An Analysis of Genre, Interpersonal, Ideational and

Textual Metafunctions of a Hortatory Exposition

Expert Text

(Paper I)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for Functional Grammar Course

Under the Supervision of Wawan Gunawan, M. Ed., Ph. D

Rizka Nurul Atika (1802696)

Elisabeth Filadelfia (1803151)
Amrin Hasibuan (1806328)
Flori Lestari (1802825)

School of Graduate Studies

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Bandung
2019
 1

An Analysis of Genre, Interpersonal, Ideational and Textual Metafunctions of a

Hortatory Exposition Expert Text
A. Introduction
Language is a means to express meanings, whether it is in oral or written form.
However, language without context is barely understandable. Therefore, Systemic Functional
Linguistics (SFL) explains the connection between context and text for understanding the
meaning of a language. The framework uses two perspectives, namely context of culture and
context of situation. Context of culture is the shared meanings and assumptions of a certain
community—it is the way the language meets the expectations of fulfilling a purpose. On the
other hand, context of situation sees the field (what is being spoken), tenor (the relationship),
and mode (the circumstances).
Therefore, this study analyze an expert text entitled “We must criminalize gun
possession in Canada.” The text basically argues about the law of gun possession in Canada
due to the increasing cases of shooting. The text was published as an opinion column in The
Globe and Mail, a reputable Canadian newspaper. Vahan Kololian, the writer is the
managing partner and founder of the Canada-based private equity investment firm
TerraNova Partners LP, as well as a co-founder of the Mosaic Institute, a “think and do”
tank promoting peace and conflict resolution all over the world. The text genre is
Hortatory exposition, one of the main types of written arguments. Basically, exposition is “a
text type which clearly focuses students on the purpose of argument; that is, putting forward a
viewpoint and providing evidence to support it” (Knapp & Waktkins, 2005).
In analyzing text and genre especially for hortatory, the writers expected to describe
the message in the text into several meta-function which purposed by the supervisor, namely
interpersonal metafunction, ideational metafunctions and textual metafunctions in order to
give a clear explanation on writers’ message as well as giving a clear picture on how
argumentative texts are structured. Several studies regarding analyzing argumentative texts
have proven that these metafunctions could give a clear picture for the teacher on
constructing and giving opinion. Although, these studies still need to be reviewed on applying
these metafunction into teaching argumentative writing. Finally, the writers wish to give the
readers a few of their points of view in this analytic paper regarding hortatory text, in hope to
give future educator and researcher a picture by adding the writers’ knowledge or ideas on
constructing teaching writing methodology and analyzing text.
 2

B. Method of Analysis
This paper utilizes systemic functional grammar perspective. It primarily studies
about how language explores both how people use language and how language is structured
for use as semiotic system (Eggins, 2004, p. 21). It focuses on genre analysis and
metafunction analysis. “genre analysis is the study of how language is used within a
particular context. Genres differ in that each has a different goal and they are structured
differently to achieve these goals” (Hopkins & Dudley-Evans,1988). Meanwhile,
metafunction is general functions of language in social contexts to enact our relationships, to
represent our experience, and to organize discourse as meaningful text (Martin & Rose, 2007,
p. 47). They are included ideational, interpersonal, and textual metafunction.
Firstly, this paper will analyze the organization of the text; how each stage is arranged
together to achieve the purpose of the text and also reaches the social function of this
analytical exposition text. Since the analyzed text is a hortatory exposition text, there will be
three generic structures need to be identified: thesis statement, arguments and
recommendations. The thesis statement will be assessed whether it represents the main idea
of the text. Then, the arguments will be assessed if they support the thesis statement well.
Then, the register (field, tenor, and mode) of the text will also be analyzed. It is
analyzed through the perspective of metafunction, which consists of three kinds of
metafunctions: 1) interpersonal, 2) ideational/experiential, 3) textual meaning. Interpersonal
metafunction relates to a text’s aspects of tenor or interactivity. Tenor comprises three
component areas: the speaker/writer persona, social distance, and relative social status. They
are seen through the use of positive and negative language, modality, appraisal, types of
clause, and tenses. Meanwhile, ideational metafunction is the function for construing human
experience. It is the means by which we make sense of “reality”. The analysis involves
inquiring into the choices in the grammatical system of “transitivity”: that is, process types,
participant types, circumstance types, combined with an analysis of the resources through
which clauses are combined. Finally, textual metafunction relates to mode; the internal
organization and communicative nature of a text. in this study, it is seen through theme-rheme
analysis.
 3

C. Findings and Discussions

This section presents the findings of genre analysis, as well as interpersonal,
ideational/experiential and textual meaning analysis. Some tables of frequencies are also
presented to show the calculation result of each analysis.

1. Genre Analysis
The generic structure of Hortatory exposition usually has three components: (1) Thesis,
(2) Arguments and (3) Recommendation. Below is the expert text:
We must criminalize gun possession in Canada
Most Canadians are shocked to hear that Canada has the fourth highest level of gun
violence amongst OECD nations. A revealing comparison is with Japan, which has an absolute
ban on firearms. Japan reports an average of 0.005 firearm homicides per 100,000 people per
year. Canada, by the same measure, averages 0.48, nearly 100 times that of Japan. The United
States, at 3.65, is at almost 730 times the Japanese statistic.
The carnage of shootings in Toronto, Fredericton, Quebec City and Montreal’s
Ahuntsic-Cartierville are painful examples of gun violence’s tragic effects. In the wake of
these incidents, the common reaction is “thoughts and prayers.” Thoughts and prayers aren’t
enough. Our objective must be to eradicate gun violence by addressing its primary cause: the
ease of access to guns. We must criminalize possession of all firearms in Canada.
Thesis statement
This is a justifiably pragmatic policy recommendation, not an overreaction. There are
some clear exceptions: licensed hunters, gun clubs, sports shooters and law enforcement.
Barring these, there is absolutely no justifiable reason for an individual to be carrying a Argument 1
firearm. Toronto has already witnessed 50 per cent more shootings in 2018 than the whole of
2014.
Some incorrectly suggest that banning firearms will not reduce overall levels of
violence. The sheer numbers of guns available enables these crimes to occur. Canada has the
second-highest rate of gun possession Argument 2
Criminalizing possession of in
all the developed
guns has notworld
been atseriously
34.7 guns per-100-people,
considered by our
compared to the U.K.’s 5.03.
government for fear of political backlash from the electorate. However, according to a recent
Argument 1
Ekos poll, 69 per
Attempts centbeen
have of Canadians believe
made to reduce in violence
gun a “strict through
ban” on legislation.
guns in urban
Firstareas.
thereThose
was
supporting
the gunsystem,
gun registry bans dowhich
not belong to one
the then side of thegovernment
Conservative political spectrum.
abolished86inper centThis
2011. of Liberal
year,
respondents,
Public 56 per cent
Safety Minister of Conservative
Ralph Goodale has respondents
proposed BillandC-71,
75 per centextends
which of NDPbackground
respondents
supported the ban.
checks and requires vendor registries. Toronto Mayor John Tory has proposed a complete ban Argument 3
on handguns in the city. And last week the federal government announced it is dedicating $86-
To effectively
million over criminalize
the next five years onthe possession
measures of all gun
to tackle firearms, we atThese
violence. the Mosaic Institute
proposals are
have three recommendations:
constructive, but we need to be bold and go further.

1. The problem
Classify any of
gunillegal gun aspossession
not listed is compounded
Non-Restricted, Restricted by the problem
or Prohibited of illicit
as Restricted.
firearms trade from the U.S. In 2016, law enforcement confiscated more than 25,000 illegal
Currently, any gun not listed is classified as Non-Restricted in the Canadian Criminal
firearms and
Code. This essentially legalizes undocumented firearm possessions. This shouldtobe
out of which, 20,000 were non-restricted. These are weapons that do not need
be registered.
addedA law-enforcement
as an amendmentofficer
to Bill cannot
C-71. just confiscate these firearms unless they were recommenda
Argument 4
found through a specific investigation; there is no assumption of guilt. With a complete tions
criminalization
2. Creatingon possession, there would
a special buyback be. firearms.
fund for Current proposals
Australia do not address
in 1996 thisaproblem
instituted buyback
and only burden the RCMP.
program through the National Firearms Agreement. This initiative bought over
650,000 firearms for approximately US$230-million, removing them permanently
from circulation. There was a dramatic reduction in gun violence after the buyback
The text
scheme.has

3. Ratification of the United Nation Firearms Protocol. Canada has signed but not
ratified the protocol which seeks to control the illicit arms trade. Out of the 125
countries, only 10 have not ratified.
conclusion
 4

fulfilled all three components. It has one thesis statement, five arguments, and three
recommendations. Even though the thesis statement comes a bit late in the second paragraph,
the author justifies it by presenting a good introduction which reveals the issues. The author
states the thesis statement very clearly and accordingly to the purpose of the text. Below is
the main paragraph, with the bolded sentence as thesis statement.
The carnage of shootings in Toronto, Fredericton, Quebec City and Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville
are painful examples of gun violence’s tragic effects. In the wake of these incidents, the common
reaction is “thoughts and prayers.” Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. Our objective must be to
eradicate gun violence by addressing its primary cause: the ease of access to guns. We must
criminalize possession of all firearms in Canada.
Then, the writer justifies the thesis statement by five supporting arguments. Below is an
example of one argument. It clearly supports the thesis statement which proposes to band gun
possession in Canada.
This is a justifiably pragmatic policy recommendation, not an overreaction. There are some clear
exceptions: licensed hunters, gun clubs, sports shooters and law enforcement. Barring these, there is
absolutely no justifiable reason for an individual to be carrying a firearm. Toronto has already
witnessed 50 per cent more shootings in 2018 than the whole of 2014.
Finally, the text presents three recommendations. Below is one of them.
To effectively criminalize the possession of all firearms, we at the Mosaic Institute have three
recommendations:

1. Classify any gun not listed as Non-Restricted, Restricted or Prohibited as Restricted. Currently,
any gun not listed is classified as Non-Restricted in the Canadian Criminal Code. This essentially
legalizes undocumented firearm possessions. This should be added as an amendment to Bill C-71.
After fulfilling the three generic structure of hortatory exposition, the author closes the
passage with a conclusion of the overall issues and the recommendations. This helps to
strengthen the arguments and emphasizes the urgency of implementing the recommendations.

2. Interpersonal Metafunction
Interpersonal metafunction is about the social world, especially the relationship

between speaker and hearer, and is concerned with clauses as exchanges. To analyze the
interpersonal metafunction, the text was broken down into clauses. They are realized by
tenor, which is realized in MOOD, the grammatical choices that reflect and construct
relationships among the reader and writer. The MOOD element makes the clause negotiable
and consists of Finite, Subject and sometimes Modal Adjuncts. The Finite makes the clause
negotiable by coding it as positive or negative or by grounding it in terms of modality. Any
Finite is inherently positive or negative in polarity. The negative forms have an additional
element (n’t or not). Beside Mood, tenor is also realized through modality. Modality indicates
 5

the speaker’s judgment of the probabilities or the obligations involved what he or she is
saying. The analysis also includes the appraisal framework. The framework is oriented
towards uncovering the author's attitude and the way in which texts align with a potential or
real reader/listener.
Below is the result of the analysis.

No Sentence Declarative/ Tenses Polarity Modality Appraisal

Interrogativ (Positive/ (obligation/
e/imperativ negative) possibility)
e

1 Most Canadians Declarative Present Positive No Judgment

are shocked to tense Modality
hear that Canada
has the fourth
highest level of
gun violence
amongst OECD
nations.

2 A revealing Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal

comparison is tense Modality
with Japan,
which has an
absolute ban on
firearms.

3 Japan reports an Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal

average of 0.005 tense Modality
firearm
homicides per
100,000 people
per year.

4 Canada, by the Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal

same measure, tense Modality
averages 0.48,
nearly 100 times
that of Japan.

5 The United Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal

States, at 3.65, tense Modality
 6

is almost 730
times the
Japanese
statistic.
6 The carnage of Appreciation
shootings in Declarative Present Positive No
Toronto, Tense Modality
Fredericton,
Quebec City and
Montreal’s
Ahuntsic-
Cartierville are
painful
examples of gun
violence’s tragic
effects.

7 In the wake of Appreciation

these incidents, Declarative Present Positive No
the common Tense Modality
reaction is
“thoughts and
prayers.
8 Appreciation
Thoughts and Declarative Present Negative No
prayers aren’t Tense Modality
enough.
9 Our objective Affect
must be to Declarative Present Negative Obligation
eradicate gun Tense
violence by
addressing its
primary cause:
the ease of
access to guns.
10 We must Affect
criminalize Declarative Present Positive Obligation
possession of all Tense
firearms in
Canada.
11 This is a Appreciation
justifiably Declarative Present Positive No
pragmatic policy Tense Modality
recommendation
, not an
overreaction.
 7

12 Appreciation
There are some Declarative Present Positive No
clear exceptions: Tense Modality
licensed hunters,
gun clubs, sports
shooters and law
enforcement.
13 Affect
Barring these, Declarative Present Negative No
there is Tense Modality
absolutely no
justifiable
reason for an
individual to be
carrying a
firearm.
14 Appreciation
Toronto has Declarative Perfect Positive No
already Tense Modality
witnessed 50 per
cent more
shootings in
2018 than the
whole of 2014.
15 Declarative Present Negative Possibility Affect
Some tense
incorrectly
suggest that
banning
firearms will not
reduce overall
levels of
violence.
16 The sheer Declarative Present Negative No No appraisal
number of guns tense Modality
available
enables these
crimes to occur.
17 Canada has the Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal
second highest tense Modality
rate of gun
possession in
the developed
world at 34,7
guns per 100
people.
18 Attempts have Declarative Present Positive No Appreciation
been made to perfect Modality
reduce gun
violence through
 8

legislation.

19 First, there was Declarative Past Positive No No appraisal

the gun registry tense Modality
system ,which
then the
conservative
government
abolished in
2011
20 This year, Declarative present Positive No Judgment
Public Safety Modality
Minister Ralph
Goodale has
proposed Bill C-
71 which
extends
background
checks and
requires vendor
registries.

21 Toronto Mayor Declarative Present Positive No Judgment

John Tory has Modality
proposed a
complete ban on
handguns in the
city.
22 And last week Declarative Past Positive No Appreciation
the federal tense Modality
government
announced it is
dedicating $ 86
million over the
next five years
on measures to
tackle gun
violence.
23 These proposals Declarative Present Positive No Appreciation
are constructive, tense Modality
but we need to
be bold and go
further.
24 The problem of
illegal gun Declarative Present Positive No Judgment
possession is tense Modality
compounded by
 9

the problem of
illicit firearms
trade from the
U.S.
25 In 2016, law
enforcement Declarative Past Positive No No appraisal
confiscated mor tense Modality
e than 25,000
illegal firearms
26 and out of
which, 20,000 Declarative Past Negative No Appreciation
were non- tense Modality
restricted.
27 These are
weapons Declarative present Positive No No appraisal
tense Modality
28 that do not need
to be registered Declarative Present Negative No No appraisal
tense Modality
29
A law- Declarative Present Negative negative No appraisal
enforcement tense possibility
officer cannot
just confiscate
these firearms

30 unless they were

found through a Declarative Past Positive No No appraisal
specific tense Modality
investigation;
31 there is no
assumption of Declarative Present Negative No No appraisal
guilt. tense Modality
32
With a complete Declarative Present Positive Possibility No appraisal
criminalization tense
on possession,
there would be.
33
Current Declarative Present Negative No No appraisal
proposals do not tense Modality
address this
problem
34
and only burden Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal
the RCMP. tense Modality
 10

35
Criminalizing Declarative Present Negative No Appreciation
possession of all tense Modality
guns has not
been seriously
considered by
our government
for fear of
political
backlash from
the electorate.
36
However, Declarative Present Positive No Affect
according to tense Modality
a recent Ekos
poll, 69 per cent
of Canadians
believe in a
“strict ban” on
guns in urban
areas.
37
Those Declarative Present Negative No Judgment
supporting gun tense Modality
bans do not
belong to one
side of the
political
spectrum.
38
86 per cent of Declarative Past Positive No Affect
Liberal tense Modality
respondents, 56
per cent of
Conservative
respondents and
75 per cent of
NDP
respondents
supported the
ban.
39
To effectively Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal
criminalize the tense Modality
possession of all
firearms, we at
the mosaic
institute have
three
recommendation
 11

40
Currently, any Declarative Present Positive No No appraisal
gun not listed is tense Modality
classified as
Non-Restricted
in the Canadian
Criminal Code.
41
This essentially Declarative Present Positive No Appreciation
legalizes tense Modality
undocumented
firearm
possessions.
42
This should be Declarative Present Positive Obligation Affect
added as an suggestion tense
amendment to
Bill C-71.
43
Australia in Declarative Past Positive No No appraisal
1996 instituted a tense Modality
buyback
program through
the National
Firearms
Agreement.
44 Appreciation
This initiative Declarative Past Positive No
bought over tense Modality
650,000
firearms for
approximately
US$230-million,
removing them
permanently
from circulation.
45
There was a Declarative Past Positive No No appraisal
dramatic tense Modality
reduction in gun
violence after
the buyback
scheme.
46
Canada has Declarative Present Negative No No appraisal
signed but not perfect Modality
ratified the
 12

protocol
47
which seeks to Decarative Present Positive No Appreciation
control the illicit tense Modality
arms trade
48
Out of the 125 Declarative Present Negative No No appraisal
countries, only perfect Modality
10 have not
ratified.
49 No appraisal
The shooter in Declarative Past Positive No
Toronto’s tense Modality
Danforth
neighborhood
this past
summer used a
gun
50 No appraisal
which might Declarative Present Positive No
have been Perfect Modality
sourced from
the united states
51 No appraisal
This is Declarative Present Positive No
indicative of a tense Modality
broader problem
of illicit gun-
flow from the
U.S.,
52 Affect
which is not a Declarative Present Negative No
party to the UN tense Modality
protocol
53 Appreciation
There is the Declarative Present Positive No
usual opposition Tense Modality
from the small
but vocal gun
lobby
54 claiming that Affect
this is Declarative Present Positive No
an “unnecessary Tense Modality
response” to gun
violence and
that banning
guns is
unjustified “civil
disarmament
 13

55 Criminalization Appreciation
of Declarative Present Positive No
possession is civ Tense Modality
il disarmament
56 It is our moral Judgment
imperative to Declarative Present Positive No
push for Tense Modality
criminalizing
possession.
57 Judgment
Anything less Declarative Past Positive Possibility
would be a Future
compromise on Tense
protecting lives,
58 Judgment
and that is Declarative Present Positive No
unjustifiable Tense Modality

With a total of 58 clauses, below are the findings:

Type of Declarative Interogative Imperative Total
58 0 0 58
clause
Present Past tense Present Past future
Tenses tense perfect
36 10 11 1 58
Positive negative
Polarity
43 15 58
Obligation possibility No modality
Modality
3 4 51 58
Judgment Appreciation Affect No appraisal
Appraisal
8 16 9 25 58

The table presents the result of calculating the tenor found in the text. Firstly, the most
interesting finding is that all 58 clauses are of the same type, declarative clause (100%).
There is no imperative and interrogative clause found in the text. From the perspective of
tenses, the text is mostly made of present tense which emerges in 36 out of 58 clauses (62%).
The rest of the clauses use past tense (17%), present perfect (19%), and past future (2%). This
justifies the text as a hortatory exposition text which mostly consists of arguments.
Moreover, the text is dominated by positive polarity clauses with 43 out of 58 clauses
(74%), and 15 (26%) negative polarity clauses. The text uses almost no modality, with only 7
words of modality found. From which only 3 (5%) are obligation, and 4 (7%) are possibility.
Finally, the author employs various kinds of appraisal in the text which emerge in 33 out of
 14

its 58 clauses (57%). There are 8 (14%) judgments, 16 (27%) appreciations and 9 (16%)
affects found in the text.

3. Ideational/Experiential Metafunction
Ideational metafunction defined as the process or usually called as Transitivity, which
aims to have the clear understanding whether certain part in whole sentene is important or
not. This part has two types to be analyzed, they are types of process and types of
circumstance. Below are the findings of the analysis.

1 Most Canadians are shocked to hear That Canada has the fourth highest level of gun
violence amongst OECD nations.
Senser Process: Mental Phenomenon
(concrete)

2 A revealing is with Japan, which has an absolute on firearms.

comparison ban
carrier Process: Attribute Circumstance:
(abstract) relational matter
(attribution)

3 reports an average of 0.005 per 100,000 people per

Japan firearm homicides year.
Sayer Process: Verbal Verbiage Circumstances: Extent
(concrete)

4 Canada, by the same average 0.48, nearly 100 times that of

measure, s Japan.
Sayer Circumstances: Process: Verbiage manner
(concrete) manner verbal

5 The United at 3.65, is almost 730 times the Japanese statistic.

States,
Carrier Process: attribute
(concrete) relational
(attribution)

6 The carnage of are painful examples of gun

shootings in violence’s
Toronto, tragic effects.
Fredericton,
Quebec City
and Montreal’s
Ahuntsic-
Cartierville
Carrier ( Abstract)
Process : Identification Circumstances
Relational : Matter
 15

7 In the wake of these “thoughts and

incidents the common Is prayers.
reaction
Circumstances : Time Identification
Carrier Relational ( the= specific)
( Abstract)

8 Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough.

Carrier ( Abstract) Relational Attribute ( general)

9 Our objective must be to eradicate gun by addressing its

violence primary cause: the
ease of access to
guns.
Actor Circumstances:
( Abstract) Material Goal Accompaniment

10 We must criminalize possession of all firearms in Canada.

Actor
( Concrete) Material Goal Circumstances Circumstances :
: Matter Place

11 This Is a justifiably pragmatic policy recommendation, not

an overreaction.

Carrier ( Abstract)
Existential Existent

12 There are some clear exceptions: licensed hunters, gun clubs,

sports shooters and law enforcement.

Carrier Existential Existent

( Abstract)
 16

13 Barring there is absolutely no justifiable for an

these, reason individual to be
carrying a
firearm.

Circumstance Carrier Existential Existent .Circumstances:

s : cause Purpose

14 Toronto has already 50 per cent more shootings in 2018 than the
witnessed whole of 2014.

Carrier Manner
(Concrete Relational ( Attribute) ( Comparison)
)

15 Some Incorrectly that banning firearms Will not reduce overall levels of
suggest violence
Sayer Verbal Verbiage Actor Material Goal

16 The sheer number of guns available enables These crimes to occur

Behaver Behaviour Phenomenon

17 Canada has the second highest rate of gun possession in the

developed world at 34,7 guns per 100 people.
Carrier Relational Attribute

18 Attempts have been made to reduce gun violence through legislation

Actor material Goal

19 First, there Was the gun registry system ,which then the
conservative government abolished in 2011

Existent Existential Existent

20 This year Public Safety Minister has proposed Bill C-71 which extends
Ralph Goodale background checks and
requires
vendor registries.
Circ : Time Senser Mental Phenomenon
 17

21 Toronto Mayor John has proposed A complete ban on handguns in the

Tory city
Senser Mental Phenomenon

22 And last week the federal Announced $ 86 million over the next five years on
government , measures to tackle gun violence.

Circ : Time Senser Mental Phenomenon

23 it Is dedicating $ 86 million over the next five years on measures to

tackle gun violence.

Senser Mental Phenomenon

24 These proposals are constructive,

Carrier relational attribute

25 but we need to be bold and go further.

Senser mental phenomenon

2 In 2016, Law Confiscate more and 20,00 were non-

6 Enforcemen d than out of 0 restricte
t 25,000 whic d.
illegal h,
firear
ms
Circumstanc Actor Process: Goal Carrie Process: attribute
e: Time (concrete) Material r relational
attributio
n

27 These are weapons that do not need to be registered.

Token (abstract) Process: relational Value

(identification)

28 A law-enforcement cannot just these unless they were found

officer confiscate firearms through a specific
investigation;
Actor (abstract) Process: material Goal Circm: cause
 18

29 there is no assumption of guilt.

Process: existential Existent

30 there would be.

With a complete criminalization on
possession,
Process: existential existent
Circumstance: manner

31 Current proposals do not address this problem and only the RCMP.
burden
Behaver (abstract) Process: behavioral Range Process: range
behavioral

32 Criminalizing possession of has not been by our for fear of political

all guns seriously governmen backlash from the
considered t electorate.
Phenomenon Process: mental Senser Circumstance: cause
(concrete)

33 However, according to 69 per cent of believe in a “strict ban” on guns in

a recent Ekos poll, Canadians urban areas.
Angle Senser (abstract) Process: Circumstance: matter
mental

34 do not belong to one side of the political spectrum.

Those supporting gun bans
Carrier Process: Relational Attribute
(attributive)

35 supported the ban.

86 per cent of Liberal respondents, 56 per cent of
Conservative respondents and 75 per cent of NDP
respondents
Behaver (abstract) Process: range
behavioral

36 To effectively Criminalize the possession of all fire

arms

Actor Material (act of Goal

criminalization)

37 We at the mosaic Have three recommendations

institute

Carrier (concrete) Existential Existent

 19

38 Currently, any gun not Is classified as Non-Restricted

listed in the Canadian Criminal
Code.

Carrier Relational (identification) Value

39 This essentially Legalizes undocumented firearm

possessions

Actor Material (Action) Goal

40 This Should be added as an amendment to Bill C-

71
Phenomenon
Senser Mental

41 Australia in 1996 Instituted a buyback through the Nation

program Firearms Agreement

Actor, Material Range Circumstance : Manner

Circumstance:
Time

42 This bough over 650,000 fire for removing them

initiative t approximately US$230-million permanently from
arms, circulation.

Actor Mental Phenomenon Circm : Cause

(abstract)

43 There was a dramatic reduction in gun after the buyback scheme.

violence

Carrier existential Existence Circm : Cause

4 Canad has signed but not The which seeks To control

4 a ratified protocol the illicit
arms
trade
 20

Sayer Verbal Verbal Verbiage Behave Behaviora Circm :

(Declaratio (Declaratio r l Purpose
n to agree) n to
disapprove

45 Out of the 125 countries, only 10 have not ratified

Senser Mental Phenomenon

46 The shooter in Toronto’s used a gun whic might have From United
Danforth neighborhood h been sourced State
this past summer

Actor (Concrete) Materia Rang actor material Circm :

l e Location
(Action
)

4 This is indicative of a broader which is not a

7 problem of illicit gun-flow party to
from the U.S., the UN
protocol

Carrie Relational Attribute Carrie relationa attribute

r (Identification r l
)

48 There is the usual from the small but vocal gun lobby
opposition
Carrier
Existential Existent Manner
49
( Quality)
An to gun
claiming this Is
that “unnecessary violence
response”

Circumstance : Matter Carrier Relational Attribute Accompaniment

( Purpose)

and that banning gun is unjustifie civil -

d disarmament
Carrier
Relational attribute Accompaniment -
( attribute ( Reason)
)
 21

50
Criminalization of possession is civil
disarmament
Carrier ( Abstract)
Circm : Matter Relational ( attribute)

51
they Argue but amidst Concern increasing fatalities
growing public and rampant trafficking
Sayer
( Concrete) Verbal Verbiage Accompaniment ( Purpose)

52 It is our moral to push for criminalizing

imperativ possession.
e

Carrier Relational Attribute Accompaniment ( Purpose)

( Abstract)

53 Anything less would be on protecting lives,

Carrier ( Abstract) Rational ( Attribute) Circm : Matter

and that Is unjustifiable

Carrier ( Abstract) Rational ( Attribute)

After the analysis, the results were calculated and presented in the following table of
frequency.

1. Percentage of Process
No. Types of Process Total Percentage
1 Relational Attributive 14 23%
2 Mental 13 22%
3 Existential 10 17%
4 Material 7 12%
5 Verbal 6 10%
6 Behavior 5 8%
7 Relational Identification 5 8%
Total 53 100%

2. Percentage of Circumstances
No. Types of Circumstances Total Percentage
1 Location 5 23%
 22

2 Cause 5 23%
3 Matter 4 18%
4 Manner 4 18%
5 Accompaniment 3 13%
6 Extent 1 5%
total 22 100%

The table of process types reported that there are seven process in the expert text of
hortatory. This text used relational attributive as dominance, which had the highest
percentage than all types, then the next following position is placed by mental process.
Actually, those seven aspects are not significantly different in total, as like the next position
which is placed by existential process, afterwards just three points difference to the prior
position is positioned by material process, then continue with verbal process. Eventually, the
following position which is called as the lowest position occupied by relational identification
process.
Another types to analyze is types of circumstances. The table illustrates that overall,
the most common circumstance found is location and cause, even though the total was not
really high compare to other process except the extent process. Since the hortatory text
discussed about what should done or should not done by the reader then the extent
circumstance was not really used, it is proved by having it in the lowest position. However,
the other circumstances have the same amount of appearing time, such as manner and matter.
Those are placed in the second position all at once. Then, the next following positon is the
circumstance of accompaniment. Finally, as can be seen in hortatory text, the types of
circumstances used are as this proper sequence, such as; location, cause, manner, matter,
accompaniment, and extent.

4. Textual Metafunction

The textual metafunction of the text was analyzed with theme-rheme framework. The
theme of each clause was identified in three kinds theme, namely topical, textual, and
interpersonal. Below is the result of the analysis.

1 Most Canadians are shocked to hear that Canada has the fourth highest level of
gun violence amongst OECD nations.
Topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

2 A revealing comparison is with Japan, which has an absolute ban on firearms.

topical
 23

Theme Rheme
Unmarked

3 Japan reports an average of 0.005 firearm homicides per 100,000

people per year.
Topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

4 Canada, by the same averages 0.48, nearly 100 times that of Japan.
measure,
Topical interpersonal
Theme Rheme
unmarked

5 The United States, at 3.65, is almost 730 times the Japanese statistic.
Topical interpersonal
Theme Rheme
unmarked

6 The problem of illegal gun is compounded by the problem of illicit

possession firearms trade from the U.S.
Topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

7 In 2016, law enforcement confiscated more than 25,000 illegal firearms

topical
Theme Rheme
marked

8 and out of which, 20,000 were non-restricted.

textual
Theme Rheme
marked

9 These are weaponsthat do not need to be registered

topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

10 A law-enforcement officer cannot just confiscate these firearms

topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

11 unless they were found through a specific investigation;

Textual topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked
 24

12 there is no assumption of guilt.

topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

13 With a complete criminalization on possession, there would be.

Textual topical
Theme Rheme
marked

14 Current proposals do not address this problemand only burden the RCMP.
topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

15 Criminalizing possession of has not been seriously considered by our government

all guns for fear of political backlash from the electorate.
topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked
16 However, according to a recent 69 per cent of Canadians believe in a
Ekos poll, “strict ban” on guns in urban areas.
Textual Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
marked

17 Those supporting gun bans do not belong to one side of the political
spectrum.
topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

18 86 per cent of Liberal respondents, 56 per cent of Conservative supported the ban.
respondents and 75 per cent of NDP respondents
topical
Theme Rheme
unmarked

19 The carnage of shootings in Toronto, are painful examples of gun violence’s

Fredericton, Quebec City and Montreal’s tragic effects.
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

20 In the wake of these incidents, the common reaction is “thoughts and prayers.
.
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Marked
 25

21. Thoughts and prayers

aren’t enough.
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

22. Our objective must be to eradicate gun violence by addressing

its primary cause: the ease of access to guns.
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

23 We must criminalize possession of all firearms in Canada

Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked
24 This is a justifiably pragmatic policy
recommendation, not an overreaction.
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

are some clear exceptions: licensed hunters, gun

25 There clubs, sports shooters and law enforcement
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

is absolutely no justifiable reason for an

26 Barring these, there individual to be carrying a firearm.

Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Marked

has already witnessed 50 per cent more

27. Toronto shootings in 2018 than the whole of 2014.
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

28 Some incorrectly suggest that banning firearms will not reduce overall levels of violence.
Topical
Theme Rheme
MARKED

29 The sheer number of guns available enables these crimes to occur.

Topical
 26

Theme Rheme
UNMARKED

30 Canada has the second highest rate of gun possession in the

developed world at 34,7 guns per 100 people.
Topical
Theme Rheme
UNMARKED

31 Attempts have been made to reduce gun violence

through legislation.
Topical
Theme Rheme
UNMARKED

32 First, there was the gun registry system ,which then the
concervative government abolished in 2011
Topical
Theme Rheme
UNMARKED

33 This year,Public Safety Minister has proposed Bill C-71 which extends background
Ralph Goodale checks and requires vendor registries.
Topical
Theme Rheme
MARKED

34 Toronto Mayor John Tory has proposed a complete ban on handguns

in the city.
Topical
Theme Rheme
UNMARKED

35 And last week the federal government announced it is dedicating $ 86 million over the
next five years on measures to tackle gun violence.
Topical
Theme Rheme
MARKED

36 These proposals are constructive,but we need to be bold and go further.

Topical
Theme Rheme
MARKED

37 To effectively Criminalize the possession of firearms

Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
Marked (Process)

38 We at the mosaic institute Have three recommendations

Topical
Theme Rheme
 27

Unmarked

39 Classify any gun not listed as Non-Restricted, Restricted or Prohibited as Restricted

Interpersonal
Theme
Marked

40 Currently, any gun not listed is classified as Non-Restricted in the

Canadian Criminal Code
Interpersonal Topical
Theme Rheme
Marked

41 This essentially legalizes undocumented firearm

Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

42 This should Be added as an amendment to Bill C-71

Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

43 Creating a special buyback fund for firearms

Interpersonal
Theme
Marked

44 Australia in 1996 instituted a buyback program through the

National Firearms Agreement.
Topical
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

45 This initiative initiative bought over 650,000 firearms for

approximately US$230-million, removing
them permanently from circulation
Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

46 There was a dramatic reduction in gun violence after

the buyback scheme.
Topical
Theme Rheme
Marked

47 Ratification of the United Nation Firearms Protocol

Interpersonal Topical
Theme
Marked
 28

48 Canada has signed but not ratified the protocol which

seeks to control the illicit arms trade.
Topical
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

49 Out of the 125 countries, only 10 have not ratified

Topical
Theme Rheme
Marked

50 The shooter in Toronto’s Danforth used a gun which might have been sourced
neighborhood this past summer from the United States
Topical
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

51 The shooter in Toronto’s Danforth used a gun which might have been sourced
neighborhood this past summer from the United States
Topical
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

52 This is indicative of a broader problem of illicit

gun-flow from the U.S., which is not a party
to the UN Protocol
Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

53 This is indicative of a broader problem of illicit

gun-flow from the U.S., which is not a party
to the UN Protocol
Interpersonal
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

54 And so less likely to prioritize mitigation of illicit gun

Interpersonal Topical
Theme
Marked

is the usual opposition from the small

55 There but vocal gun lobby
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

is an “unnecessary response” to gun

56 claiming that, this violence
Topical Theme
 29

Theme Rheme
Marked

is unjustified “civil disarmament

57 and that banning guns
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Marked

is civil disarmament
58 Criminalization of possession
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

is unjustified “civil disarmament

59 and that banning guns
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

argue, but amidst growing public

60 they concern, increasing fatalities and
rampant trafficking
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

is our moral imperative to push for

61 It criminalizing possession.
Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

would be a compromise on protecting

62 Anything less lives,

Topical Theme
Theme Rheme
Unmarked

is unjustifiable
63 and that
Topical Theme
 30

Theme Rheme
Marked

After analyzing, the results were calculated and presented in the table below:
NO Theme Total Percentages
1 Marked 21 33.3%
2 Unmarked 42 66.6%

NO Elements of Theme Total Percentages

1 Textual 7 11%
2 Interpersonal 11 17%
3 Topical 47 74%

According to Thompson (2014), in order to see how speakers construct their message,
one must look at the point of view at the clause textual metafunction. In English, as in many
other languages, the clause is organized as a message by having a special status assigned to
one part of it. One element in the clause is enunciated as theme; then combines with the
remainder, hence two parts together constitute a message (Halliday, p 37).
The Unmarked Theme that usually written straightforwardly to identify is a simple
declarative clause. Hortatory texts represent the attempt of the writer to persuade the reader to
should do or shouldn’t case in form of argumentation, therefore in our hortatory text
unmarked Themes are more often used than the marked ones since marked ones are unusual
to draw attention to themselves and does not conflated with the grammatical subjects
therefore making the marked one the least frequent in our text (Halliday, 1994). Theme also
must always include a constituent that play a role in transitivity therefore Halliday and
Matthiessen label thematic experiential constituent the ‘topical Theme’ which is in topic-
comment analysis. In our hortatory text, according to statistic percentage data presented,
topical Theme usually becomes the preference to be used to structure the message. Therefore,
writers able to deliver their arguments based on the main concern that become the topic in the
text, so that the message structurally written and delivered.
Percentage statistic data has shown that interpersonal and textual Theme is also
involved in our hortatory text. However, they were slightly used in this text, since in order to
see what is going to be fitted in (in this case arguments/opinions), we need to have an element
from the experiential content. This concludes that the elements of interpersonal and textual
needs to be supported by the topical elements in order to create acceptable arguments that
support the writers’ idea or recommendations.

D. Conclusions
 31

After analyzing the expert text, it is concluded that the text could be a good model of
a well written hortatory exposition text. it can be seen from the characteristics found in the
text.
Firstly, the text has met the expected generic structure of hortatory exposition genre. It
has a thesis statement which clearly articulate and represent the whole purpose of the text,
which is to persuade the readers to support the ban of gun possession. Then, the author
provides five arguments to supports the thesis statement. These arguments relate to the thesis
statement.
Then, the strong use of declarative type of clause in all sentences makes it a good
hortatory exposition text as it should be mostly about giving arguments. The fulfillment of the
interpersonal metafunction is also supported by the dominant use of simple present tense.
Then, the dominance of positive polarity and the use of modality in the form of obligation
and possibility show the ability of the author to convey the urgency of the matter being
discussed as well as to predict what would happen if the policy is or is not implemented.
Moreover, the lack of appraisal found shows that the author put forward objective arguments,
not personal judgment.
From the perspective of ideational metafunction, which analyzed transitivity, the
dominant process found in the text is the relational attributive process. This process implies
that the author provides a lot of facts and issues supporting the proposal. However, the use of
mental process more than material process does not really support it as a good hortatory
exposition. Auspiciously, the difference is not significant. Moreover, the text was found with
a moderate number of circumstances which gives the arguments enough context.
Finally, from the textual metafunction analysis, it was found that a large number of
the clauses are categorized as unmarked theme. Since hortatory texts represent the attempt of
the writer to persuade the reader to should do or shouldn’t do a proposal in form of
argumentation, unmarked theme is better to clearly convey the purpose. Since hortatory
exposition is usually found in a formal to semi-formal situation, if marked theme where to be
used more, it would not successfully persuade the reader.

E. Pedagogical Implications
Every text has different genre; it depends on text types. Actually, genre can be called
as the identity of the text, as the illustration the hortatory text is drawn to be example. A
typical structure of hortatory text is thesis, argument and recommendation. Eventually, from
that structure, it could predict the aim or the social purpose of that text and be led to identify
 32

the genre. As Butt, Fahey, Feez & Spinks (2012) state that genres which achieve the same
social purpose tend to follow similar structural patterns or generic structure.
The concept of genre provides students how to create the text linguistically. As the
hortatory text aims to persuade people, then students will be able to write it properly by
having knowledge about genre. Therefore, it will fulfill students’ target in switching their
opinion into writing form, because genre will assist students to write the organize text as
well.
The above analysis is needed to improve how language is used to make meaning in
the text for students. For instance, the first aspect is ideational meaning. This particular aspect
helps teacher to explain how the students imply their idea or their experience properly by
using this metafunction which aimed to present experience in language by concerning to have
process types and circumstances. Other necessary aspect that should be informed by teacher
to the students is interpersonal metafunction. In writing text, students should be able to
express their feeling in the real the discourse contextually and to get the reader tended into it.
After that, textual meaning is the last aspect to help students in writing text by guiding
students to produce the meaningful and organized content.
In accordance with the explanation above those three metafunctions are massively
necessary to help teacher in improving students’ skill in writing text; and it is essential to
make a significant contribution to the education. Furthermore, teacher should be more
explicit in teaching the aspects of a good text—not necessarily tell them about metafunctions,
but by telling them the key characteristics.
 33

References

Eggins, S. (2004). An introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics (2nd ed.). London, UK:
Continuum.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994). An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Knapp, P., & Watkins, M. (2005). Genre, text, grammar: technology for teaching and
assessing writing. New South Wales: University of New South Wales Press.
Martin, J. R., & Rose, D. (2007). Working with discourse: Meaning beyond the clause (2nd
Ed.). London, UK: Continuum.
 34

Appendix
Original text
OPINION

We must criminalize gun possession in

Canada
VAHAN KOLOLIAN
CONTRIBUTED TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2018UPDATED NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Vahan Kololian is chairman of the The Mosaic Institute.

Most Canadians are shocked to hear that Canada has the fourth highest level of gun
violence amongst OECD nations. A revealing comparison is with Japan, which has an
absolute ban on firearms. Japan reports an average of 0.005 firearm homicides per
100,000 people per year. Canada, by the same measure, averages 0.48, nearly 100
times that of Japan. The United States, at 3.65, is at almost 730 times the Japanese
statistic.

The carnage of shootings in Toronto, Fredericton, Quebec City and Montreal’s

Ahuntsic-Cartierville are painful examples of gun violence’s tragic effects. In the
wake of these incidents, the common reaction is “thoughts and prayers.” Thoughts
and prayers aren’t enough. Our objective must be to eradicate gun violence by
addressing its primary cause: the ease of access to guns. We must criminalize
possession of all firearms in Canada.
 35

This is a justifiably pragmatic policy recommendation, not an overreaction. There are

some clear exceptions: licensed hunters, gun clubs, sports shooters and law
enforcement. Barring these, there is absolutely no justifiable reason for an individual
to be carrying a firearm.

Toronto has already witnessed 50 per cent more shootings in 2018 than the whole of
2014.

Some incorrectly suggest that banning firearms will not reduce overall levels of
violence. The sheer numbers of guns available enables these crimes to occur. Canada
has the second-highest rate of gun possession in the developed world at 34.7 guns
per-100-people, compared to the U.K.’s 5.03.

Attempts have been made to reduce gun violence through legislation. First there was
the gun registry system, which the then Conservative government abolished in 2011.
This year, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has proposed Bill C-71, which
extends background checks and requires vendor registries. Toronto Mayor John Tory
has proposed a complete ban on handguns in the city. And last week the federal
government announced it is dedicating $86-million over the next five years on
measures to tackle gun violence. These proposals are constructive, but we need to be
bold and go further.

The problem of illegal gun possession is compounded by the problem of illicit

firearms trade from the U.S. In 2016, law enforcement confiscated more than 25,000
illegal firearms and out of which, 20,000 were non-restricted. These are weapons
that do not need to be registered. A law-enforcement officer cannot just confiscate
these firearms unless they were found through a specific investigation; there is no
assumption of guilt. With a complete criminalization on possession, there would be.
Current proposals do not address this problem and only burden the RCMP.

Criminalizing possession of all guns has not been seriously considered by our
government for fear of political backlash from the electorate. However, according to
a recent Ekos poll, 69 per cent of Canadians believe in a “strict ban” on guns in urban
areas. Those supporting gun bans do not belong to one side of the political spectrum.
86 per cent of Liberal respondents, 56 per cent of Conservative respondents and 75
per cent of NDP respondents supported the ban.

To effectively criminalize the possession of all firearms, we at the Mosaic Institute

have three recommendations:

1. Classify any gun not listed as Non-Restricted, Restricted or Prohibited as

Restricted. Currently, any gun not listed is classified as Non-Restricted in
the Canadian Criminal Code. This essentially legalizes undocumented
firearm possessions. This should be added as an amendment to Bill C-71.

2. Creating a special buyback fund for firearms. Australia in 1996 instituted a

buyback program through the National Firearms Agreement. This initiative
bought over 650,000 firearms for approximately US$230-million, removing
them permanently from circulation. There was a dramatic reduction in gun
violence after the buyback scheme.
 36

3. Ratification of the United Nation Firearms Protocol. Canada has signed but
not ratified the protocol which seeks to control the illicit arms trade. Out
of the 125 countries, only 10 have not ratified.

The shooter in Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood this past summer used a gun
which might have been sourced from the United States. This is indicative of a
broader problem of illicit gun-flow from the U.S., which is not a party to the UN
Protocol. And so less likely to prioritize mitigation of illicit gun trafficking.

There is the usual opposition from the small but vocal gun lobby, claiming that this is
an “unnecessary response” to gun violence and that banning guns is unjustified “civil
disarmament”. Criminalization of possession is civil disarmament, they argue, but
amidst growing public concern, increasing fatalities and rampant trafficking, it is our
moral imperative to push for criminalizing possession. Anything less would be a
compromise on protecting lives, and that is unjustifiable.

Taken from: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-we-must-criminalize-gun-possession-

in-canada/