all: Photodisc/Getty Images
left: EyeWire Collection/Getty Images
right: Photodisc/Getty Images
all: Photodisc/Getty Images
left: EyeWire Collection/Getty Images
right: Photodisc/Getty Images
1. Use the opinions that were expressed by the foregoing people to answer the following questions.
a. In which of the media can you choose only those news stories that are of interest to you?
b. In which of the media can you get a quick summary of the day’s news?
c. In which of the media can you get an analysis of the news?
d. In which of the media can you get the news as it happens?
e. In which of the media can you see pictures of people or events in the news?
You have seen that there are many ways for people to get the news. What about the newspeople? Where do they get their news?
News is gathered from a variety of sources. Television, radio, and newspapers obtain information from news services such as Canadian Press (CP), Associated Press (AP), and Reuters. As well, they all depend heavily on their own reporters to gather information, especially at the local and regional levels.
Reporters get the details for their news reports in a variety of ways. Sometimes reporters are at the scene when events happen and get the details first hand. Usually, however, they must obtain the information from other people.
| Some sources are more reliable than others. The main source of information is usually the people involved in the story. They are potentially the most accurate; however, people who have been in a stressful situation may not be able to recount exactly what has happened to them. A witness may be another good source of information. A reporter can also get information from people close to the main sources, such as friends or relatives, and experts (people not involved in the event but who know a great deal about the topic). |
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Reporters do not always give the specific names of their sources. Instead, they may use vague expressions such as the following: informed sources, a reliable source, government sources, a witness at the scene, a company spokesperson, an advisor. It is important for you to take the source into account when you read or hear a news story. You must decide whether or not the source is trustworthy and whether or not you need more information. Ask yourself, “Who says so?” and “Who else says so?”
There are different types of news reports. These include hard news stories, feature stories, and editorials.
A hard news story is about an event that is important at that particular time. It is factual and is meant to inform you. Hard news deals with issues that concerns the audience, such as an increase in the cost of electricity or access to health care. For more information, read “News Reports” on pages 137 and 138 of your English Language Arts Handbook.
A feature story, also called soft news, is about an event, place, or person that is of interest to the audience. It is usually intended to entertain or instruct. “Instant Messaging” on page 200 of Crossroads 8 is a feature article.
An editorial expresses opinions about a news story or topic that is of interest to the public. “What’s Wrong with Playing ‘Like a Girl’?” on page 340 of Crossroads 8 is an example of an editorial.
2. Following are headlines for three news reports. Which type of news report is each likely to be—hard news story, feature story, or editorial?
a. City Councillor Should Resign
b. No Survivors in Plane Crash
c. City Teen Collects Unusual Posters
When you read or listen to editorials, you should realize that they report someone else’s opinion. Editorials, however, are not the only type of news report in which you will find opinions. Sometimes opinions are expressed in columns, hard news stories, and features. It is important that you can distinguish fact from opinion. Facts are true statements. Facts can be checked for correctness. Opinions are judgements that express someone’s views about a topic. Opinions cannot be checked for correctness. You may agree if your opinion is similar, or you may disagree if your opinion differs. |
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3. In your notebook write F for fact or O for opinion for each of the following statements.
a. Sir John A. Macdonald was the first prime minister of Canada.
b. The sun will burn out in 10 000 years.
c. The best sitcom on television is “Malcolm in the Middle.”
d. Michael J. Fox played the part of Alex Keaton on “Family Ties.”
e. Mars will certainly be colonized within 100 years.
Opinions are usually expressed by word choices that have persuasive or emotional connotations. (Connotations are thoughts and ideas that come to mind when a certain word is used.) For example, the use of the word mob for a group of demonstrators conveys a very different image than does the word crowd for the same group. Nouns such as radicals, verbs such as sneak, adjectives such as long-haired, and adverbs such as disruptively may be used to influence the reader.
4. In your notebook list the opinion words that are used in each of the following sentences.
a. The brave man snatched the frightened child from the raging fire.
b. The right-wing politician called for the return of the death penalty after the brutal murder.
c. In one of the most spectacular upsets in boxing history, Randy Morin defeated the aging champ, George Scott.
d. An adventurous band of women will begin the harrowing climb of towering Mount Annapurna.
e. The thirty-year-old daredevil began the dangerous ocean trip from Prince Rupert yesterday.
left: right: Kevin Peterson/Photodisc/Getty Images
second from left:Photodisc/Getty ImagesMs. Elias: Do you ever scan the headlines of tabloid newspapers as you go through the checkout at the grocery store?
Peter: Yeah. They’re pretty wild. It doesn’t take too much to realize the stories probably don’t come from trustworthy sources.
Annette: Usually the topics themselves are enough to warn you that the stories are pretty fantastic, unless you believe in giant sea monsters or aliens from outer space who kidnap people.
Megan: Why do people read this type of newspaper?
Ms. Elias: There’s often some mystery involved in the stories, and people seem to be attracted to mystery. A lot of the stories are about the rich and famous, and people are curious about them. I expect that most tabloids are read for entertainment rather than for information. Speaking of entertainment, you’re about to read a short story that has a connection to tabloid newspapers.
Turn to page 265 in Crossroads 8 and preview “Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus.” Think about the title of the story. What images or questions come to your mind? Read the introductory question beside the title and the “Goals at a Glance.” Examine the illustrations throughout the story. Use this information as clues to make predictions about the story. Then sit back and read the story to find out if your predictions were accurate. If you prefer, you can listen to “Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus”1 on Track 5 of your English Language Arts 8 Audio CD 2.
1 Tim Wynne-Jones, “Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus,” in Sightlines 9 Audio Pack. 2000. Prentice Hall-Pearson Education. “Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus” from Some of the Kinder Planets. Copyright © 1993 by Tim Wynne-Jones. First published in Canada by Groundwood Books Ltd. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
5. Do questions 1. a. to 1. c. on page 279 of Crossroads 8.
The writer of “Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus” has used short, simple sentences to give his readers clear and concise images of the setting and characters. Short sentences also helps make the text easier to read.
6. Turn to page 279 of Crossroads 8 and do question 3.
Using simple sentences can create a dynamite impact in your writing. The trick is not to overdo it; too many simple sentences may make your writing sound stilted.
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1. a. You can choose only those news stories that interest you in newspapers (both print and online) and news magazines. (Of course, you can always turn off radio or television news reports, which is a way of choosing what interests you.)
b. You can get a quick summary of the day’s news from reading the headlines in newspapers or from listening to the headlines on radio and television news reports.
c. You can get an analysis of the news from news magazines and from investigative reporting on television or radio. Some newspapers may feature an analysis of the news by columnists.
d. You can get the news as it happens from television, radio, or online news sources.
e. You can see pictures of the people or events in the news on television, in newspapers and news magazines, and on online news sources.
2. a. This article would likely be an editorial. The writer appears to be expressing an opinion.
b. This article would probably be hard news. The item is one of concern; it appears to be factual.
c. This article would be a feature story. The story is about a person. It appears to be an item of interest rather than concern.
3. a. F b. O c. O d. F e. O
4. a. brave, snatched, frightened, raging
b. right-wing, brutal
c. spectacular, upsets, aging
d. adventurous, harrowing, towering
e. daredevil, dangerous
5. Question 1. a. from Crossroads 8: Responses will vary. Following is one student’s ideas:
I think the Stranger appeared so alarmed and frightened by the Moris because their house and their appearance were so unusual to him. He had never seen anything like them before. He did not seem to be familiar with modern technology. It appears that he had been drinking. He seemed to be disoriented, probably as a result of the alcohol and the accident. He may also have been a little stunned when he slipped on the ice and fell.
Question 1. b. from Crossroads 8: Your response will also be influenced by which characters you can relate to personally. This will probably depend on your experiences. Be sure to use examples from the story to support your opinion.
Question 1. c. from Crossroads 8: The line is relevant because the Stranger hears the words as “Save the moon for Kerdy Dickus.” This line summarizes the many misinterpretations of the Stranger. It is also the title of the story.
6. Question 3 from Crossroads 8: Sentences will vary. Following are examples:
• Simple sentences: Tan Mori is Japanese. Here’s how he looks. He wears clear rimmed glasses . . . .
Long sentence: Tan Mori is Japanese, and he wears clear rimmed glasses.
• Simple sentences: This is Ky’s story. It happened at her place in the country.
Long sentence: This is Ky’s story, which happened at her place in the country.• Simple sentences: He got edgier and edgier. He started pacing. Then, suddenly, he remembered his neighbour, Lloydy Rintoul.
Long sentence: He got edgier and edgier and he started pacing, when suddenly he remembered his neighbour, Lloydy Rintoul.
Did you notice that the combined sentences seem to have less impact?
tabloid newspapers: newspapers that sensationalize stories whose sources may be questionable and that use bold headlines and many photographs
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