about the seriousness of the literacy crisis, to
explain the causes, and to motivate action from parents, educators, and government
bodies. This purpose is achieved through the use of a specific genre, a serious tone, a
targeted audience, and a formal register. These features work together to build credibility
and urgency, making the reader understand that literacy is a national concern that
requires immediate intervention.
A+ WORK
The genre of the text is a newspaper article with an informative and analytical approach.
STUDENT GYDE
It is based on research findings and includes expert comments, which are typical
GUIDING
characteristics of journalistic STUDENTS
reporting. The article is not a ON THEIR
personal ACADEMIC
opinion piece or a
JOURNEY
fictional story; instead, it is grounded in evidence. For example, the article states, “There
are no books at all in 43% of SA households with young children” and that only “16% of
homes contain more than five books” (Kahn, 2023). These statistics are presented in a
, Title:
How Genre, Tone, Audience and Register Establish the Purpose of the Text on Literacy in
South Africa
The article “Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock” by Tamar Kahn is a
journalistic report that highlights the poor reading culture in South African homes. It draws
attention to the fact 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 article’s purpose is to inform the public about the seriousness of the literacy crisis, to
explain the causes, and to motivate action from parents, educators, and government bodies.
This purpose is achieved through the use of a specific genre, a serious tone, a targeted
audience, and a formal register. These features work together to build credibility and
urgency, making the reader understand that literacy is a national concern that requires
immediate intervention.
The genre of the text is a newspaper article with an informative and analytical approach. It
is based on research findings and includes expert comments, which are typical
characteristics of journalistic reporting. The article is not a personal opinion piece or a
fictional story; instead, it is grounded in evidence. For example, the article states, “There are
no books at all in 43% of SA households with young children” and that only “16% of homes
contain more than five books” (Kahn, 2023). These statistics are presented in a factual way,
which shows that the text aims to inform rather than entertain.
The genre is important because it establishes the writer’s credibility. A newspaper article is
expected to be accurate, objective, and well-researched. The inclusion of data and expert
quotations makes the message trustworthy. Moreover, the article refers to a national study
and the Pirls results, which are well-known educational measures. By doing this, the writer
positions the text as a serious and reliable source of information about literacy in South
Africa. This supports the purpose of raising awareness and encouraging action.
