Style of writing

In the exam question, you are asked to analyze Leah McLaren’s style of writing in lines 84-96 of the article “Innocence lost: what did you do before the internet?” The language is mostly formal, or neutral, but there are times when the author switches to a more informal way of speaking. For example, she uses expressions such as “aka” (l. 89) or “yes” (l. 85) as if addressing the readers directly. All in all, the style may be called neutral.

To show the pros of life before the internet, the author uses lots of descriptive adjectives, which highlight the advantage of experiencing aloneness: “empty, restless, vaguely melancholic hours” (l. 87). This is somewhat ironic, as the descriptions do not sound positive. McLaren’s point is that inspiration and deep thinking happens in these moments when our attention is not distracted.

A rhet...