TPC LALS "B"

FEATURES OF TEXTUAL FORMS

(Mistakenly called "genres" in the syllabus)

PRINT JOURNALISM

The "lead" paragraph/sentence deals with the latest development

The "angle" – the piece usually stresses some "newsworthy" aspect of the story

Use of quotes to lend authenticity

Answers the questions WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? HOW? WHY?

Short paragraphs and sentences, esp. in Tabloid format

Active voice e.g. "A number of witnesses saw the thief escape" not "The thief’s escape was seen by…"

(Thanks to Bronwyn Watson)

Columns (Regular – written by the same journalist each day or week)

Individualistic style

May be satirical, humorous

Political or social comment, usually focussed around current news issues

Varied register according to purpose, subject matter, audience

May use argumentative language features (logical connectives, complex sentences, rhetorical or polemical devices)

More researched and carefully written than the regular column written to a deadline – often by "freelance" writers who have time to polish and revise before submitting

Topics include current or social issues; "Human Interest" stories; the arts; science and technology; entertainment; biographical pieces with an "angle" that would interest the reader; history; psychology etc. etc.

Register mainly formal/common depending on audience or subject matter. In the broadsheet format papers these are mainly written for an A-B audience – have reasonably sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structure and may well employ many language resources for their effectiveness.

May employ technical terms, jargon e.g. music reviews

Use the language of critical judgement and argument – sometimes quite detailed and closely argued

Often for a coterie audience e.g. reviews of the latest classical concert or grunge band

Use of connotative language

Variety of registers according to purpose, audience: compare brief review giving a simple impression and/or recommendation with the more extended critical piece – sometimes 2000+ words.

Deal with one issue

Use language of persuasion, argument

Brief and to the point

Frequent (attempted) use of humour

Occasionally the newspaper will publish more extended letters – these are often from public figures or politicians who like to reply at length when they’re being attacked; or else from individuals who are known authorities on an issue.

Often a series of stories

May be about events some time ago, or which form a continuing series e.g. an important court case like Mabo, or major political or social developments.

Very detailed and factual

Usually closely argued with use of language of argument and inference to build up a case

BUT often the point of view is highly opinionated or biased

Reliance on sources which are validated and corroborated (i.e. the same fact should be established by two independent sources). Sources not disclosed, however – c.f. scholarly articles and essays. (Journalistic "ethics"? – the more pragmatic reason for this is so that journalists can continue to delve for information – if you disclose your source it could cause problems for the person and you may find your career as a journalist over – no-one will give you info any more!)

Begin with a clear statement of the issue – often under a headline

Take a definite point of view

Usually employ a forceful tone

Use the resources of the language of persuasion and argument: rhetorical devices, logic, emotive language (compare Tabloid and Broadsheet – in what specific ways does the use of language differ?)

Usually formal register

Deal with one issue at a time (The Herald has two editorials – about separate issues)

Has all the features of news items in terms of reporting but:

Much more use of jargon (language peculiar to the sport and its fans e.g. "In the Third inning the Red Sox stole a base to a safe hit" (Do you know what this means? I don’t and I’ve probably got it wrong but you get my point…)

So there is an assumed knowledge and interest on the part of the reader (if you’re not interested already in this particular sport you just won’t read the article.)

More informal register although the word choice and sentence structure may vary according to the socio-economic level of the sports fans

NB Sports writing can be a literary genre (Hemingway on big game hunting, bullfighting; Neville Cardus on cricket , Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler, George Bernard Shaw – a noted amateur pugilist – on boxing)

Purpose is to inform of course, but may also be to entertain; travel writing is also an important literary genre and some of the greatest writers have contributed

Register varies widely according to the context (Lonely Planet, or Wordworth’s Recollections of a Walking Tour in the Lake District). But often informal or humorous

Often personal; sometimes in diary form

Wide variety of tones and registers employed – from light and flippant to sarcastic, even scathing (imagine a review of Fawlty Towers), to serious and reflective

Use of anecdotes, personal narrative to arouse interest and give a human interest angle

May use layout – quite detailed with maps, timetables, major sections highlighted, summaries, lists

Word choice and sentence structure varies according to purpose and audience

Mixture of informal and formal register, with some technical language and jargon (though usually explained)

Frequent use of analogy to illustrate key points – these are often developed as similes or metaphors to add impact and reader appeal and also to explain concepts (e.g. "black hole")

Frequent use of quotes from scientific experts

Logical structure and paragraph development,(often with headings) but not so tightly structured as a scientific article or chapter from a text book.

Use of simplified diagrams or illustrations – well laid-out and integrated – good use of colour and graphics more important than strict scientific accuracy

Much less use of referencing than in serious articles or texts

AIDA structure (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) – hence features:\

Eye-catching – use of images, logo, typeface

The "copy" – usually onvolves some kind of verbal cleverness – e.g. puns. Watch also for antithesis, understatement, hyperbole, paradox, oxymoron – this catches the reader’s attention if only by confusing them for a moment ("What’s this about?") They want you to forget it’s an ad…

In Australia, less use of language features and more use of layout, visuals (this is changing as we become a more verbally sophisticated culture but compare ads here to those in Britain)

Register – informal, colloquial

Often use of humour (but should not detract from the message of the ad)

Repetition (especially of brand name, Key Selling Point –KSP)

Often use of narrative, characters (more so on TV and radio but print and billboard ads do it too); foreshortened and reliance on reader’s knowledge of codes to construct the narrative and link it to the product ("Every ad should tell a story")

Appeal to readers’ needs, wants, fears, desires

"Fine Print" at the bottom ("This offer does not include wheels")

Sometimes box or tear-off coupon ("Mail this today") – this fulfils the "action" part of the formula and makes the first step easy

Brochures/Leaflets

Purpose may be purely informative or informative/persuasive

Plain English

Use of other languages

Very clear layout, logical structure

Use of simple, informative diagrams, illustrations

Neutral to friendly tone – denotative vocabulary

Attractive colour scheme, layout

Emotive language and words with favourable connotations

Varied register

Style may vary from eloquent to to colloquial

Uses techniques of advertising (AIDA)

Plain English

Very clear layout, format (point form)

Diagrams (labelled, arrowed, captioned) which should be accurate and complete enough for the reader to perform the task.

Neutral tone

Technical terms used but explained

Convenient format (the document is for constant use and so should be easy to handle and consult)

Always formal register

Assumed technical knowledge so frequent use of technical terms, jargon

Scholarly apparatus (footnotes or in-text referencing, bibliography, index, appendices)

Language of argument, detailed explanation

Emphasis on precise statement, accurate information

Where tables and diagrams are used these are complete, precise and detailed

Sometimes use of summaries, questions, exercises, answers to set questions

Complex sentences

Style dominated by demands of subject and sometimes makes few concessions to a general audience –the person reading this sort of material is doing so for a very specific purpose and has some assumed background knowledge.

If a textbook it may have been designed to be used in conjunction with a course of lectures or classes and have specific features as such i.e. be broken up into lessons.