FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES

BACHELOR OF MASS COMMUNICATION (HONS) JOURNALISM

UITM SHAH ALAM

ELC501: INTEGRATED LANGUAGE SKILLS I

WRITTEN ARTICLE ANALYSIS

Marie Kondo, you know what would spark joy? Buying less crap

PREPARED BY:

SHARIFAH SHAZFIKA BINTI SYED 2023372029

MOHAMED RAHIM

HANIS BATRISYIA BINTI HAMIDI 2023148957

PREPARED FOR:

MADAM IZLIN MOHAMAD GHAZALI

SUBMISSION DATE:

21st JANUARY 2024

 Item Table

No. Item Key sentence

1. Identify the issue in a text

The issue is about the effectiveness of “Tidying
up with Marie Kondo’ the Neftlix series where
the Japanese decluttering expert, all unloved
and used items will be packed in a rubbish bag
and be thrown away.

2. Identify author’s point of view Ways on how to clean up things but does not
harm the environment

3. Types of supporting details Suggest a method called “Mottanai”

4. Supports evaluation Cutting up old skirts for cleaning cloths to

replace sponges and paper towels

5. Inferences and draw conclusions Recycling does not dispose of the unwanted
items completely. The conclusion is the article
serves as a thought-provoking critique of a
popular decluttering approach.

6. The stated main ideas The only solution to our waste crisis is to halt
the consumerism clogging our landfills,
polluting our oceans and overcrowding our
homes.

7. Author’s purpose To spread awareness and urge individuals to

consider the long-term consequences of their
consumption and disposal habits.

8. Author’s tone Concerned and cynical.

Written Article Analysis

In the article, “Marie Kondo, You Know What Would Spark Joy? Buying Less Crap”, the
authors tackle the effectiveness of “Tidying up with Marie Kondo’ the Neftlix series
where the Japanese decluttering expert, all unloved and used items will be packed in
rubbish bags and be thrown away. This can be seen when the author’s argue on the
culture of disposing unused items which is not helping the environment with loads of
waste. She implied that with words ``don't like it, just bin it” indicates the tones of
dissatisfaction and doubts in this article to convince readers that by throwing unused
items can cause harm to the environment even though you will clear out your house
from throwing unused items.

A counter argument is stated from the author about ways on how to clean up things but
does not harm the environment around us. For example, the author suggests a method
called “Mottanai” which is a Japanese tradition that we could use. The ideas proposed
by the author are cutting up old shirts for cleaning cloths to replace sponges and paper
towels to save the environment. Other than that, repair old shoes, kitchen appliances,
old clothes instead of throwing them away.

The author generally appears to be deductive reasoning. The author said generally
there is another method which is better in order to give a lesson to the world about the
problem with rubbish.

Furthermore, the issue discussed in the article appears strong but doubtful. This is
because the author does not state any source or evidence that is verifiable to support
her opinion regarding the issue. Despite using a reference by another author that writes
about the study of postwar Japanese history, the author mentioned that the book’s
author only shares the Konmari method with her personally and not testified by the
general public. Besides, the author also does not specify her reference or citation about
the recycling crisis that occurred in China. As a result, her argument in this article is not
convincing enough.

Moreover, the author mainly highlights the main ideas in this article, which is that the
only solution to our waste crisis is to halt consumerism, clogging our landfills, polluting
our oceans and overcrowding our homes. In regard to that, her purpose is related to the
issue as the author aims to spread awareness and urge individuals to consider the
long-term consequences of their consumption and disposal habits. Although so, the
author sounds concerned as the people have the tendency to think that recycling is
easy and will help the environment better when the reality is so much more. At the same
time, we find that the author also appears to critique the issue cynically. For instance,
she uses an exclamation mark to beg her audience to stop adding more to the occurring
issue.

Overall, the article presents a critical perspective on the KonMari method, highlighting
its potential contribution to the global waste problem. It effectively communicates the
need for a more sustainable approach to decluttering and consumption, emphasizing
the environmental impact of discarding items that do not "spark joy." The discussion of
mottainai and the call to reduce consumerism provide practical alternatives to tackle the
issue, aligning with the broader societal shift towards sustainable living. Ultimately, the
article serves as a thought-provoking critique of a popular decluttering approach, urging
individuals to consider the long-term consequences of their consumption and disposal
habits.