NEWS ITEM

News Item Text

1. Definition of News Item:

News item is a text which informs readers about events of the day. The events are considered newsworthy or important.

2. Generic Structure of News Item:
1. Newsworthy event, recounts the events in summary form

2. Background Events, elaborate what happened, to WHOM, in WHAT circumstances.

3. Source, comments by participants in, witnesses to, and expert on the event

3. Significant Grammar Features:

– Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline

– Generally using Simple Past Tense

– Use of Material Processes to retell the event

– Using Action Verbs, e.g.: were, run, go, kill, etc.

– Using Saying Verbs, e.g.: say, tell

– Focus on Circumstances

– Use of projecting Verbal Processes in Sources stages