Text archives

Week 1-4
1. Take the internet. Leave the bulk.
This slogan is an advertisement of HP Mini netbook. There are 2
clauses here. In the first clause, take is the theme, whereas in the
second clause, 'leave' is the theme. Its
function is to ask its audience to take 2 actions, each clause
representing one. 'Take the internet' actually means 'Buy our
netbook'. 'Leave the bulk' actually tells people to turn away from
whatever notebook/desktop that they are using. These 2 clauses
altogether function as a whole to persuade the public to buy the HP
Mini netbook. (89 words)
2. Do nothing
Fight global warming.com
This is an extremely witty advertisement. Like text (1) this
advertisement has 2 clauses but they function differently. It actually
leaves the audience an option. It sends a message telling you that it
is up to YOU to choose which way to go, either a)do nothing, or
b)fight global warming. It's used cleverly as it arouses our
conscience rather than commands us to take a certain action.
Another interesting thing is that it actually makes 'do nothing' an
option, instead of just placing the seemingly 'right' option there,
because we often fail to notice that we are 'doing nothing'. The fact
that it highlights the action 'do nothing' may make people reflect on
the global warming issue. (117 words)
3. When there is a fire, do not use the lift
This sign is found inside AND outside the lift. Its function is to warn
people that under a certain condition, they are expected not to use
the lift. The theme here is when, which is an indication of time or
situation. In this case, the condition where people should not use
the lift as usual is when a fire breaks out. (61 words)

Week 5-6
1. A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.
Moslih Eddin Saadi
I found this quote on a Canon catalogue about a year ago. The mood
here is declarative, as the subject (a traveler) is put before the finite
(is). Obviously a traveler is a participant so it would be the topical
theme, while the rest would be the rheme. As the quote is printed
on a catalogue, it has an advertising function in this context,
implying that as a traveler, you SHOULD constantly make
observations, and one way to get to this, is to purchase a Canon
camera. (87 words)
2.

Apple reinvents the phone.

This is an Apple ad for iphone. This is a declarative clause as the

subject Apple is put
before the finite. Reinvent is the predicator and the s following it
represents the
finite. Apple is the topical theme because its a participant, i.e. the
company Apple. reinvents the phone is therefore the rheme. This
phrase is very powerful as an advertisement because it suggests
that the iphone is such a breakthrough in the history of phone, that
the phone is being reinvented. (82 words)
3. Sue: Oh God, Will, let me break it down for you. High
school's a dry run for the rest of your life. Not everyone can
be champions; not everyone should be
champions. The world needs fry cooks; bus drivers...
This is a quote by Sue, a character from the American TV show
Glee. (For your

information, shes a mean, sarcastic character.) Therere 5

independent clauses in
total. Oh God, Will is the interpersonal theme, me is a participant
so that would be the topical theme. Therefore, Oh God, Will, let me
would be the theme whereas break it down for you would be the
rheme. High school is the topical theme of the second clause. Not
everyone is the theme in the third and the forth clauses, and that in
the fifth clause is The world. (97 words)

4.
Sue: Even if your team has dropped their sequincovered panties and
urinated all over the stage like an elderly Carol Channing,
they literally could not have done worse.
This is another quote by Sue from Glee. Therere 2 independent
clauses and 1 dependent clause here, with and urinatedCarol
Channing being the latter. Even if is the textual theme, your
team is a participant, thus the topical theme. Even if your team is
therefore the theme of the first independent clause. Prior to the
word urinated, the phrase your team has is missed out as its
understood. In the last independent clause, they is the topical
theme, literally could not have done worse is the rheme. (87
words)
5.

814 people like this. Be the first of your friends.

This text is found on Facebook. There are 2 clauses here. The first
clause is of the
declarative mood because the finite is put behind the subject. The
mood of the second clause, however, is imperative. Although a
subject may seem to be lacking, its only invisible as its understood
(you). In the first clause, 814 people is the theme whereas in the
second clause, be is the topical theme as its a process. (74 words)
6.

Welcome. Please come in.

This is a welcoming sign. I was wondering is there no rheme in

these 2
clauses? Welcome is obviously a theme in the first clause. Please
is the interpersonal theme and come in is a process. Therefore a
topical theme. So does it mean that these 2 clauses are formed by
theme only? This texts function is to welcome people to go to a
particular place, probably a house, considering the shape and
design of the sign. (77 words)

Week 8-10
1.
Is it dark enough?
Can you see me?
Do you want me?
Can you reach me?
(Source:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nataliemerchant/myskin.html)
These are some lyrics of the song My Skin by Natalie Merchant.
Textually, is it is the theme with it being the topical theme in the
first clause. Do in the third clause, Can in the second and forth
clauses, are the interpersonal themes as they are demanding
information. it in the first clause, you in the remaining 3 clauses,
are the topical themes as they are participants. Interpersonally, they
all follow the pattern of finite^subject so they are all yes/no

interrogative. dark enough is an adjunct. see, want, reach are

the predicators and the three mes are the complements. They are
all residue along with dark enough.(108 words)
2. Sue: Nobody quits the Cheerios. You either die or I kick
you off.
(Source: http://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/nobody-quits-thecheerios-you-either-die-or-ikick-you-off/)
A quote by Sue from Glee. There are 3 clauses here. Textually,
nobody is the topical
theme in the first clause, with you in the second and I in the third.
Interpersonally, nobody, you and I are the subjects while quits,
die and kick
are the finites. And among which, die and kick are also the
predicators. As far
as mood is concerned, all 3 clauses are declarative, meaning that
theyre all statements that give information. (76 words)
3. Damon: Can we not do the whole road trip bonding thing?
The cliche of it all makes me itch.
(Source: http://devotedtovampirediaries.com/dtvd-guides/episodeguide/2-08-rose/)
A quote by Damon from the Vampire Diaries. Textually, can is the
interpersonal theme because it is asking for information. we is the
topical theme as its the participant. In the second clause, it is the
topical theme, the clich of functions as additional information to
it (i.e. the road trip bonding thing), so the clich of it is the
theme. Interpersonally, can is the finite whereas we is the subject
so the first clause is interrogative. For the second clause, the clich
of it is adjunct + subject, makes is the finite. Therefore, its
declarative.(96 words)
4. Emily: I've come too far to be passed over. Gymnastics is
my life, and I won't let
anything, or anyone, get in the way.

(Source: http://www.tv.com/make-it-or-break-it/are-wefamily/episode/1324559/summary.html)
A quote by Emily from Make It or Break It. Therere 3 major clauses.
Textually, I is the topical theme in the first and third clauses, and
gymnastics in the second.
Interpersonally, the 2 Is are the subjects. -ve, is and wont are
the finites
with come being the predicator at the same time. In the third
clause, wont (will not) is of a very low modal value. As far as
willingness is concerned, its negative. They all have the pattern of
subject^finite so they are all declarative clauses. (89 words)
5. Which of these four-word movie quotes is the most iconic?
(Source: www.imdb.com)
Its found on imdb.com in the daily poll question section. This is to
arouse the viewers interest about tv/movie quotes and to get them
participated. Textually, which is the interpersonal theme as it
indicates that its a question, of is the textual theme and these
four word movie quotes is the topical theme. Interpersonally, its
wh-interrogative because it starts with the wh- word which,
followed by the finite is. Its a question because its demanding
information. (82 words)
6.Will: It takes years to build a good reputation, and only
seconds to destroy it.
(Source: http://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/it-takes-years-to-build-agood-reputation-andonly-seconds-to-d/)
A quote by Will from Glee. There is only one major clause. Textually,
It is the topical
theme as its the participant. It takes is neglected between and
and only.
Interpersonally, it is the subject and takes is the finite. It is a
declarative clause. Its a statement as it gives information. All parts
of the clause other than it takes fall

into residue, with years and seconds being the circumstantial

adjuncts.(72 words)
Week 11-14
1. We've found some channels you might like
This is found on YouTube. Textually, we is the topical theme as its
the first participant found in the clause. -ve found some channels
you might like is the rheme. Interpersonally, its a declarative
clause because subject is followed by finite. This clause shows
modality as well. The might is a modal auxiliary and it indicates a
median level of probability. Experientially, its a relational process as
theres the carrier we and the attribute some channels you might
like. (79 words)
2.
She cried stay with me
Say how can this be love
(Source:
http://www.lyricsmania.com/loves_to_blame_lyrics_joel_and_luke.ht
ml)
Lyrics from the song Loves to Blame by Joel & Luke. In the first
clause, textually, she is the topical theme. The subject she is
neglected in the second clause. So even without the subject, what
the clause really means would be (She) say(s) how can this be love.
Interpersonally, theyre both declarative clause as subject (she) is
followed by finite (cried and say). Experientially they are both of the
verbal process type because of the indicating words cried and
say. (81 words)

3. There is a Glee quote for every situation.

(Source: http://www.facebook.com/pages/There-is-a-Glee-quote-forevery-situation/100195010025377?v=wall&viewas=0)
Glee related line again. Its the title of a page on Facebook.
Textually, there is the topical theme because it indicates a

circumstance. The rest is rheme. Interpersonally, its a declarative

clause because subject is followed by finite. (there^is).
Experientially, its an existential process. It shows some extent of
modality as well, even theres no modal adjunct or modal auxiliary.
every situation probably means a high level of usuality (meaning
always) because the clause is trying to say no matter what the
situation is, you can ALWAYS find the right Glee quote to it. (94
words)