T1: Analysis of Factual Writing

Henry Buckham

Leaflet (NHS OCD help guide)

Blue is used for subheadings and to highlight the personal accounts to draw attention to them, showing where a new section starts. The colours is used as blue is a calming, soothing colour.

Personal accounts are used in this leaflets to help the reader connect on a personal level, and helps them realize that they are not alone with the disorder. The accounts use contractions such as I’ve and don’t to connect with the reader, showing that it is a human talking to them.Because of the nature of

this leaflet (meant to educate and reassure people who suffer from OCD or suspect that they do) the text uses formal and proper words but manages to keep it brief, referring to the reader directly to help reassure them.

The leaflet has been clearly set out using a simple layout and a non intrusive font that isn’t obnoxiously coloured or oversized, representing the publication’s professional nature. This helps readers to quickly read through the leaflet. The contents of the leaflet are assumed to be trustworthy as it has been published by a credible source (the NHS.)

This leaflet was released free of charge by the NHS in order to inform and reassure people who suffer from or believe they suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder.

Leaflet (NHS OCD help guide)

Leaflet manages to give clear advice by presenting the information as bullet points, which allows the reader to quickly scan their eyes and see that the advice given is not hidden somewhere in the main body of text.

Diagram is used to illustrate and emphasize the case study used in the leaflet, allowing the information given to be easily summarized. Different shades of blue are used to represent the severity of the fears listed.

The subheadings refer directly to the reader and read as if it is the reader saying them, helping them connect. They are coloured blue to stand out from the main body of the text, helping to distinguish new sections of the leaflets.

Background colour is solid white which helps those with sight problems to easily distinguish text from the background. The colours used for the text are all bold and are easily differentiated.

The publishers of this leaflet have not gone out of their way to expose who the people used as examples are, by not posting their real, full names, contact numbers or addresses. Even if they gave their permission for their accounts to be included, this is to protect their confidentiality and abide by the rules set by the Data Protection Act.

Leaflet (Japan Adventure Group)

The images in the centre page have been tilted instead of printed straight and parallel, giving the impression of a scattered pile of photographs on a table or notice board. This is part of the casual atmosphere this leaflet is putting across showing that because it is centered around holidays and adventuring it does not take itself too seriously.

This leaflet uses lots of informal, descriptive words to sell its services to the reader, using language such as ‘action-packed’ and ‘speedy’. Because of the nature of it being an adventure holiday leaflet it is not trying to be overly formal, instead relying on a casual and fun style that fits in to the events it organizes.

The highlights of the tour are summarized in bullet points, giving a quick rundown of what can be experienced for those who do not have the time nor will to read the large paragraph above.

Shades of orange, yellow and red are used throughout the leaflet to symbolize sunny weather or excitement, which fits with the adventure aspect of the company.

Parts of the leaflet use a large coloured sans serif font that stands out heavily against the background, catching the viewer’s eye with slogans and aiding visibility of the leaflet’s copy.

Accuracy of the tours is portrayed using a shaded map of a section of Japan, helping readers to understand where the trip takes place and allowing them to research it online.

Instruction Manual – Canon Camera Guide

Important acronyms are highlighted in bold and then explain underneath the main body of text. This is so that their explanation does not derail the instructions already being presented and throw the reader off course.

Illustrations help to detail the instructions and provide visual aid, helping the reader to perform them easier.

The instructions are numbered with large symbols and the main steps are in bold, with tips or advice in bullet points underneath. This sets part each step and also contains important info to each step, helping the reader to accomplish each task without having to scan down to the bottom of the page for a tips and advice section.

A light grey box at the bottom of the page contains a footnote that would otherwise clutter up the main instructions. The box is coloured light grey to stand out against the white background and highlight the importance. Notable figures in this box are highlighted in bold, making them more noticeable.

Instruction Manual – Canon Camera Guide

The language used is formal and descriptive in order for the instructions to be clear and meaningful. The instructions are directly aimed at the reader, using phrases such as ‘wrap your right hand’ The font used is a basic sans serif chosen for the clarity and the fact that this manual is not trying to be artistic or fancy.

Instruction steps here are much more brief, using clear and simple descriptions to ensure that they are kept on one line. The instructions avoid contractions, such as don’t and can’t in order to appear much more formal.

The instructions are not missing any crucial information in order for there to be no confusion on how to operate the camera. This is assumed to be correct by the consumer because this manual was published by the manufacturer and included with the camera.

Diagrams are simple and made for purpose, not for artistic merit. They have been used in this manual to compliment the written instructions, as well as providing a visual representation to make the steps easier to comprehend, which can be useful for people with a lower reading skill than others. Arrows are used to show the direction of motion. The diagrams lack backgrounds, instead being a dull grey, in order to make the subject appear more prominent.

Diagram – Combustion Cycle

The steps read from left to right in sequence, which is the direction words are read in English, allowing readers to scan their eyes and take the progress into account. Each new action in the cycle is in bold to catch the eye.

The diagram is detailed as to teach readers what is happening, but has not been drawn for artistic merit because of its use as an educational diagram.

The diagram features simple but meaningful colours that represent each different element of the diagram, helping it to appear more simplified and easy to understand.

Each action of the cycle is described in two or three words to keep it brief and not clutter the diagram. They are clearly labeled to the corresponding component so that the process can be easily understood.

Factual Journalism – Newspaper Article

A bolded sentence that begins the articles is a brief summary of what the story is about, allowing readers to instantly know what the article will be referring to and allow it go into deeper detail while saving page space.

The article includes viewpoints from both sides of the argument – the government and the working force. This helps the article retain a balanced viewpoint and give readers the entire story instead of sticking to one side. The evidencing of the argument comes from mentioning the government’s stance, which talks about why they are against overtime in holiday pay.

The article gives the name and union of one of the sources, but does not include any of their contact details or their address. This is to protect their privacy as it would be illegal to publish such details under the codes of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ.) What this person has said must also have been word for word and not altered in any way, because this could count as slandering as the person did not say what was published.

To begin to discuss another viewpoint the text is broken up by a quote in bold that references the story – in this case the issue of overtime pay is a matter of urgency for the government to solve. This helps readers to know when another viewpoint is being put across and helps to distinguish each section.

Article is written with formal language and avoids slang, and contractions such as can’t or shouldn’t.

The source of this picture, Getty Images, is watermarked in the bottom right, which is legally required as taking the picture without displaying the watermark (i.e., giving credit) could be classed as plagiarism and may land the publisher in court facing a lawsuit.

Factual Journalism – Newspaper Article

This article features bias – the language is overall against the defendant, using terms such as swindle to describe cheating the system and her side of the story is not reported on, leaving the full story ambiguous. The evidencing of the argument is written specifically against the defendant.

Several people in this shot have had their faces blurred to protect their privacy, either by choice or due to the trial, which falls under the NUJ codes.

Story headline is in large, bold text to quickly grab the reader’s eyes. Underneath the story is summarized with bullet points to give readers a quick rundown.

The wording used is sensationalized and is written to be intentionally misinterpreted, claiming the defendant stole and swindled the money yet the charge was failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances. The headline is not clear on this.

How to Guide – How To Build A Supercomputer

Article refers to the reader directly and uses casual, informal language such as acronyms (such as AKA) and slang, like geek and cash. This is because it is more of a lifestyle related piece of writing and not something that needs to be overly formal.

Centralized picture relative to the guide helps readers to distinguish the processes that will be used in the guide, and allow them to determine if they are proficient enough to carry on.

Underneath the main step is a list of bullet points offering tips and advice. This is to avoid cluttering up the main body of text and offer more vital information on the fly to readers.

Article makes it clear what will be needed in this list, so that the finished product is as intended and works as expected. If the article included vagueness such as saying ‘a few’ compute nodes, then the reader might get mistaken and buy one too many, or too few.