Unseen Text: Thunderstorms: a preparedness guide

Text Type: Infographic

Guiding Question: Explain the methods used to present different types of information in this text.

Infographics are an oft-encountered text type in Paper 1. They tend to produce a ‘love-hate’ response with my students. Some like the simple features and predictability of this text type; others find it hard to ‘get under the surface’ beyond attention-grabbing features, which produce simple analysis. The text below is an example of an infographic that’s a bit more than meets the eye. While giving simple information on the definition and causes of thunderstorms, the text also gives repeated warnings about the need to be prepared for any storm, which can suddenly escalate and put people in danger. The sample answer, written in collaboration with Katelyn Tan from UWC Changshu as a practice for her upcoming mock, neatly unpicks the way different textual features convey dual purposes: to inform and to warn. While this answer is a great way to analyse this text, it’s not the only approach you might take and alternative responses can be equally valid:

Sample Answer:

The given text is an infographic produced by the American National Weather Service which informs readers of the causes and common traits of thunderstorms. The infographic is intended for people in the US who live in places that are vulnerable to thunderstorms. Therefore, it has two purposes: to educate about the science of thunderstorms generally, and to warn about severe thunderstorms so people can prepare. Through balancing information with a warning tone and using simple and clear visuals, the infographic helps people avoid the worst consequences of lightning strikes and strong winds.

Firstly, the infographic’s kicker reveals the dual purpose of the text. Positioned on the right side of the infographic, the kicker (or subheading) reads: ‘a preparedness guide’, emphasised through white font printed against a black box, all in capital letters, helping it catch the reader’s eye and prepare them to receive information that is not only interesting, but also warns them that storms are not to be underestimated. Underneath the kicker, a snippet gives the definition of a severe storm. The word ‘severe’ is highlighted using bold typography, ensuring the reader notices the emphasis on severity and danger. The criteria for a severe storm is also presented: ‘hail… and winds of 58mph or stronger.’ The text assures the reader that this definition comes from the ‘National Weather Service’, conveying a sense of authority and seriousness in the infographic’s message: even small thunderstorms are not trivial and should not be taken for granted. Therefore, the subheading combines with the presentation of boxouts to convey the dual purpose of the infographic: to define what severe weather actually is and to warn people who live in the region to prepare for the likelihood of sudden, severe weather.

The infographic uses a shift in tone from neutral to alarmist to convey a warning that any storm, no matter how trivial it might seem, should be taken seriously. Firstly, the copy presents simple information about what thunderstorms are and how they are caused, such as: ‘moisture – to form clouds and rain.’ This information is presented in bullet points in a neutral tone, with the intention of informing and educating readers. However, other information is presented in an alarmist tone, with warnings about how thunderstorms should not be underestimated, and the shift can be quite abrupt. For example, the reader learns that storms are ‘small when compared to a hurricane’ which may lull people into thinking they are not dangerous. But subsequently the phrase ‘ALL thunderstorms are dangerous!’ is designed to disabuse readers of this notion: the word ‘ALL’ presented in bold typography emphasise how danger can be unexpected and the exclamation mark urges readers to stay alert and be aware of the danger of thunderstorms. The alarming tone of sentences like this trains the readers to maintain a sense of alertness towards thunderstorms, even small ones. Therefore, the mix of neutral and alarmist tone both informs the reader while conveying a sense of urgency over the danger of thunderstorms.

Furthermore, facts and statistics deliver important information about what a thunderstorm is and how dangerous it can be. The statistics often support the copy, such as the length and size of a thunderstorm being ’30 minutes’ and ‘15 miles in diameter’. Once again, while a storm may seem small, the reader learns that ‘10% are classified as severe’. When a simple or undramatic statistic is presented (such as the duration of a storm being ‘an average of 10 or 20 minutes’) the infographic then uses qualifying phrases such as ‘but some storms may last much longer’ so that the reader can never dismiss the possibility that any storm might be dangerous. Additionally, the text uses various synonyms from the lexical field of ‘severity’ such as ‘intensity’, ‘danger’, and ‘strong/stronger’. Overall, the language used combines with the statistics to convey a sense that, while many storms may seem innocuous, the possibility of danger is always just over the horizon.

Finally, the infographic uses three diagrams to break down the life cycle of a thunderstorm into stages; ‘developing… maturing…’ and ‘dissipating’, fulfilling the broader aim of the text which is to educate readers about how a storm forms. Technical words such as ‘cumulus’ are illustrated using simple graphics, with arrows and shading effectively conveying the movement of clouds using still images. For example, the reader can follow the arrows in the first image to see how a cloud might develop into a storm through the combination of wind direction and temperature change. While the images are educational, the captions present a mix of information that reminds readers of the danger any storm poses. For example, the first graphic is captioned with the word ‘towering’, a dramatic word that conveys an image of the cloud’s height and intensity. Other captions contain dramatic imagery, such as the cinematic sky filled with ‘black or dark green clouds’, punctuated by flashes of ‘lightning’ and ‘bursts’ of wind. All in all, while the graphics are educational and informative, the captions never let the reader forget that thunderstorms have the potential for danger and this kind of visual imagery is memorable.

In conclusion, the infographic succeeds in conveying two educational purposes: defining what thunderstorms are and emphasising that thunderstorms are dangerous if one is not prepared and presents information accordingly. As the saying goes, ‘knowledge is power’ – those who are best prepared for extreme weather are those who will weather the storm.