Factual Writing

By Sophie Baker

Leaflets Large font & Capitals Colours Bold title drawing the readers eye in

The text isn’t very concise because there’s so much of it

Accuracy and ambiguity within the text when it comes to facts, however the text turns more biased when they describe how the children feel afterwards.

The larger illustrations are aimed to catch the eye of the child while the smaller illustrations demonstrate the text for the reader

LeafletsThe colour red usually signifies danger but in this sense it’s in reference to the dragon rather than a warning. Especially since the illustration of the dragon is depicted and adapted as ‘cute’ and ‘childlike’ to be more appealing to children and more approachable to viewer. The illustrations in general are aimed for children to look at and pick due to the creator wanting the children to show it to their parents, or the parents to show the leaflet to their children and for them to show an interest. Whereas the smaller illustrations next to the text are there to indicate what the text is going to be about. This not only helps the reader but gives the layout of the leaflet more structure and focus than rather it were to be all text based.

Putting the title of the leaflet ‘Summer For Kids’ in all capitals and in a large font makes the title more eye-catching rather than having it be in smaller sizes throughout. Particularly when there is so many illustrations the cover of the leaflet as well. Having the title in white also pairs up with the colour of the background and is bold enough within the red cloud its in. Clarity is shown throughout the leaflet because of how the text has been organized with the graphics. Giving each piece of text a bold title signifying what the subject of the text guides the reader. However, the text itself isn’t particularly concise because there is quite a lot of after the title rather than having there be as few words as possible.

The text itself doesn’t tend to show biased tendencies because what they are stating are accuracy within the facts about events can be held there, what they do them for, who takes part in them, etc. However, there is a slight tendency to be biased when saying how the classes or events make the children feel. Altogether losing the ambiguity that they had before. For example, ‘Art Alive’: ‘The class is an encouraging atmosphere in which children can absorb ideas and techniques.’ Because of the makers of this leaflet only really explaining facts about their work they don’t have a major need to reference sources because they are going on what is going to happen in a general sense rather than going into more detail. This results in ‘evidencing of argument’ because they are only explaining their opinion rather than having quotes from people who have worked with them before or what they thought about it. They are merely going on what they know and think about the event(s).

The register of the text is used for the parents of the children rather than the children themselves. The leaflet is aimed more at children to promote the events at Cork City Libraries, however it’s the parents who will be taking them their and investing money into these classes and events. This results in the text being quite formal to communicate with parents rather than childlike and simple to appeal to, as well as to be understood by, children.

There aren’t any legal constraints or codes of practice that need to be taken out with a leaflet like this because there isn’t any strong statements or political issues referring to the children that will take part within something like this, such as claiming they will teach every child to read within these events.

Instructional Manuals

Using the illustration on top of one another to make it much more clear to the viewer

Another illustration to indicate how the two parts are put together for the next step

Register is simple for children

Lack of biased because there is a lack of text, making there a lack of evidence of argument because there isn’t much text

Due to the text being so simple, almost vague there is a strong use of avoiding ambiguity because the text is to the point

The boldest use of text and font is from the use of the products title, this is what people of the audience will be looking for

A lot of clarity with this instruction manual because there the instructions are so simple

Instructional ManualsEven though this instruction manual was printed in 1994 for a piece of memorabilia from the movie ‘The Shadow’ there is a lack of colour because it being an instruction manual it wouldn’t have needed to be as needed, especially given that it’s a construction piece of a few parts. If there parts were to be colour coordinated then that would either be addressed within the text or through the images with the colours needed on whatever parts.

The boldest use of texts throughout the instruction manual is from the title of the product. Your eye easily goes to ‘The Shadow’ which is used as a header and is accompanied by an illustration on the side. Even with the lack of colour there is a drop shadow to make the text for the title stand out even more. This is so the targeted audience for this product will immediately know the product they are looking for and then know that this instruction manual is for that product as well.

There are multiple uses of illustration on this instruction manual. The instructions are could work primarily with just the illustrations but are joined with texts to make the images even clearer. The first graphic in the middle of the page demonstrates two steps of instructions, whereas the one below continues with one step. The text that is describing the graphics is a simple register for children to follow. However, even though this is a toy the instructions in general are very simple, regardless of the age of the audience.

Due to the text being as simple as it is, almost vague, creating concise information there is a strong use of avoiding ambiguity because the text is to the point and direct. The text doesn’t question the accuracy of any of what it says throughout. For example, ‘Snap weapons onto canopy’. Because the text is so simple and avoids ambiguity there is a lot of clarity because with this instruction manual because the illustrations are so clear as well as the text format. Due to the layout being so clear and accurate there is a lack of biased due to there being a lack of text.

In order to avoid any legal constrains or codes of practice the instruction manual needs to reference sources to back up any complaints that may happen with customers. This is a very simple instruction manual so for there to be false facts which could cause customers file gagging orders is unlikely. But a way in which this manual could back up there facts is through a video or/ and photos of them making the memorabilia by following the instructions, or other customers.

How-To-Guides

Evidence of argument by considering the customer and what they may or may not have

Putting warnings in bold to draw the eye of the reader without the use of colour

The illustrations are sometimes more detailed than the text because the use of them saves the amount of writing needed

Sometimes the text isn’t very concise because there is sometimes more text than other, even with the illustrations

A formal use of register

How-To-Guides There is a lack of colour with this how-to-guide due to the print being an extract from a 1950’s Hamilton Beach Instruction Manual on kitchen appliances with this additional how-to-guide on How to Make Coffee. The font size throughout is consistent and precise giving the reader clarity with this guide. Even though there is a lack of conciseness due to the guide wanting to be instructive and thorough. However, even with the amount of text within the guide it isn’t overwhelming to the reader because of the illustrations. With each step the reader gets one image to accompany it giving the creator of this guide leverage to how much text they can use because instead of needing to explain what parts of the coffee maker are needed the guide can just show them. In a way this creates more conciseness throughout the guide because of the marriage between the text and the illustrations. As well as the fact that the text has been categorized into separate boxes.

Certain words in the instructions are highlighted in bold. Rather than having these words be in italic to stress on a word there is more of an effect given when the word is in bold because it shows more warning. Nowadays we would simply put the word(s) in a colour such as red to signify danger. However here they don’t have colour so putting the word in bold has much more of an effect because it draws the readers eye in to what you should or shouldn’t do. Such as, ‘Be careful not to get any grounds inside the coffee tank’.

There isn’t much of a biased with this how-to-guide because the creator is working off of how the machine works in as much detail as possible along side illustrations. The writer is even accompanying the fact that the reader may or may not be provided with certain amendments with the machine meaning that they are showing evidence of argument. ‘If your model has a clock, set clock before first use.’ Given that this piece of machinery, a coffee maker, will be aimed at adults the register of the text is much more formal if it were to be aimed at teenagers or children. However, given that it is a instructional guide the text isn’t overly complicated either. Such as step four being, ‘Pour water from coffee tank into water reservoir’.

The legal constraints and codes of practice that would be issued with this how-to-guide would be directed to whether or not the instructions where correct. If not there would be complaints by the customers of the how-to-guide. In order to avoid this the makers of the guide would need to reference sources to ensure that they have evidence that the instructions have worked in practice through a video or photographs, as well as that the instructions have worked for other customers through photographs and quotes.

Factual Journalism

Lack of conciseness on the front page due to there being more than one article at a time

Using a fact in the title could be a way of avoiding ambiguity, however people could still argue with the facts given

Journalism tends to show a biased through the journalists opinions but with an article about sports facts and events can usually be traced back by referencing sources

The register of headlines tends to be short and simple but the register within the articles are usually very formal for adults

Using an image of the star on the cover makes people purchase the product

The graphics and font size for the brand of newspaper bring people in comparison to others

The use of colour on the gold trophy draws people in against the black and white

Factual journalism There isn‘t a strong use of colour on the front page of this newspaper. The only colour used is for the front pages article on Andy Murry. The photograph is bold and has the trophy is the focal point. Given that the trophy is gold and shinning it draws people in and gives a clear indication that he has won a match. This shows people what the athlet has done without even needing to read the article yet, even if they are fans or not of the athlet. As well as having an image of the public figure on the front page of the newspaper pulls in fans of them to buy that issue, similar to how many magazines sell by putting starlet on the cover. The title of the newspaper also pulls people in.

The font size and use of graphics tells customers which newspaper publication they are looking at and can define their audiences by age, class and gender. For instance, customers who by ‘The Times’ don’t often buy ‘The Sun’ as well. This can come down to the use of content and the register. With ‘The Times’ and this article the register is very formal to meet their audiences standards, usually of class and education, and newspapers tend to be aimed at adults so the assumption is that they will be able to understand this form of formal register in comparison to children. The overall way writing within these articles shows a lack of conciseness because there is so much information to be told in these articles and they tend to be pushed together then spaced out like a magazine giving the reading more trouble reading the words. As well as the fact the font of the articles tend to be very small, particular in comparison to the headlines.

The headline ‘Murray ends 77 year wait for British win’ shows facts straight away. This is showing that the journalist writing the article has shown an accuracy with their research and results. Usually with the accuracy of the fact the journalist and newspaper, or other form of publication, in journalism will avoid ambiguity. However, many people reading the article will question the facts at hand. A way in which the writer and form of publication can avoid ambiguity is by referencing sources. For instance in this article they’ve said, ‘Andy Murray has won the Men’s Single’s final at Wimbledon yesterday’. Newspapers are daily and the events of what happened ‘yesterday’s sporting activities will be discussed on what had happened on multiple branches. Such as many sports, news broadcaster and radio presenters. When it comes to writing about public events it’s very likely they will be broadcasted live and will have replays over the next day or so. This is one way in which a journalist can make sure there’s no room for interpretation by being clear with their written facts. Referencing sources saves the journalist and house of publication getting in trouble with audiences. Trouble with a lack of accuracy on facts and having biased opinions can cause readers to file legal constraints against the journalist, such as gagging orders due to false facts. To avoid this journalists follow the codes of practice by the NUJ codes (National Union of Journalists).

A problem which many journalists and publications face is that they can be deemed as biased with what they write by giving their opinions about the events they are writing about. This article doesn’t show that because they’ve suck to how the game played out. However many publications do. Such as the newspaper ‘The Sun’ wrote a small piece on the actress Emma Watson and what they thought of her latest UN speech on woman’s rights, ‘She bored them all ridged with whining, leftie, PC crap. Just like all actresses do if people are stupid enough to give them the chance’, etc. This of course caused a lot of controversy and backlash against the publication and journalist.