IBDP English A – Advisory Texts

What is an Advisory Text?

An advisory text is a written form of communication that offers guidance, recommendations, or advice on a particular topic. These texts are designed to inform or influence the reader’s actions, decisions, or understanding. Advisory texts can be found in various forms, including:

• Columns: Regularly published pieces in newspapers or magazines where experts give advice on specific issues.
• Articles: Informative pieces that provide detailed guidance on particular subjects.
• Letters: Personal or professional communications offering advice.
• Posters: Visual texts that offer advice, often in public spaces.
• Infographics: Visual representations of advice, combining text and images for easy understanding.

Text Sample

Advisory Text on Escaping a Flooded Area

Floods are one of the most common and devastating natural disasters, capable of causing significant damage to property and endangering lives. If you find yourself in a flooded area, act quickly and efficiently to ensure your safety. The following guidelines offer comprehensive steps for escaping a flooded area safely.

Stay informed by monitoring weather updates and alerts through local news, radio, or a weather app. Familiarize yourself with the local flood evacuation routes and the location of higher ground. Prepare an emergency kit that includes essentials such as water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, medications, and important documents. Ensure you have a fully charged mobile phone and a backup power source. Create a family emergency plan by establishing a meeting point and communication plan with your family. Practice evacuation drills regularly.

If a flood warning is issued, evacuate immediately. Do not wait for instructions. Leave at once if you are in a low-lying or flood-prone area. Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, and other bodies of water. Avoid floodwaters; do not walk, swim, or drive through them. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of water can sweep your vehicle away. Be aware of potential hazards beneath the water’s surface, such as debris, downed power lines, and open manholes. Follow evacuation routes and avoid shortcuts that may be blocked or dangerous. Pay attention to road closure signs and barricades.

If you are trapped in a vehicle, abandon the vehicle if it stalls in floodwaters. Move to higher ground if you can do so safely. Do not stay in a vehicle if water is rising around it. Seek higher ground, and if leaving the vehicle is not possible, climb to the roof and signal for help.

If you are trapped indoors, move to higher floors. If floodwaters enter your home, move to the highest floor, attic, or roof. Avoid basements and lower floors where water will accumulate. Signal for help using a flashlight or brightly colored cloth. Call emergency services and inform them of your location.

Stay informed after the flood by continuing to monitor news and weather updates for information on when it is safe to return home. Avoid contaminated water, which may contain sewage, chemicals, and debris. Wear protective clothing and gloves when cleaning up. Inspect for damage before entering your home. Check for structural damage, gas leaks, and electrical hazards. Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when inspecting your property. Avoid using candles or open flames. Document and report the damage by taking photos for insurance purposes. Report any significant damage to local authorities and your insurance provider. Follow health precautions by discarding food and water that may have been contaminated by floodwaters. Adhere to public health guidelines to avoid waterborne diseases.

Remember: Preparation and prompt action are key to surviving and recovering from a flood. Stay informed, act quickly, and prioritize safety at all times.

Guiding Question: How far is the text able to warn and educate the reader about the risks involved?

Sample Response

The advisory text on escaping a flooded area effectively uses several key features to warn and educate the reader about the risks involved. Through its authoritative tone, imperative tense, strong modality, established credibility, formal register, and clear structure, the text is able to convey urgent and actionable information. By examining these features in detail, we can understand how the text fulfills its purpose of informing and guiding the reader in a potentially life-threatening situation.

The tone of the text is authoritative and trustworthy, which is crucial for an advisory text intended to guide people in emergencies. This is evident from the outset, with phrases like “Floods are one of the most common and devastating natural disasters” setting a serious and informative tone. The language is assertive and devoid of ambiguity, which helps to establish a sense of urgency and importance. By using declarative sentences such as “Floods are capable of causing significant damage to property and endangering lives,” the text underscores the gravity of the situation. This authoritative tone is consistent throughout, reinforcing the credibility of the information provided.

The text predominantly employs the imperative tense, placing the verb at or near the start of the sentence to convey commands and instructions. This use of the command tense is crucial in emergency guidance, as it leaves no room for doubt or hesitation. Examples include “Stay informed,” “Prepare an emergency kit,” “Move to higher ground,” and “Avoid floodwaters.” These imperatives are direct and unequivocal, ensuring that the reader understands the actions they must take. By using the imperative tense consistently, the text effectively communicates the necessity and urgency of each step.

The text utilizes strong modal verbs such as “must,” “will,” “should,” and “ought” to convey the importance and non-negotiability of the recommended actions. These modal verbs are strategically placed to emphasize the critical nature of the advice. For instance, “You must stay informed” and “You should evacuate immediately” convey a sense of obligation and urgency. The use of “must” and “should” indicates that these actions are not optional but essential for safety. This strong modality helps to impress upon the reader the seriousness of the situation and the need for prompt and decisive action.

To establish credibility, the text references common knowledge and widely accepted safety protocols. It aligns with expert advice on flood safety, mentioning the dangers of moving water and the need to avoid floodwaters. The text’s credibility is further enhanced by its detailed and practical guidance, such as “Monitor weather updates and alerts through local news, radio, or a weather app” and “Create a family emergency plan.” These recommendations are based on standard emergency preparedness guidelines, lending further authority to the text. The inclusion of logical, evidence-based instructions ensures that the reader can trust the information provided.

The register of the text is formal and persuasive, appropriate for official advice in a potentially life-threatening situation. The formal language is evident in phrases such as “Familiarize yourself with the local flood evacuation routes” and “Inspect for damage before entering your home.” This formality is necessary to convey the seriousness of the advice and to maintain the reader’s trust. Additionally, the text includes warnings, such as “Avoid basements and lower floors where water will accumulate,” to highlight the risks and reinforce the gravity of the situation. The use of formal register ensures that the advice is taken seriously and followed diligently.

The structure of the text is linear and easy to follow, which is essential for emergency guidance. It is divided into clear sections: “Before the Flood,” “During the Flood,” “If Trapped in a Vehicle,” “If Trapped Indoors,” “After the Flood,” and “Additional Tips.” Each section follows a step-by-step guide, detailing specific actions to take in a logical sequence. This cause-and-effect structure helps readers understand the progression of actions needed to ensure their safety. By breaking down the information into manageable parts, the text makes it easier for readers to absorb and act upon the guidance provided.

The text effectively educates the reader about the necessary preparations and actions to take before, during, and after a flood. It warns about the risks involved, such as the danger of moving water, the potential for structural damage, and the health hazards of contaminated water. By providing specific instructions and highlighting the importance of each step, the text ensures that readers are well-informed and prepared to act in a flood emergency. For example, the detailed guidance on preparing an emergency kit and creating a family emergency plan educates readers on proactive measures they can take to enhance their safety.

Furthermore, the text includes visual elements, such as headings and images, which aid in comprehension and retention. The images of flooded areas and emergency preparations reinforce the seriousness of the situation and the actions required. This multimodal approach enhances the text’s ability to educate and warn the reader effectively.

In conclusion, the advisory text on escaping a flooded area successfully warns and educates the reader about the risks involved by employing an authoritative tone, imperative tense, strong modality, credible information, formal and persuasive register, and a clear, structured format. These features combine to create a comprehensive and effective guide for flood safety, emphasizing the urgency and importance of each recommended action. The text’s detailed and logical presentation ensures that readers are well-equipped to understand and follow the guidance, thereby increasing their chances of staying safe and minimizing the impact of a flood.

The image titled “What to do during a flood” by QBE Insurance effectively complements the advisory text on escaping a flooded area by providing clear and concise visual instructions. Divided into three sections—Anticipate, Prepare, and Leave—the image reinforces the text’s key messages with actionable visuals. The “Anticipate” section underscores the importance of monitoring flood updates and preparing homes, mirroring the text’s emphasis on staying informed. “Prepare” offers visual guidance on safeguarding belongings and medical supplies, aligning with the text’s detailed preparation steps. Finally, “Leave” highlights evacuation procedures and emergency contacts, echoing the text’s urgent directives to move to higher ground and seek safety. By combining authoritative text with clear visuals, the image enhances understanding and retention, ensuring that readers are well-informed and prepared to act during a flood.

How Did I Prepare?

1. Review of Key Features:
   • Tone: I ensured the advisory text maintained an authoritative and trustworthy tone throughout. To achieve this, I avoided informal language and colloquialisms, opting instead for serious and informative phrasing. I used declarative sentences like “Floods are one of the most common and devastating natural disasters” to set the tone from the outset.
   • Tense: Recognizing the importance of clarity and urgency, I employed the imperative tense. This involved placing verbs at or near the start of sentences to emphasize commands and instructions, such as “Stay informed,” “Prepare an emergency kit,” and “Move to higher ground.” This approach was critical for conveying urgent actions that readers need to take.
   • Modality: To highlight the necessity and importance of the actions recommended, I incorporated strong modal verbs such as “must,” “should,” and “ought.” For example, phrases like “You must stay informed” and “You should evacuate immediately” were used to communicate the urgency and non-negotiability of the advice.
   • Credibility: I established the text’s credibility by referencing common safety protocols and widely accepted emergency guidelines. This involved mentioning standard practices such as monitoring weather updates and preparing an emergency kit. These references helped to assure readers that the information provided was reliable and based on expert advice.
   • Register: Maintaining a formal and persuasive register was crucial for the advisory text. I ensured the language was appropriate for an official document, using formal expressions like “Familiarize yourself with the local flood evacuation routes” and “Inspect for damage before entering your home.” This formality was necessary to convey the seriousness of the advice and to maintain the reader’s trust.
   • Structure: I organized the text into a linear, easy-to-follow format with clear sections and headings. This structure included sections like “Before the Flood,” “During the Flood,” and “After the Flood,” each providing step-by-step guidance. This logical progression was designed to help readers understand and remember the necessary actions.
2. Detailed Analysis:
   • I conducted a detailed analysis of each key feature to explain how it contributed to the text’s ability to warn and educate readers about flood risks. This involved examining specific elements such as the authoritative tone, the use of the imperative tense, and the incorporation of strong modal verbs.
   • For each key feature, I provided examples from the text to illustrate its use. For instance, I highlighted how the authoritative tone was maintained through declarative sentences and how the imperative tense was employed in commands like “Avoid floodwaters.”
3. Visual and Textual Integration:
   • I included a commentary on the visual elements of the advisory image to show how they complemented the text. This involved analyzing how the image’s sections—Anticipate, Prepare, and Leave—aligned with the text’s instructions.
   • I noted how the visuals reinforced the text’s messages by providing clear, actionable steps. For example, the image’s depiction of monitoring flood updates and elevating furniture directly corresponded to the text’s advice, enhancing the reader’s understanding and retention.
4. Guiding Question and Analysis:
   • I framed the textual analysis around the guiding question: “How far is the text able to warn and educate the reader about the risks involved?” This question helped to focus the analysis on the text’s effectiveness in conveying critical safety information.
   • I systematically examined how the text’s tone, tense, modality, credibility, register, and structure contributed to its educational and warning efficacy. This comprehensive approach ensured that all aspects of the text were considered in the analysis.
5. Revision and Refinement:
   • After drafting the analysis, I reviewed it to ensure coherence and clarity. I made revisions to improve the flow of the text and to ensure that each key feature was thoroughly addressed.
   • I also double-checked the integration of the visual elements to make sure that the commentary on the image was well-aligned with the textual analysis.

By following these detailed steps, I was able to prepare a comprehensive and insightful textual analysis that effectively demonstrated how the advisory text warns and educates readers about the risks of flooding.