How do I analyse pronouns in a text?

Firstly, decide whether the pronouns in the text are inclusive or exclusive. Pronouns such as ‘you’ and ‘we’ can be used inclusively to involve the reader in the text. For example, imagine a poster with the headline: YOU CAN HELP SAVE OUR PLANET. The use of the second person pronoun ‘you’ is inclusive and personal, and gives the effect that the writer is speaking directly to you, not to just anybody who will listen. Additionally, the determiner ‘our’ conveys possession; this creates the effect that you have a joint responsibility in saving the planet. Pronouns such as ‘they’, however, can be exclusive, because it alludes to a group that does not involve you, the reader. Be careful, because the pronoun ‘we’ can also be used exclusively. Think about the Prime Minister giving a speech: “we want to help you”. The pronoun ‘we’ here is referring to the government, and the reader is ‘you’. Inclusive and exclusive pronouns can effectively create division in texts.It is also important to consider the context, or discourse, of your text. Are these the types of pronouns you would expect to find? A political speech would likely contain inclusive pronouns such as ‘you’ and ‘we’ to give the effect that they are talking just to you; this could be a persuasive technique to encourage you to vote for this person. They may also use ‘they’ to create division between themselves and the opposition. Context is important, and the same pronoun can have different effects depending on the type of text. For example, the pronoun ‘you’ can be used to create intimacy in a letter, or world unity in a speech. Finally, remember to consider why the author is using these techniques, and what effect they are trying to achieve.