Paper 1 Commentary- Text 2

This text is an article which was published by the non-profit organization, Oxfam International, which aims to convince readers about the efforts being undertaken by Oxfam to contain the food crisis that is being faced by people in the Sahel region of west and central Africa. The text uses a lot of literary devices and statistics effectively to bring their massage forward, possibly in an attempt to attract sponsors or increase the organization's general popularity.  

The fact that the article is published on a website makes the target audience vague but could in fact be people interested in sponsoring an organization like Oxfam or people who are actively following the food crisis in Africa. This is made clear by the reason that no person who is not interested in the issues happening in Africa would research about such a website and only a person who is actively looking for an organization to sponsor would bother reading the article. The purpose is very evident through analysis of the sentences and literary devices used and it is to inform as well as convince the audience about the food crisis in the African regions of Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and other regions in Sahel and what Oxfam International is doing to prevent further damage of agriculture and people. 

 The content portrays themes of service towards the community, commitment, and generosity. At the same time it puts forward imagery of people suffering in these regions which draws in empathy from the readers. The article discusses how this food crisis has been a stagnant problem in the region for a long time since 2005 and that the very “underlying” cause of the crisis has not been cured or taken care of. Oxfam points out how the organization is going to meet its aims by stating how it is going to become closer with the poorest of people, near the areas of Gorgol and Brakhna, in Mauritania, providing them with equipment and therefore finding a permanent cure for the crisis which has had a long lasting effect on the population there. Despite of this, the main focus in the article is on statistics regarding the situation in the region of Sahel and after much of the information was sufficiently conveyed, the organization plugs-in the massive efforts that Oxfam is putting into action in order to have a greater impact on the audience which helps to convince them of the legitimacy of the organization, hence making it popular among readers or potential sponsors.

The tone is informative and objective. The article also has formal vocabulary and diction in order to raise the seriousness of the issue, attracting more investment in the organization. The tone shows enthusiasm by using phrases such as “gearing up” or “getting ready” which raises morale and hopes of humanitarian aid being actually provided by the organization and further enhances their legitimacy and undying commitment to the noble effort they are putting forward. The mood is also hopeful but the atmosphere is still, in context, very gloomy and saddening although it indicates Oxfam’s efforts to keep the crisis at bay.

The use of literary devices is prominent in this particular article and they enhance the readers understanding and overall impact of the text on them. Firstly, this article relies a lot on the pathos of the people of Africa as that impacts the reader’s interest and participation in a topic like this.

The article takes a very objective standpoint by stating the issue and then outlining the solutions and efforts being made by Oxfam. It hooks the reader by plugging in statistics which draws in and surprises a viewer who is obviously in a better situation than the people in those regions are, and hence making the readers empathize the situation in Africa. The article starts of by stating a quote which says “The humanitarian response must tackle the underlying causes of crises like to prevent from recurring.” This triggers a question of what the underlying causes could be and makes the reader want to read more about the issue. The article is well structured giving an introduction, and then outlining the issues faced in the region of Sahel, and then stating what Oxfam is doing to prevent it and stop it from recurring. The effects created by this article, personally, is very long lasting with its facts and statistics along with the humanitarian efforts being taken by countries to prevent this issue from occurring. The register is very serious which makes the whole issue rise in importance and concern.