This seminar paper contains a linguistic analysis of argumentation-patterns in newspaper articles on politics. Reports on the Iranian nuclear program are critically examined, paying particular attention to the triangle language-poltics-media. Hoey's Goal-Achievement-Pattern has been employed as the main methodology.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Background
2.1 Characteristics of articles about politics
2.2 The role of journalism
2.3 Does the Iranian President really want Israel to be “wiped off the map”?
2.4 Political goals and language
2.5 Rhetorical devices
3 Patterns of text organisation
3.1 The Problem-Solution Pattern
3.2 The Goal-Achievement Pattern
4 Analysis of a current article on the Iranian nuclear program
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the intersection of language, politics, and media by analyzing linguistic patterns, with a specific focus on the goal-achievement pattern in political journalism. The primary research objective is to investigate how political actors and news outlets use specific textual structures to frame political goals and influence public perception.
- The relationship between political discourse and media reporting.
- Linguistic techniques used to define or manipulate political objectives.
- Comparative analysis of the Problem-Solution and Goal-Achievement patterns.
- Case study analysis of news reports regarding the Iranian nuclear program.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. The Goal-Achievement Pattern
The problem-solution pattern is limited in its use and therefore we need other patterns to analyse different sorts of texts (Hoey 2001: 142). As mentioned before, the goal-achievement pattern is closely related to the problem-solution pattern, but they differ because of the different definitions of the words “problem” and “goal”. Hoey (2001: 146) defines goal as “an intended change in situation”. The goal-achievement pattern often occurs in advertisements, business English, specialist journalism and scientific writing. When using the concept from above, it can be represented by the following questions:
What is the situation?
What goal does x want to achieve?
What method does x or y use to achieve it?
How successful was this in the opinion of x, y or z?
What was the result for x?
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's aim to analyze the linguistic intersection of politics and media, specifically introducing the goal-achievement pattern.
2 Background: This chapter provides essential context regarding journalistic practices, the nature of political articles, and the rhetorical strategies used by politicians.
3 Patterns of text organisation: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of text organization, comparing the Problem-Solution pattern with the Goal-Achievement pattern.
4 Analysis of a current article on the Iranian nuclear program: This chapter applies the previously discussed linguistic theories to a specific news article regarding the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program.
5 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, highlighting how politicians and media can create myths through specific rhetorical and textual choices.
Keywords
Goal-achievement pattern, Problem-solution pattern, political language, journalism, text linguistics, rhetoric, intertextuality, political goals, media bias, Iranian nuclear program, discourse analysis, framing, rhetoric devices, communication, public opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the linguistic construction of political discourse in journalistic texts, focusing on how specific textual patterns communicate political goals.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the intersection of media and politics, the definition of political goals, rhetorical devices, and patterns of text organization.
What is the central research question?
The paper seeks to understand how the "goal-achievement pattern" provides insight into complex political goals and the methods politicians employ to achieve them.
Which scientific methods are utilized for the analysis?
The analysis employs text-linguistic approaches, specifically utilizing the models of text organization defined by Michael Hoey.
What content is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body examines the background of political journalism, defines text-organization patterns, and provides a practical analysis of a New York Times article about Iran.
What are the characterizing keywords of this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as goal-achievement pattern, political language, intertextuality, and discourse analysis.
How does the author define the "Goal-Achievement Pattern"?
Drawing from Hoey, the author defines it as a pattern triggered by an "intended change in situation," often used to analyze objectives in professional and political writing.
What specific case study is analyzed in chapter four?
The paper analyzes an article from the New York Times regarding the international discourse and political plans surrounding the Iranian nuclear program.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Johannes Zeller (Autor:in), 2008, The Goal-Achievement Pattern in Articles about Politics, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/276369
