Reading and Text Analysis - Journalistic Texts - S1-L2 - 2024-2025 PDF

Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |1 M’Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdes Faculty of Letters and Languages School of English Academic Year: 2024/2025...

Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |1 M’Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdes Faculty of Letters and Languages School of English Academic Year: 2024/2025 Level: Second Year Semester: S3 Module: Reading and Text Analysis Course Coordinator: Dr F. MAHFOUF Introduction: There are different types of texts: Journalistic texts, poetic texts, multimodal texts, and administrative texts. Knowing the type of the text is crucial to reading comprehension. When you recognise the type, this helps you identify the writer’s intention and adjust your focus accordingly. For example, the news article structure which follows the inverted pyramid style (most important information first) allows you to prioritise key points at the beginning and decide if you need further details. I. What is a Journalistic Text?  Journalism is the practice of gathering, recording, verifying, and reporting on information of public importance.  The most important difference between journalism and other forms of non-fiction writing is the idea of objectivity. Journalists are expected to keep an objective mindset at all times as they interview sources, research events, and write and report their stories. Their stories should not aim to persuade their readers but instead to inform. That is not to say you will never find an opinion in a newspaper—rather, journalists must be incredibly mindful of keeping subjectivity to pieces like editorials, columns, and other opinion-based content (Purdue, 2024). II. Why is it important to read journalistic texts? 1. Journalistic texts offer university students access to contemporary language and help them stay informed about current events. This makes the material both relevant and appealing to students (Manasrah & Al-Khawaldeh, 2014, 132). 2. Incorporating journalistic texts in the classroom could encourage university students to engage more actively in extracurricular activities (Jacobson, Deneger, & Purcell-Gates, 2003). 3. Students who read newspapers in a foreign language can enhance their language skills. This practice expands their vocabulary, as they often refer to a dictionary when encountering unfamiliar words in specific journalistic texts (H. Hoa, 2002). III. What are the hallmarks of a journalistic writing? Journalistic texts aim to inform readers about current events, issues, or topics of interest, while often maintaining a balance between objectivity and engagement. Here are the hallmarks of journalistic writing/texts: 1. Simplicity and Brevity 2. Precision 3. Objectivity and Factual 4. Fairness and Balance 5. Inverted Pyramid Structure 1  Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |2 Learn more about the features 1. Simplicity & Brevity Journalists should write with simplicity in such a way that audiences can easily understand the content without having to read it multiple times. The goal is to break down even the most complex concepts, and write them in our own words so that everyone “gets it.” Writing with brevity (short and to the point) helps create simplicity. The longer a sentence is, the more difficult it is to understand. Also, audiences do not like long paragraphs because they look too overwhelming to read. Journalists therefore strive to keep sentences shorter than 20 words, and paragraphs no more than 2-3 sentences, in general. Some paragraphs are only one sentence long, which is fine.  Example: a. A wordy sentence full of redundancies: The musicians’ future plans for their recording studio would require their studio executives to totally demolish and completely rebuild the facility at a cost of five million dollars, which is something the studio president, an elderly divorced woman named Myra Curtis, vehemently refused to do. b. Sentence revised for simplicity and brevity: The musician’s plans for their recording studio would require executives to rebuild it for $5 million, which President Myra Curtis refuses. Another way to achieve simplicity is by writing in the active voice, which simply means using this format: subject, verb, direct object. For example:  Passive Voice: The article was written by Murray.  Active Voice: Murray wrote the article. Passive voice sentences are avoided because they are longer, more difficult to understand, and sometimes make it unclear as to whom did what. That can be particularly problematic in journalism because it is our job to make it clear to audiences who is responsible (whether good or bad) for the events of the story. 2. Precision Precision means that each word should be used as it was intended by its original “dictionary” meaning. Meanings often evolve over time, but in journalistic writing, we stay true to the book. There should also be no slang or abbreviations. Here are a couple of examples: “cop” and “kid.” 2 Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |3 A cop is a slang term for a police officer, and a kid is, by definition, a baby goat. Journalists should therefore not use them unless for their intended meanings. When in doubt, look it up: a dictionary is a journalist’s best friend. 3. Objectivity Objectivity means the absence of personal opinion.  A journalist’s writing should be based on facts, observations, and interviews with expert sources, or those knowledgeable of the issue.  Write in third person (he, she, they), not first person (I, me, my, our, we), to stay removed from the story in order to be fully objective.  Do not write about what you think, believe, or feel, but what you see and hear. The only opinions which should be included are the sources’ opinions, and you must attribute all opinions properly so that readers know who said what.  Journalists avoid adjectives and adverbs because they tend to insert opinion. Instead, writers should opt for specific nouns and active verbs that best illustrate the facts.  Example of not staying objective: - Cassidy Martin is so intelligent and talented that she will definitely become a success after graduation. Explanation: Intelligent and talented are adjectives – not facts. They are purely subjective terms. What one person considers intelligent or talented is not necessarily true for another person. Also, “she will definitely become a success” is not a factual statement because there is no way of predicting that. Instead, a journalist would focus on the facts, and let the reader form his own opinion.  Example of objective writing: - Because Cassidy Martin has held a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and won five national awards for her artistry, her classmates and teachers voted her “Most Likely to Succeed.” Explanation: Every element of the sentence is now verifiable and factual, with no opinions.  Another way writers convey important elements of a story is through sources. We interview people with knowledge of a story so that they can share their opinions and experiences as they relate to the story topic. For example: Lauren Thames, a counselor at Martin’s school, said, “Cassidy is such an intelligent and talented student that we have no doubt she will become a huge success.” You want to interview sources who are knowledgeable about the story, and include their comments, either as direct or indirect quotes. The key is to properly attribute their comments so that readers know who said what. 4. Fairness & Balance Fairness and balance are achieved by ensuring that both sides of a story are addressed and receive equal coverage. Some stories even have more than two sides! Journalists should never take one person’s version of events at face value. Sometimes, of course, a source on the other side of a story will either refuse to be interviewed, or will not return phone calls. Once a reporter has given every source ample time to respond, he can move on with the story. However, he must include a disclaimer in the story, such as: 3 Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |4 E.g. Repeated calls to Jonathan Windsor were not returned, or Jonathan Windsor declined to be interviewed for this story, or When contacted for this story, Jonathan Windsor replied, “No comment.” Whichever statement you use, it must be accurate. By including a disclaimer, you are letting readers know that you made every effort to achieve balance and fairness in the story. Based on that information, the reader will formulate his own opinion as to the source’s motivation for not responding. 5. Inverted Pyramid Structure Journalistic writing is most often written in a classical format called the Inverted Pyramid, which arranges the information in descending order of importance, or newsworthiness (from the most important to the least).  Following this structure, the “base” of the pyramid—the most fundamental facts— appear at the top of the story, in the lead paragraph. Non-essential information appears in the following paragraphs, or “nut” graphs, in order of importance.  Essential information generally refers to the oft-cited “Five Ws” of journalism: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. A successful lead paragraph communicates, on a basic level, the essential facts of who did what, when, where, and why.  The “nut” graphs that follow contain additional details, quotes from sources, statistics, background or other information. These are added to the article in order of importance, so that the least important items are at the bottom (Purdue, 2024). This structure allows readers to quickly understand the main points even if they do not read the entire article. To keep in mind:  Use short, simple words for clarity and accessibility  Keep sentences and paragraphs brief  Eliminate unnecessary words that create redundancy  Use active voice sentences for directness  State facts, NOT opinions  Avoid stereotypes: sexism, ageism, racism, etc.  Arrange information from most important to least important (Pyramid structure) Work cited: International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 4, No. 11(1); September 2014 The Effect of Using Journalistic Texts on the Development of Vocabulary of English as a Foreign Language for University Students Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Manasrah1 Dr. Khalaf Al-Khawaldeh2 Hoa Hoang (2002). The Importance of Reading. Ho Chi Minh : Nha Xuat Ban Tre. Jacobson, E., Degener, S., and Purcell-Gates, V. (2003). Creating authentic materials for the adult literacy classroom : A handbook for practitioners. Cambridge, MA : World Education, Inc. Websites: https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/journalistic-writing https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/journalism_and_journalistic_writing/index.html 4  Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |5 Focus: Columns in Journalistic Writing I. What is a column? According to the Online Cambridge Dictionary (2024), a column is 1. one of several vertical blocks of print into which a page of a newspaper or magazine is divided: E.g. I did not have time to read the whole article - just the first column. 2. In journalistic writing, a column is a recurring piece of writing (appears regularly) in a newspaper or magazine, authored by the same writer, usually on a particular subject, reflecting their personal opinions, insights, or commentary. E.g. She writes a weekly fashion/gossip column for the Evening Standard. 3. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024), the column may be humorous or serious, on one subject or on life in general, frivolous in tone or heavily freighted with good advice on manners, morals, or other subjects of interest. Essentially a column is a reflection of the writer’s individual tastes and point of view, whether it is concerned with women’s hats, foreign policy, or the stock market. N.B1: Unlike traditional news articles that prioritise objectivity and factual reporting, columns allow for a more subjective approach, enabling writers to express their viewpoints and engage with readers on a personal level. II. Characteristics of Columns According to the Harvard Kennedy School, partly, a column is defined by where it appears, but it shares some common characteristics: 1. Typically, it is short, between 750 and 800 words. 2. It has a clearly defined point of view. 3. It represents clarity of thinking. 4. It contains the strong, unique voice of the writer. Columnists can discuss topics ranging from politics to lifestyle (covering a variety of topics, including humour and local events, for instance) in a way that reflects their personal views and connect with various audience segments. 5. Columns are published at regular intervals (e.g., weekly, biweekly) and usually occupy a consistent spot in a publication, helping to build a loyal readership who knows where to find them. 6. It is published with a by-line (columnist’s name), column’s permanent title and the columnist’s picture. Source: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/hks-communications- program/files/new_seglin_how_to_write_an_oped_1_25_17_7.pdf III. How can a column writing be successful? According to the Harvard Kennedy School, every successful column must: 5 Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |6 1. have a clearly defined topic and theme.  Topic: the person, place, issue, incident, or thing that is the primary focus of the column. The topic is usually stated in the first paragraph.  Theme: another level of meaning to the topic. What’s the big, overarching idea of the column? What’s your point? Why is your point important? The theme may appear early in the piece or it may appear later when it may also serve as a turning point into a deeper level of argument. 2. Research While columns allow writers to include their own voice and express an opinion, to be successful the columns must be grounded in solid research. Research involves acquiring facts, quotations, citations, or data from sources and personal observation. Research also allows a reader to include sensory data (touch, taste, smell, sound, or sight) into a column. There are two basic methods of research: a. Field research: going to the scene, interviews, legwork; primary materials, observations, and knowledge b. Library, academic, or internet research: using secondary materials, including graphs, charts, and scholarly articles 3. Openings The first line of a column is crucial. The opening “hook” may grab the reader’s attention with a strong claim, a surprising fact, a metaphor, a mystery, or a counter-intuitive observation that entices the reader into reading more. The opening also briefly lays the foundation for your argument. 4. Endings Every good column or op-ed piece needs a strong ending, which has some basic requirements. It: a. Echoes or answers introduction b. Has been foreshadowed by preceding thematic statements c. Is the last and often most memorable detail d. Contains a final epiphany or calls the reader to action. There are two basic types of endings. An “open ending” suggests rather than states a conclusion, while a “closed ending” states rather than suggests a conclusion. The closed ending in which the point of the piece is resolved is by far the most commonly used. 5. Voice Having a strong voice is critical to a successful column. Columns are most typically conversational in tone, so you can imagine yourself have a conversation with your reader as you write (a short, focused conversation). But the range of voice used in columns can be wide: contemplative, conversational, descriptive, experienced, informative, informed, introspective, observant, plaintive, reportorial, self-effacing, sophisticated, humorous, among many other possibilities. IV. Types of Columns Columns can be categorised in several types based on their content and style as follows: 6  Reading and Text Analysis Mahfouf 2024 |7 1. Humorous Columns: use comedy to address everyday topics or current events. Sometimes these humorous columns spotlight an event more clearly than thousands of words of expounding and explaining. 2. Gossip Columns: Practically everybody likes to learn a juicy bit of gossip; one whole field of column writing is built on these characteristics. While column contains little except its titillating value, this need not be the writer’ s exclusive domain. The uncovering of a government scandall may have profound (and beneficial) ramifications, for instance. 3. “I Think” or Opinionated Columns: The columnists, either because of extensive training, long time observations, or sheer lack of modesty, set themselves up as experts and then expound their opinions for the general public. The self-opinionated experts try to compensate in the heat for what they cannot provide in light. 4. Lifestyle Columns: are a genre of writing that explores various aspects of daily life, including fashion, food, travel, health, and personal well-being. They can be written about finding an after-school job. In sum, columns are an integral part of journalistic writing that allow for personal expression and engagement with readers while covering a diverse array of topics. They differ significantly from traditional news articles by prioritizing the writer's voice and perspective over strict objectivity. To remember,  Columns are very often personal, stating an opinion and using first and second person (I, we, and you), answer why and how. A column also has a standard head, called a title, and a by-line (name) at the top. These identify you and your column for the reader (D. Foran, 2022).  Written on a regular schedule.  Written in simple and short sentences and paragraphs.  Personal columns include local names and places.  Let others speak for you by use of quotes and references. Try to tell the story through the experiences of local people.  No use of technical or complex words, unless required; then explain simply.  No jargon or unfamiliar terms. A good English usage and grammar are maintained  A variety of material (topics). Source: D. Foran (2022). Click on: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/cm360 Websites: https://www.britannica.com/topic/columnist https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/cm360 7