ENG2602
Assignment 2 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: 1 July 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1: SOCIAL PERSUASION
The persuasive text titled ―One step forward two steps backward… LGBTQI Rights in
Africa‖ by Sonke Gender Justice presents a critical commentary on the contrasting
legal and societal treatment of LGBTQI+ rights across African countries. It highlights
the paradox of progress and regression through recent legal developments, such as
the Namibian Supreme Court’s recognition of foreign same-sex marriages,
juxtaposed with Uganda’s implementation of some of the continent’s most punitive
anti-LGBTQI laws. The target audience of the text includes socially conscious
readers, activists, policy makers, and the general public who are either concerned
with or influential in matters of human rights, law, and social justice. The persuasive
purpose of the article is to raise awareness about the systemic criminalisation of
same-sex relationships in Africa, reveal the colonial roots of such legislation, and
implicitly advocate for reform and the protection of LGBTQI+ rights on the continent.
The producer of the text, Sonke Gender Justice, is a well-established South African
NGO known for its advocacy on gender equality, human rights, and social justice.
Their credibility adds significant weight to the argument, creating an appeal to ethos
as the organisation has a history of reliable research, activism, and public
engagement. The reference to international data sources such as ILGA (International
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) further strengthens the
authority of the text. The use of ethos is further reflected through the detailed
reference to legal rulings and historical context, indicating a well-researched position
grounded in legal and sociopolitical realities.
The emotional appeal (pathos) is one of the most striking persuasive techniques in
the text. By detailing the Ugandan law which punishes ―aggravated homosexuality‖
with the death penalty and criminalises HIV transmission through gay sex, the text
elicits strong emotions such as fear, anger, and empathy. The emotive diction,
including terms such as ―harshest anti-LGBTIQ laws,‖ ―capital punishment,‖ and
―criminalises,‖ evokes a sense of urgency and moral outrage. This deliberate use of
emotive language aims to align the reader emotionally with the plight of LGBTQI+
individuals, making it difficult to remain indifferent to the injustices described. The
mention of ―promoting homosexuality‖ as a punishable act with a twenty-year
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 2 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: 1 July 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1: SOCIAL PERSUASION
The persuasive text titled ―One step forward two steps backward… LGBTQI Rights in
Africa‖ by Sonke Gender Justice presents a critical commentary on the contrasting
legal and societal treatment of LGBTQI+ rights across African countries. It highlights
the paradox of progress and regression through recent legal developments, such as
the Namibian Supreme Court’s recognition of foreign same-sex marriages,
juxtaposed with Uganda’s implementation of some of the continent’s most punitive
anti-LGBTQI laws. The target audience of the text includes socially conscious
readers, activists, policy makers, and the general public who are either concerned
with or influential in matters of human rights, law, and social justice. The persuasive
purpose of the article is to raise awareness about the systemic criminalisation of
same-sex relationships in Africa, reveal the colonial roots of such legislation, and
implicitly advocate for reform and the protection of LGBTQI+ rights on the continent.
The producer of the text, Sonke Gender Justice, is a well-established South African
NGO known for its advocacy on gender equality, human rights, and social justice.
Their credibility adds significant weight to the argument, creating an appeal to ethos
as the organisation has a history of reliable research, activism, and public
engagement. The reference to international data sources such as ILGA (International
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) further strengthens the
authority of the text. The use of ethos is further reflected through the detailed
reference to legal rulings and historical context, indicating a well-researched position
grounded in legal and sociopolitical realities.
The emotional appeal (pathos) is one of the most striking persuasive techniques in
the text. By detailing the Ugandan law which punishes ―aggravated homosexuality‖
with the death penalty and criminalises HIV transmission through gay sex, the text
elicits strong emotions such as fear, anger, and empathy. The emotive diction,
including terms such as ―harshest anti-LGBTIQ laws,‖ ―capital punishment,‖ and
―criminalises,‖ evokes a sense of urgency and moral outrage. This deliberate use of
emotive language aims to align the reader emotionally with the plight of LGBTQI+
individuals, making it difficult to remain indifferent to the injustices described. The
mention of ―promoting homosexuality‖ as a punishable act with a twenty-year
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
