Why context comes first
A text is not written in empty space. Context means the time, the place and the situation in which a text was written: what was going on, who was speaking, who was listening, and why. Before you read, ask three questions: When was this written? What was happening then? Who was it written for?
This matters most for texts from a time of great change, such as a revolution or a national struggle. People then wrote quickly and with strong hope or worry. If you know the context, the strong words make sense. If you do not, they may seem too loud. When you read texts from the revolutionary period of any country, first place them on a timeline: before the event, during it, after it.
Tip: write the date and place at the top of your notes. It takes five seconds and helps with every question that follows.
News: facts first
News reports a recent event in a clear and short way. Its job is to inform. A good news report answers the six questions called 5W1H: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. The most important facts come first (the headline and the first paragraph), and details follow in order of importance. This is called the inverted pyramid.
News avoids the writer's opinion. It uses plain words, short sentences and the third person ('the minister said'). In the 3D, the facts tower is the tallest and the feeling tower is almost empty.
Reportage: facts plus an eyewitness
Reportage (also called a literary report) is a true account written with the skills of a story writer. The writer went to the place, watched, listened to people and then wrote. It sits between news and a story.
Features of reportage:
- True events: real people, places and dates. Nothing is invented.
- Eyewitness view: the writer says 'I saw', so the reader feels present.
- Vivid details: sounds, colours, weather, faces.
- Feeling: the writer's admiration, worry or hope shows through.
- Story shape: a beginning, a rising moment and an ending that stays in the mind.
In the 3D, facts and feeling towers are both tall. That is the mark of reportage.
Speeches: words that move people
A speech is written to be heard. The speaker wants the audience to believe something or to act. Because listeners cannot re-read, a good speech uses:
- Repetition: the key line comes back again and again.
- Groups of three: 'We worked, we waited, we won.'
- Direct address: 'you', 'we', 'our'.
- Questions: 'Are we ready?'
- A clear call: the last lines tell people what to do.
In the 3D, the call-to-act tower is the tallest. Facts are present, but they serve the call.
Try it: sort three texts
Do this at home in 10 minutes. Take today's newspaper (or any news site). Cut out or copy: (1) one short news report, (2) one longer feature that describes a place or people, (3) a line from a speaker. Draw three towers, F, F and C, for each text and colour the blocks (1 to 5) by guessing how much of each it has. Then press the buttons in the 3D and compare. If your towers match one of the three patterns, you have named the text type correctly.
Key formulas and definitions
- News = mostly Facts (5W1H, inverted pyramid)
- Reportage = Facts + Feeling (eyewitness, vivid details)
- Speech = Feeling + Call to act (repetition, groups of three, 'we')
- Context = When + Where + Who wrote + Who listened
- 5W1H = Who, What, When, Where, Why, How
Worked examples
1. Sentence: 'A bridge over the river opened on 4 May. Over 300 people crossed it on the first day.' Is this news, reportage or speech? Why?
News. It gives only facts (what, when, how many) in plain words, with no feeling and no call to act.
2. Sentence: 'I stood on the new bridge at dawn. The river shone, and an old man touched the rail as if it were alive.' Which text type?
Reportage. 'I stood' shows an eyewitness, the details are vivid (the shining river, the old man), and feeling shows through.
3. Sentence: 'Friends, this bridge is ours. We built it, we will guard it, and tomorrow we will build the next one. Will you join me?' Which type? Name two techniques.
Speech. Techniques: repetition and groups of three ('we built, we will guard, we will build'), direct address ('friends', 'you') and a question that calls to act.
4. A news report on a flood says: 'The river rose on Monday.' Rewrite it as one line of reportage.
For example: 'On Monday I watched the brown water climb the village steps, one by one, while children carried their books above their heads.' The fact stays, and an eyewitness and vivid detail are added.
5. A text was written by a leader at a mass meeting. List three context questions you would ask before reading it.
When and where was it given? Who was in the audience and what did they want or fear? What was happening in the country at that time?
Common mistakes
- Thinking reportage is fiction. It is true; only the writing style borrows from stories.
- Calling every strong text a speech. A speech is meant to be spoken and ends with a call to act.
- Reading old texts without context and judging their strong words by today's calm tone.
- Putting the writer's opinion in a news report. News keeps feeling out and facts in.