Analyzing Non-Fictional Articles: Purpose and Structure
This page introduces the fundamental aspects of analyzing non-fictional articles, particularly focusing on newspaper and online articles. It outlines the primary purposes authors have when writing such pieces and delves into the structural elements commonly found in these texts.
The main purposes of non-fictional articles are identified as:
- Informing the reader or raising awareness about a problem, trend, or phenomenon
- Convincing readers of an opinion or worldview
- Moving the reader, government, or society towards action
The page then provides a comprehensive list of typical structural elements found in non-fictional articles, including introduction, definition of key concepts, thesis statement, opposing views, refutation of counterarguments, historical background, explanations, arguments with evidence, and conclusion.
Highlight: Understanding the purpose and structure of a non-fictional text is crucial for effective analysis and comprehension.
Example: An article about climate change might start with a shocking statistic introduction, define key terms like "greenhouse gases," present the author's thesis on the urgency of action, address common counterarguments, and conclude with a call for specific policy changes.
Vocabulary: Refutation - The act of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false.