Elizabeth Broderick, sex discrimination commissioner, argues that sexual harassment is happening in many workplaces around the country and this should be stopped. She writes with an authoritative tone, in an article entitled “Sexual harassment in workplaces must stop” in The Australian on the 30th October 2012.
Broderck uses the statistics when she writes “…in the last five years, in excess of one in five people aged over 15 have experienced sexual harassment”. Broderick uses this device to further persuade the reader workplaces are rife with such inappropriate behaviour. The reader is therefore more likely to consider her argument a sound one.
Elizabeth Broderick makes extensive use of inclusive language. Broderick uses the words ‘we’ and ‘us’ throughout the article. “We need to send a clear message that sexual harassment ruins lives, divides teams and dmages the effectiveness of organisations.” By using the word ‘we’ she makes the read feel as if they have to take part in this act of preventing sexual harassment. It has the effect of making the reader feel included.
(Further body paragraphs here…..)
(And now the conclusion….)
Broderick uses a range of techniques to support her contention that sexual harassment must be prevented in the workplace. Perhaps the two most convincing was the use of statistics and appeal to the hip pocket. The reader is successfully positioned to agree with her, with the inappropriateness of this behaviour being made so explicit.