西工大报刊阅读 大三下学期 week 1How to Read the News Story.ppt

How to Read News Stories March 1, 2013 Purposes: to help read news stories every day; to prepare working in the news field; to pass TEM 4 8 in listening; to write articles for English papers News hard news spot news straight news story soft news A straight news story a timely repot on an event, usually written within 24 hours after the event taken place articles on the front page of a newspaper Western journalists facts without any self interpretation / evaluation 6 elements in the lead who, what, when, where, why, and how Inverted Pyramid monologue answers to readers questions clear, brief, and to the point short sentences; narrow columns circulation of the paper Formula for a typical news story 1st Paragraph: lead, main points the most important facts 2nd Paragraph: main facts not included in the lead facts clarifying the lead important quotes / remarks Rest Paragraphs: further developed details ideas / opinions / attitudes background information related facts careful reading of the lead, because it includes the most important information. Predict what is going to be reported in the following. E.g. GENEVA (AP)A prisoner threw herself from the sixth story roof of a jail during a prison revolt here last night. Swiss authorities said the woman, who apparently fell into a safety net, was taken to hospital but was not seriously injured. Main points: . There was a prison revolt. . A prisoner threw herself off the jail roof. . She was not seriously injured. What is the name of the jail? Where is the jail? What is the reason for the revolt? Why did the woman jump? How many prisoners are there in the jail? Who is this woman? How old is the woman? Did the woman play a part in the revolt? P2: She leaped from the roof of the Champ Dollon Modele jail when guards turned fire hoses on 60 men and women prisoners demonstrating on the roof for improved conditions of detention. P3: Other