First, look at the source of this article.
What assumptions can we make about the target readership?
Number the paragraphs.
A pun- albeit a poor one- is used in the heading.
Identify and explain it.
The tone of this is colloquial, chatty, relaxed.
Find evidence of this is paragraph 1.
So, taking this colloquial and reasonable tone –“On the whole…I tend to
think…” the writer introduces the subject of cycle lanes.
In paragraph 2 he signals a change of direction in the argument by using “But” at the beginning of his topic sentence.
What problems are presented a) by bike lanes and b) by driver behaviour around bike lanes?
Paragraph 3 moves into the arena of figures and statistics.
List these and explain their effect.
It also quotes an authoritative source.
What source, and why is it chosen?
Comment on the use of “sheer quantity”, “staggering” and “dumped”.
Look at the verbs in the last sentence of the paragraph, particularly “dumped”, “smashed” and “shattered”.
Comment on this choice of vocabulary.
Paragraph
4 returns to the anecdote with which the writer began. He continues the
colloquial tone with abbreviations – “didn’t…shouldn’t” and leaves us
with a statement about how he feels. He has conveyed his argument
through a well blended mix of fact and opinion.
Identify what in this article is fact and what is the writer’s opinion or belief.