Language
The language used by Jeremy Clarkson in “Binge Drinking is Good for You” is informal and easy to follow by any category of the audience.
The language is approachable due to the extensive use of raw humour and sarcasm: “Having told young people that they must stop drinking while on a night out, in case they are stabbed or end up having sex with a pretty girl…” (p. 106, ll. 5-6). Furthermore, the writer gives the language a personal touch by including examples about himself: “Me? Well, what I love most of all is binge drinking.” (p. 106,…
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Choice of words
The choice of words reveals the writer’s preference for informal language, as well as slang words that convey negative images. These words are often related to those whom the writer wants to criticise: “the busybodies” (p. 105, l. 2), “the nitwits” (p. 105, l. 3), “the mongers of doom” (p. 7, l. 10).
Other negative words are meant to convey raw imagery that helps the writer construct sarcasm and irony towards those who campaign against drinking by exaggerating the negative effects of this habit: “stick-thin man with a massive stomach” (p. 107, ll. 13-14), “die in a puddle of blood and vomit” (p. 106, ll. 36-37), “stern words and dire warnings” (p. 107, …
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Sentence structure
Jeremy Clarkson generally uses short or medium-length sentences, to maintain his readers’ attention. Some sentences are only a word long, or lack subject and predicate, to make a more powerful statement. They are usually followed by a longer, more explanatory sentence: “Rubbish. If a man drinks two small glasses of white wine every day it's the barman he needs to worry about.” (p. 106, ll. 19-21)
Furthermore, he shortens sentences by including ab…
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Tone
The overall tone used in “Binge Drinking is Good for You” is a mixture of humour and sarcasm. The text is filled with sarcastic remarks meant to mock or criticise those who campaign against all alcohol consumption, instead of only focusing on those who have a real drinking problem. Some notable instances that point out the author’s irony are: “It's very obvious that their new target is people who drink alcohol - i.e., everyone over the age of eight.” (p. 105, ll. 7-9); “But honestly, I woul…
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Anecdotes
Anecdotes are stories – personal or not—included in the argumentation because they have a message behind it that supports the sender’s views.
Such is the case with Clarkson’s story about binge drinking on his holiday: “I've just done a calculation and on holiday this year I drank 55 units of alcohol a day. I would start at 11 o'clock …
