Visual Devices for Analysing Multimodal Texts: VCE English Guide

In Section C, you won’t always get just a written piece. You might also come across a multimodal text, like an advertisement, a poster, an infographic, or even a cartoon or political meme. You will need to analyse what’s being said and shown through visual devices.

Visual elements can be just as persuasive as words. They’re often used to spark emotions, guide attention, or reinforce the writer’s message.

So if you want to impress the markers, you need to understand visual devices, just as much as you understand literary devices.

This section is Part 2 of our VCE English Literary Techniques Guide, read Part 1 here.

Table of contents:

• Why visuals matter
• Top visual devices you should know
• How to analyse visuals in VCE English
• Annotated exemplar response
• Final tips for Section C success
• FAQs

Why visuals matter

Visuals are powerful. Our brain processes images faster than text and can provoke a strong emotional response in just a second. That’s why writers and creators use them to:

• Grab your attention
• Shape how you feel
• Support or enhance the written argument
• Position the audience to react in a certain way

For these reasons, the VCAA English Study Design (Unit 4, Area of Study 2) expects you to analyse them as persuasive texts, just like you would any literary persuasive technique.

Top visual devices you should know

Below is a list of key visual techniques that often show up in multimodal texts, along with examples and what to look for when you analyse them.

• Colour
• Camera angles
• Layout and design
• Facial expressions and body language
• Typography

Colour

What it is: Colour is a powerful visual tool. It can create mood, suggest symbolism, or subtly influence the way we perceive people or ideas.

Common uses:

• Red = danger, urgency, passion
• Blue = calm, trust, stability
• Black = power, mystery, or mourning
• Green = nature, safety, health
• Yellow = happiness, warning

Ask yourself: How does the colour choice support the tone or message?

Example:
In an ad about bushfire preparedness, the background is dominated by deep reds and oranges. This creates a sense of heat and danger, reinforcing the urgency of taking action before summer.

How to analyse:

The use of orange and black in the background evokes feelings of heat, alarm, and imminent danger. These colours reinforce the text’s urgent tone and position the viewer to act before it’s too late.

Camera angles

What it is: Camera angles influence how a subject is perceived, often used in images of people or settings.

Common uses:

• Low angle: makes the subject look powerful or intimidating.
• High angle: makes the subject seem weak, small, or vulnerable.
• Eye level: creates a neutral or relatable tone.

Example:
A political cartoon shows a leader from a low angle, towering over a crowd. This makes them appear dominant or even authoritarian.

How to analyse:

By positioning the subject from a low angle, the cartoon amplifies their power and control. This visual framing suggests dominance and may provoke concern or criticism in the audience.

Layout and design

What it is: This refers to how the elements of a visual are arranged—where the text, images, and headlines sit on the page.

Things to watch for:

• Central placement = importance
• Top-down design = hierarchy
• White space = emphasis or isolation
• Busy layout = overwhelm or urgency

Example:
In a public health poster, the headline “Wash Your Hands” is large, bold, and centred. Below it is an image of bacteria magnified. The layout ensures the message is immediate and attention-grabbing.

How to analyse:

The bold, central placement of the heading ensures that the viewer’s eye is immediately drawn to the key message. This layout enhances the urgency of the message and ensures it is not overlooked.

Facial expressions and body language

What it is: Visual cues from people’s faces and body posture help convey emotion, intent, and attitude.

Common uses:

• Smiles = trust, warmth, friendliness
• Frowns = concern, frustration
• Crossed arms = defensiveness
• Open arms = honesty or invitation

Example:
In a charity ad, a child is shown with teary eyes and a solemn expression, holding an empty bowl.

How to analyse:

The child’s facial expression conveys sadness and vulnerability, appealing to the audience’s compassion and prompting feelings of guilt or urgency to donate.

Typography

What it is: The choice of font, size, colour, and boldness of text.

Why it matters:

• Large fonts demand attention
• All-caps can suggest shouting or urgency
• Italics may imply tone or emphasis
• Serif vs. sans-serif fonts can affect formality or readability

Example:
A poster against animal cruelty uses bold, block letters for the words “STOP THE SUFFERING,” with a distressed font that looks cracked or worn.

How to analyse:

The cracked, bold typography visually mimics pain and damage, reinforcing the poster’s appeal to pathos and creating a tone of urgency and seriousness.

How to analyse visuals in your VCE English analysis

Visual analysis uses pretty much the same process you’d apply to literary technique analysis; just with what you see. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

1. Spot the technique:

Start by asking yourself, “What stands out visually?”. This will help you clearly identify the visual device. Don’t just describe what you see – name the technique clearly.

For example: “The image uses a low camera angle…”

2. Interpret its meaning:

What does the visual device suggest? Does it symbolise something? Does it support a tone or theme?

For example: “This suggests dominance and authority.”

3. Link it to the audience

How does it make the viewer feel? What kind of reaction does it prompt?

For example: “This positions the audience to feel threatened or powerless.”

4. Connect to the overall argument

Tie your analysis back to the creator’s message. How does the visual support the text’s purpose?

For example: “This reinforces the argument that the current leadership is dangerous.”

Full example analysis paragraph of visual techniques

The image uses a low camera angle to depict a political leader towering over a group of smaller figures. This visual technique suggests dominance and authority, making the leader appear powerful and potentially intimidating. The choice of angle positions the audience to feel threatened or powerless, evoking concern about the leader’s control. This reinforces the creator’s broader argument that the current leadership is overreaching or authoritarian, prompting the audience to question or oppose their authority.

Practice textual analysis!

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So, when writing about visuals, remember:

• Use specific terms: Words like camera angle, layout, colour, contrast, and symbolism help show you know what you’re talking about.
• Go beyond description: Don’t just say what you see—explain what it means or how it makes the audience feel.
• Connect it to the message: Always link the visual to the writer’s main argument or purpose.
• Blend it in: If there’s written and visual content, try to analyse them together in your paragraph when it makes sense.

Final tips for VCE English Section C success

To really get confident with your analysis skills—written and visual—it comes down to practice. Here are some quick tips to help you prepare effectively:

Use real-world examples

Analyse a mix of ads, posters, news graphics, and social media posts. Try to identify one or two visual techniques and write a short paragraph for each. The more exposure you have to visual texts, the better your pattern recognition becomes.

Time your responses

Section C gives you around 30 minutes to analyse one text. That’s not long. Set a timer and practise writing 1–2 body paragraphs where you integrate written and visual techniques.

Review VCAA samples

Check out VCAA sample papers and look at Matrix high-scoring student responses. Pay close attention to how visual techniques are woven into paragraphs—not treated as an afterthought! You’ll start to see patterns in what strong responses do well and what to avoid.

Keep it consistent

Add a visual text or multimodal analysis to your study plan at least once a week. Over time, it’ll become second nature.

FAQ: Visual Techniques in VCE English

Q: Do I need to analyse visuals in every Section C response?

Not always—only when the text includes visual features. If it’s purely written, focus on language. If the task presents a multimodal text, such as an ad or infographic, then you must analyse visuals to fully meet VCAA’s assessment criteria.

Q: How many visual techniques should I include in Section C?
While the Study Design doesn’t specify an exact number of techniques, it emphasises depth of analysis, audience positioning, and the effectiveness of persuasive features. Aiming for 2-3 strong visual techniques will allow you to make an in-depth analysis in the given time. Quality over quantity.

Q: Can I put visual and written techniques in the same paragraph?
Yes, you can include both visual and written techniques in the same paragraph, but only when they clearly work together to support the same idea. Make sure your analysis stays focused, and don’t force them into one paragraph if it disrupts clarity. Separate paragraphs are better when the techniques serve different persuasive purposes.

Q: What if I don’t know the technical term for something I see?

That’s okay. Just describe the visual element clearly and explain its intended effect. A well-explained point in plain language is better than misusing a technical term incorrectly or vaguely.

Ready to take it further?

Now that you’ve built your skills, you’re in a strong place to tackle unseen texts with confidence. Whether it’s a persuasive article or a multimodal ad, you now know how to break it down, analyse its techniques, and write responses that hit the mark.