Download Broadsheet Newspaper Analysis

D.C.H.S.
Higher Close Reading
English Department
Broadsheet Newspaper Analysis
It is essential to practise your close reading skills on a regular basis. Reading
articles from quality broadsheet newspapers is the best way to get used to
the type of writing that you will find in the final examination. These
exercises are designed to improve your ability to understand, analyze and
evaluate texts.
Understanding
1. Look at the title- what do you think the article is going to discuss?
2. Read through the article once
a) Summarise the key points that it makes.
b) Identify and look up the meaning of any unfamiliar vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Meaning
3. Read through the article again and focus on the ideas(s) being presented
in each paragraph. Write down the main point(s) from each paragraph and
use this as a way of keeping track of the arguments being made.
Paragraph 1
Introduction- the U.S. election is of great importance.
The election of a black man will cause a huge change in not only
American but world politics.
Analysis
1. Read the article and look out for any examples of interesting language,
structure, tone, use of punctuation etc. (This may take some time to begin
with but as you get more proficient you will notice these features on your
first read through)
If Barack Obama becomes the 44th president on Tuesday, it will
symbolise a tectonic shift from a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant United
States to a multi- ethnic America.
Word choice of ‘tectonic’ literally means a shift in the earth’s crust but here
suggests the magnitude of the change that electing Obama would bring.
D.C.H.S.
Higher Close Reading
English Department
2. Identify examples of the following features from the article and comment
upon how these features contribute to the argument being made.
 Word Choice
 Sentence Structure
 Structure of Text
 Tone
Evaluation
In your opinion, is the article successful at convincing you to take its point of
view? Explain how it does so commenting on the ideas and style used by the
author.
What is the argument that the article is trying to persuade you to adopt?
Your opinion
What facts/ ideas are presented in the text that support your opinion?
How has the style of the article helped to convince you of this view? (i.e.
tone, word choice, structure…)