Communicative Purpose
What is the main purpose of a news report?
To inform the public with recent, relevant, factual events in a clear and objective way.
Who is usually the target audience of an academic blog entry?
Mainly students or readers facing similar challenges, looking for advice or motivation.
What register is normally used in a news report?
What register is normally used in a news report?
What is the first structural element in a news report?
The headline (title).
What grammatical person is used in a news report?
Third person (he, she, they).
How does the communicative purpose of a blog entry differ from that of an editorial?
A blog entry is personal and motivational, aimed to help or inspire readers. An editorial expresses an opinion and persuades about a current issue.
What type of audience is considered for an interview in a national newspaper?
A general audience with broad interests but also specific groups if the topic is specialized.
What is the main stylistic difference between a blog entry and an editorial?
A blog is personal and informal, while an editorial is formal, persuasive, and argumentative.
What is the main structural difference between an editorial and a blog entry?
Editorials follow headline–introduction–body–conclusion. Blogs follow heading–daily entry–context–subheading–purpose–comments.
Why should spoken language in an interview be “polished” when transcribed?
To make it clear, readable, and professional while keeping authenticity.
Why can an interview have multiple purposes (inform, entertain, discuss)? Give one example.
Because it depends on the topic. For example, an interview with a scientist may inform about research, while one with a celebrity may entertain.
Why does the audience of a news report require clear and objective language?
Because the public needs unbiased, factual information to understand current events.
How does the blog’s “personal and motivational” tone differ from the interview’s “formal and informative” tone?
Blogs use “I” or “you” to connect with readers, while interviews keep a professional tone and structure around questions and answers.
Why is the Q&A section essential in an interview?
It provides the core information through direct questions and authentic answers.
How does an editorial use rhetorical devices to persuade?
Through rhetorical questions, contrasts, appeals to logic and emotion, and direct calls to action.
In an editorial, how is the purpose of persuading combined with the purpose of informing?
By presenting facts and real-life examples (informing) while using arguments and rhetoric to convince readers (persuading).
How does the intended audience influence the tone of an editorial compared to an interview?
Editorials use a confident and persuasive tone for mass readers, while interviews adapt tone based on the guest and topic, often more conversational.
What risk occurs if a journalist uses the wrong register (too informal in a report)?
It can reduce credibility and make the report seem biased or unprofessional.
Compare the body structure of an editorial with that of a news report.
Editorials develop arguments and persuasion, while news reports focus on facts, details, and background information.
How does neutral language in a news report differ from the emotional tone in an editorial?
News reports avoid bias and emotions, while editorials use emotive, persuasive language to influence opinions.
How does the communicative purpose shape the style and language in each text type?
News reports are factual and neutral, blogs are personal and direct, interviews are conversational but clear, and editorials are persuasive and argumentative.
Compare how the expected audience shapes message construction in a blog entry vs. a news report.
Blogs target peers and use motivational, informal language with personal experience. News reports target the general public and use structured, neutral language.
How does style affect credibility across text types?
Formal neutral style builds trust in reports; personal style in blogs builds relatability; conversational style in interviews builds authenticity; persuasive style in editorials builds influence.
What happens if the structure order is changed (e.g., conclusion before body in an editorial)?
It confuses readers, weakens arguments, and reduces the persuasive impact of the text.
Compare linguistic strategies of all four text types.
- News reports: factual, neutral, past tense.
- Blogs: personal pronouns, motivational style.
- Interviews: authentic speech polished for clarity.
- Editorials: persuasive rhetoric, logical and emotional appeals.