Inspirational journeys
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DELTA Module One / Paper One / Task Five / Part A / June 2019
a
The text is the printed version of a human interest story from a popular online lewspaper in the UK. Identify five features of the text that are characteristic of its genre.
Give one example of each feature you identify.
Do not include more than one feature of layout.
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Headline designed to grab attention (Layout)
Example: “World’s oldest message in a bottle to ever be found finally washes up after 108 years” – This sensational headline appeals to curiosity and wonder, which is typical of human-interest stories.
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Personalisation / Human focus
Example: “Marianne Winkler, a retired postal worker, was on holiday when she spotted the unusual bottle…” – The story is told through the experience of a specific individual, making it relatable and engaging.
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Quotations to add authenticity and emotion
Example: “My husband, Horst, carefully tried to get the message out of the bottle…” – Direct speech adds a human voice and emotion to the story, enhancing its interest and credibility.
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Informal or accessible style
Example: “It was quite a stir when we opened that envelope, as you can imagine.” – The use of idiomatic and conversational language reflects the genre’s aim to be widely accessible and engaging.
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Reference to broader cultural context / institutions
Example: “They are now waiting for the Guinness World Records to confirm…” – Referencing well-known institutions gives the story a wider significance and connects the local event to a global audience.
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Chronological narrative structure
Example: The story unfolds in the order events occurred — from finding the bottle, opening it, sending the message, to the Marine Biological Association’s reaction. This step-by-step sequence is typical of storytelling in human-interest features.
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Use of specific and vivid detail
Example: “The clear glass bottle had a note inside bearing only the words: ‘Break the bottle.’” – Such descriptive detail draws readers in and paints a vivid picture of the discovery.
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Emotive or sensational language
Example: “It was quite a stir when we opened that envelope…” – The phrase “quite a stir” evokes excitement and adds drama, enhancing reader engagement.
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Historical or scientific reference to provide background
Example: “…staff recognised the bottle was one of 1,020 released into the North Sea between 1904 and 1906 as part of a project…” – Giving context through history or science grounds the story in factual interest and boosts credibility.
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Closing with a twist or unresolved curiosity
Example: “They are now waiting for the Guinness World Records to confirm…” – Ending on a note of anticipation sustains reader interest and encourages follow-up or further reading.
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Tags:
Genre Function Register Style Lexis Syntax Layout Tone Narrative voice Audience Text organisation Cohesion Direct address Quotation Factual content Visual features Purpose Context Reader response Text type Communicative purpose Formality Field Tenor Mode Schematic structure Discourse features Sentence types Modality Theme and rheme Ellipsis Substitution Reference Conjunction Lexical chains Parallelism Nominalisation Active/passive voice Tense choice Sentence complexity Evaluative language Authorial stance Pragmatic features delta module one June 2019 paper one task 50 Comments
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