Analyzing an Article That Provides the Visual Representation of the Elections - Assignment Example

This article was well written, because it captured the attention of the reader. A goodarticle is one whose title is so compelling that it instantly grabs the reader’s attention. The title of this article was a strong one. That is “Angle, McMahon led way spending $97 per vote – and lost” which provided the assistance to the readers, as to what can they expect from it. This title clearly mentions what information you can get from the body of the article. The benefit of the article was quite clear and measureable from the title. The body of the article is the next main important part. This is where the reader learns, what he has already anticipated from the title. The body should fully justify the topic, and this article’s body does just the same. This piece truly gives its readers, what it promises in the title. The reader gets to know the about the ‘failed bid’ of ‘Sharon Angel’ in the first paragraph. Each paragraph contains a strong topic sentence, which connects it with the last paragraph and smoothes way for the next one. The very first line of the article; ‘Is a vote worth $97?’ invites the reader to find out, what is the story behind it. This article also uses strong action verbs where appropriate, to move the audience along with the flow. This article, although written in past tense, provides an interesting account of the mid-term elections, and keeps the audience hang on to every word. This piece of writing also has an element of honesty. The writer has justly manifested what he/she believes to be the truth. This article contains integrity of opinions and feelings. It is also open and direct. It is neither lengthy nor ambiguous. This is a reader-friendly article. It is written in a kind of informal style, and immediately puts the reader at ease. It does not contain too many, too hard words, nor does it beat about the bush. It contains simple and short paragraphs making it easier to understand. This article is very edifying, providing complete information in easy terms that even a layman would understand. The theme of the article was kind of methodological, and required statistics and facts. It was not a fictional topic, where one could depict one’s opinions and thoughts. The writer made effective use of research to provide accurate facts and figures to clearly describe the ‘most expensive midterm election in U.S. history’. The writer has also provided the visual representation of the elections, and clear, concise tables that summarizes all the figures that could not be included in the text. In this short text, the writer has fully explained, the costs of different campaigns of different candidates from both parties. It also clearly elucidates that money cannot guarantee success, by comparing the winning ratio with the amount spend in campaigning or in other words, the money spend on per vote basis. This kind of article would have been impossible to write, unless a thorough research had been done on the news article, and on the election campaign records. The text explicates which candidate replaced whom and on what cost. It does not contain huge, long sentences; but short ones, which are more factual than narrative. The done research helps the reader trust the writer’s credibility. Reading and then assessing new articles can teach us a lot about writing our own articles effectively. News articles help us write our own work on the same lines as them. We can learn to write articles that are informative, and clear. They should not confuse the reader. News articles have to capture the reader’s attention, and this is what we can learn. We can learn to write catchy headlines, which grab attention. Most of the news articles have headlines that are a summary of their main content. This helps the reader identify what the article is about, and what can he/she hope to learn from it. The first paragraph of any news article is the most important. This is where all the necessary information is given. Nowadays, people have less time to spend reading long articles; they want the relevant information in a short time, and that also complete and clear. News articles teach us to be relevant and have proximity; because certain events lead up to a news article. This news article about mid-term elections was timely, and this is what is more important. Untimely news articles have no meaning for the readers. Then we can learn about presenting our idea effectively so that it reaches out to our audience, and conveys the message intended. News articles need to support their arguments with facts, figures and statistics, also sources’ and witnesses’ quotes where needed. We have to learn to expound the factual details, to build a level of trust between the writer and the reader. News articles teach us to avoid being biased, and exercise objectivity as much as possible. There are always two sides of any story, and we must portray both the sides to make our article balanced. (2) Personally, I feel I have a lack of confidence. While giving a presentation, I am unable to look at my audience in the eye. This usually results in lack of attention on the behalf of the audience. I am trying to overcome this problem. While preparing for any presentation, I practice speaking, while standing in front of the mirror. I try to make an eye contact with myself, and at the same time also focus on my facial expressions, so that when I give a presentation, the audience will feel engaged, and attentive, as I would be talking directly to them. I want to escape from the stage as soon as I step on it. Engaging with the audience is perhaps what I fear the most. I don’t interact with them; it’s the same as I was giving a lecture. I am striving to make interactive discussions with my audience while giving presentation. I am improving on this, by practicing the presentation prior to giving it, and ask my friends for questions, and also answer some of their regarding the presentation. Also when I go on the stage I am stagnant, unable to move. I just stand in one place and give the presentation. For this, I try, where possible, to visit the place prior the presentation, and walk around the whole stage, facing the empty room. It helps to build confidence, and eases anxiety. Most of the time, I get stuck with what I wanted to say, and end up saying useless words like, ‘uhm’ and ‘ah’. This is something I really want to change about my presentation. I try to rehearse my presentation so well as not to have to stop and think what I should say next. Also I prepare material more than required, so that if I forget something I always have a backup. (3) Michael Glauser’s first slide is of Becky Anderson. She is an entrepreneur. The first thing that strikes as puzzling are points on the slides. The names of her businesses and awards are not distinguished from the rest of the text. This makes the whole phrase confusing and difficult to understand. The next slides are visual and interactive, which summarizes the actual point in a concise way which is easy to understand and relevant examples are given. The slides also contain clips which define pictorially how to minimize cost and increase profit, while at the same time working towards a social cause. Read More