How many typical features of the genre can you identify? You should be able to list at least five. Look for features of layout, content and language
a) Can you find an example of each feature that you identify in both articles?
b) Popular Science Articles are a sub-genre of the more general genre Press Articles. Which of the features you have identified would you expect to be typical of press articles in general, and which specific to popular science articles?
1. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28950532
2. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28950093
Suggested Answer
A. Features common to most
journalistic genres
Layout
- Initial headline in large bold print. Examples: both texts
- Text illustrated with photos related to the content. Examples : both texts
- Short paragraphs, with only one or two sentences, which are easy for the reader to take in. Examples : both texts.
- Name and job title of author. Examples : both texts.
Content
- Reports of interviews with protagonists which support or critique the findings. In the case of popular science articles these are the researchers and/or other experts in the field. Examples : 1) Paragraph 6; 2) Paragraph 13.
Language
- Headlines written using specific conventions common to journalistic headlines – Examples here: ellipsis - 1) Mouse memories "flipped"... (= Mouse memories have been flipped...); 2) Tomatoes “important…. (= Tomatoes are important…)
- Apposition - Examples: 1) Dr Roger Redondo, one of Prof Tonegawa's colleagues and the paper's first author; 2) ...lycopene, an antioxidant
- Use of direct speech: 1)"We changed the way the mice react to a memory, without any drugs," said Dr Roger Redondo, 2) "Our findings suggest that tomatoes may be important in prostate cancer prevention," said Vanessa Er,
B. Features specific to
popular science articles
Content
- Each article focuses on a specific study recently carried out at a university or research institute. Examples: both texts
- Factual Information. Examples: 1) Paragraph 9; 2) Paragraph 3.
- Citations do not follow academic conventions but give full names, academic titles etc within the text : 1) Prof Tonegawa also points to...; 2) Vanessa Er, from the School of Social and Community Medicine at Bristol University
Language
- Use of “hedges”, as in other genres of scientific discourse - ie claims are expressed as possibilities rather than certainties: Examples: 1) In terms of whether their findings can be directly applied to humans, the researchers are cautious. 2) Eating tomatoes may lower the risk of prostate cancer, research suggests.
- Lexis in the field of scientific research. Examples: Both texts: the study; 2) findings; clinical trials
- Passive verbs used to focus on scientific processes and findings: 1) Male mice were given...; 2) ...was also found to...
- Technical terminology used but explained in simple terms: No specialist knowledge is assumed. Examples: 1) Paragraphs 14 and 15 - the explanation of "optogenetics"; 2) Paragraph 11 - the explanation of "lycopene".
- Non-academic style – neither particularly formal nor informal. Achieved by mixing features of the two styles – Examples: a) sometimes using contractions, sometimes not : 1) "We can't ask the mouse what it's thinking," commented Prof Richard Morris... who was not involved in the study; 2) ...this has not been proven, and this study can't confirm whether there is a link; b) lexis from the spoken language, including figurative expressions: 1) Sure enough 2) ...black and white answers as well as more formal scientific terms: 1) optogenetic tools 2) an antioxidant
- Predominance of past simple verbs describing the research processes and present simple verbs describing facts, and current beliefs and recommendations. Examples: both texts.
