Explorers or boys messing about? Edexcel First

The Title “Explorers, or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill”
The title has a sarcastic tone as the rhetorical question adds emphasis to the fact that whether they are real explorers or just boys messing about
The title has a mocking like tone its as if the writer is trying to put emphasis on the “Explorers” section of the title as it is separated by the rest of the sentence therefore mocking them or making fun of them
The title has an angry and tense tone as the “taxpayer gets rescue bill” this shows the concern of the writer and the angry tone in his voice that due to other “boys messing about” the employed have to pay tax for the healthcare of these “boys messing about”
This is the writer’s point of view only<br>

The Subheading “Helicopter duo plucked from life-raft after Antarctic crash”
If the 2 men were really explorers they would be referred to as a team not as a pair or duo which makes them sound just like “boys messing about”
They were “plucked” which is insulting as they are described as something annoying as if they were real explorers they wouldn’t be described as being “plucked” they would be described as rescued.
The tone of the writer suggests that he is trying to persuade the reader that these are just “boys messing about” helping convey the opinion of the writer
This is the writer’s point of view only<br>

First Paragraph “Their last expedition ended in farce” (line 1)
The article starts out with this line which suggests that they have already caused trouble, they are a joke, they are not being taken seriously by the writer and that the writer is trying to make fun of them as they have done previous expeditions and their last expedition ended in “farce” which means that the expedition ended in embarrassment for the “boys” whether the “boys” realize it or not
The article starts off without even mentioning the names of the “boys” which shows us that the writer is not taking them seriously and knows that they have been in trouble thus making fun of them. They are like little “boys” who never learn from their mistakes.
From the beginning already the writer sets the tone to convey his opinion persuading the reader that they are just “boys messing about”<br>

Third Paragraph “The men were plucked from the icy waters” (Line 7)
This sounds insulting towards the 2 men as when you pluck you pluck something that is annoying or bothering you and they are not anything important thus the writer has described the 2 as “boys”
“A Nine-hour rescue”(Line 7) “Royal Navy, the RAF and British Coastguards” (Line 9-10)
Just to rescue 2 “boys” it took nine hours and 3 respected organizations. It shows us that these 2 “boys” aren’t really explorers as they don’t care who is paying for their rescue or who is making the effort just to save the 2 lives of some stupid boys who weren’t organized enough.<br>

Third Paragraph continued “Mr. Brooks contacted his wife” (Line 8)
The fact that they are stranded and they decide to contact his wife shows us that they have been in trouble before and they are not taking it seriously which again conveys the writers opinion that they are boys messing about
From the beginning of the article the writer has set the tone out that they are really boys messing about.<br>

Fourth Paragraph “There was resentment in some quarters that the men’s adventure had cost the taxpayers” (Line 11)
Not every person thinks this that the men’s adventure had cost the taxpayer however the “Resentment” coming first overshadows “in some quarters” there fore giving us an impression that since we have read “resentment” first we think that all of them had resentment thus brushing away “in some”<br>

Fifth Paragraph “Experts questioned the wisdom of taking a small helicopter” (Line 13)
This makes the “boys” look even more silly as Experts have questioned them that is it wise or stupid taking a small helicopter to such a harsh trip which makes them look inexperienced. By including this the writer is questioning their intelligence making them sound even stupider and inexperienced therefore conveying the writer’s opinion
“A single engine-into such a hostile environment” (Line 17)
These 2 don’t go together and shows us that these “boys” were really unorganized. This shows us that these “men” are really boys messing about as in such a hostile environment they have decided to take a single engine which shows us that they are inexperienced and disorganised<br>

Sixth Paragraph “There was also confusion about what the men were trying to achieve” (Line 15)
This shows us that the expedition was done for fun as the men were not sure what they wanted to do there describing them as “boys messing about”. This also shows us how inexperienced and unorganized they were which shows their immaturity.
“Trusty Helicopter” (Line 17)
The writer is mocking them as it shows the 2 men are boys as the writer mocks them. The writer uses their own words against them as wheter the helicopter is good or not they are going to use their “trusty helicopter”<br>

Seventh Paragraph “Ms Vestey claimed she did not know what the pair were up to” (Line 18)
Ms Vestey also refers to them as a pair. The writer includes this in the article to mock the men again. The writer in the sub-heading calls the 2 men a duo and here they are being referred to as a pair which shows us that they are boys messing about as if the 2 men were actually explorers they would be referred as a team not as a pair or duo.
“’boys messing about with a helicopter’”
Ms Vesty also describes them as boys messing about which shows us that she is used to it. The fact that she says “boys messing about” shows us that the 2 men are not explorers thus conveying the opinion of the writer. She describes them child like and mischievous. It makes them sound like an Annoying pair.<br>

Eight Paragraph “The Drama began” (Line 20)
This describes their failed expedition as a silly act making them look inexperienced.
“Also known as Q, Ditched” (Line 21)
They have nicknames which shows us as the reader that they are boys messing about. They think they are cool and they have a teenage mentality. The ditched shows us that they don’t really care about the failed expedition and who they are affecting showing us that they are boys messing about
“Scrambled into their life-raft” (Line 22)
This shows us that since they scrambled they are unorganized and don’t really care. It emphasizes their childish behavior and they do this all the time showing us that they are not prepared and boys messing about as they don’t even know what they are trying to achieve.<br>

Ninth Paragraph “On his satellite phone” (Line 23)
The satellite phone was the only thing they had to help them, the only form of communication in case of an emergency which shows us how unorganized and unprepared they were which tells us that they are boys messing about.
“Could I call the emergency people” (Line 24)
This shows us how childish they are as they are getting his wife to call the rescuers which shows us that they are not taking full responsibility. They are embarrassed to call the rescuers and want the old rescuers to come and help them. This is a bit comical too as he is asking if she “could” and not if she “must” call the emergency which shows us that they don’t really care whether they are rescued or not showing us their childish behavior and showing us that they are boys messing about.<br>

Tenth Paragraph “Ditched helicopter” (Line 25)
This makes it sound like they threw away a toy which describes them as boys messing about with a helicopter
“Emergency watch, a wedding present” (Line 26)
His wife or someone at the wedding who knew Mr. Brooks bought him the watch which shows us that everyone knows what kind of person he is, that he is a boy messing about and may get in trouble thus they got him a watch.<br>

Eleventh Paragraph “Deciphered by Falmouth coastguards in England and passed on to the rescue co-ordination centre at RAF Kinloss in Scotland.” (Line 27-28)
This tells us that to rescue the 2 men it took a lot of time and cause a lot of problem for the respected organizations. The two men are an international burden to all the respected organizations as the Scottish, English and the Chilean navy are trying to rescue them.<br>

Twelth Paragraph “which was 180 miles away surveying uncharted waters” (Line 29-30)
This tells us that the Royal Navy was completing an important task but they had to abandon it and go rescue 2 idiots. This shows us that the 2 men don’t really care who they are affecting and if there were a little more prepared the rescue would have taken less time and less effort by the respected organizations and they weren't prepared or organized which shows us that they are boys messing about.<br>

Thirteenth Paragraph “The men were picked up by a Chilean naval vessel” (Line 33)
This again shows us as the reader that the 2 men cause a lot of problems and are an International burden again conveying the opinion of the writer that the 2 men are not explorers but are boys messing about.<br>

Fourteenth Paragraph “The pair wore survival suits” (Line 34)
This shows us that the 2 men had some common sense to wear survival suits and this is the only positive point in the whole article as the writer has and wants to create an impression that the 2 men are boys messing about.
“nothing short of a miracle” (Line 35-36)
Whatever the men did, did not rescue them but the reason of their survival was due to the rescuers as they did everything to save the lives of these 2 boys messing about. This is also questioning their intelligence showing us that they could have died out there and as they didn’t realize it and didn’t care it’s a miracle that they survived which again shows us as the readers that they are boys messing about as they really don’t understand the seriousness in the situation<br>

Fifteenth Paragraph “Both men are experienced adventures” (Line 37)
This shows us as the reader that there is some hope of these men being real explorers rather than just boys messing about.
“He has trekked solo to Everest base camp and walked barefoot for 3 days in the Himalayas. He has negotiated the white water rapids of the Zambezi river by kayak and survived a charge by a silver back gorilla in the Congo” (38-41)
He has been challenged a lot which gives him experience however none of the challenges sound organized or prepared for as he walked bare feet and was attack by a Silver back gorilla.
“He is also a qualified mechanical engineer and pilot” (Line 41-42)
He should know more about what type of plane is suitable for a destination and since he chose the wrong one on the expedition it shows that the 2 men are boys messing about<br>

Sixteenth Paragraph “He and his wife spent their honeymoon flying the helicopter from Alaska to Chile. The 16,000-mile trip took three months” (Line 43-44)
This shows us that he has a lot of passion and this also shows us that his wife knows what its like to go out with him therefore she could’ve got him the emergency watch.<br>

Seventeenth Paragraph “Mr. Smith, also from London, claims” (Line 45)
This is not a very reliable source as Mr. Smith “claims”
“Flown a helicopter around the globe and won the world freestyle helicopter flying championship” (Line 46-47)
This shows us that both of the men have experience yet they failed the expedition which only describes them as boys messing about<br>

Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Paragraph “Endres, the editor of Jane’s helicopter markets and system” (Line 59-61)
The writer has taken an experts advice which proves the writer’s point that the 2 men are not explorers but are boys messing about.
“A spokesman for the pair” (Line 62)
The 2 men have been described as a pair again showing us that they are boys messing about. The 2 men have an unknown spokesman which again shows us that they have an unreliable source making the writer’s point of view more persuasive<br>

Twenty-Fourth Paragraph “They’ll probably have their bottoms kicked and be sent home the long way” (Line 70-71)
The final and conclusive point of view is that they are boys messing about and they are not explorers as the writer has written that they will have their bottoms kick making them sound like little boys messing around<br>

Task How does Steven Morris manage to make the two men sound foolish rather than like two British heroes?
Use short quotes
Include as many techniques as you can.<br>