SUGGESTED PATTERN OF ARTICLE INTERPRETATION

SUGGESTED PATTERN OF ARTICLE INTERPRETATION

1. Title, author, source and date of publication.
2. Type (news article / analytical article / mixed type containing both news and their analysis).
3. Topic, theme and (for analytical articles) message.
4. Content (main information).
5. Structure:
5.1. textual composition and layout (title, subtitle, lead, text (further divided into introduction/main body/conclusion or several entitled parts), cuts, comments, pictures);
5.2.a. (for news articles) the narrative structure (straight-line, inverted, complex, frame);
5.2.b. (for analytical articles) argumentation structure (number, order and types of arguments, inductive or deductive mode of reasoning).
6. Narrative / argumentation perspective(s) (through whose eyes the events are described and/or interpreted; whether alternative viewpoints are mentioned).
7. Form of presentation (the author’s narrative, reported or direct speech).
8. Tone (formal, casual, agitated, lyrical, dramatic, impartial, moralizing etc.).
9. System of images:
9.1. images of characters;
9.2. image of the author;
9.3. image of the reader.
10. Language (major expressive means and stylistic devices and their function in the text).
11. Concluding remarks:
11.1. Evaluative comments (quality of the information and the form of presentation);
11.2. Personal comments (individual perspective on the events / ideas of the article).

N.B. Although all points should be considered at the preparatory stage, the presentation of the results of interpretation should be approached creatively and selectively and follow its own logic. For instance, information concerning different points can be combined to discuss some ideas more comprehensively, avoid repetition or make the presentation more coherent (statement of the topic/theme/message of the article can incorporate information about its type and be further linked to the discussion of such compositional elements as the title, subtitle and lead; presentation of the content and structure of the article can be closely interwoven). Information should also be presented in order of importance and least important facts can be omitted.