News Item

News Item: is factual text which informs the readers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important.

The purpose of a news item is to inform the listener or viewers about events of the day whice are considered newsworthy or important.

Social function of news item is : to inform readers, listeners or viewers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important.

Generic structure:

♠Newsworthy Event(s): recounts the events in summary form

♠Background Event(s): elaborate what happened, to WHOM, in WHAT circumstances.

♠Sources: comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities’ expert on the event.

Significant Grammar Features:

♣Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline.

♣Generally using Simple Past Tense .

♣Use of Material Processes to retell the event.

♣Using Action Verbs, e.g.: were, run, go, kill, etc.

♣Using Saying Verbs, e.g.: say, tell

♣Focus on Circumstances

Use of projecting Verbal Processes in Sources stages

There are some rules that can help to make newspaper headlines more comprehensible.

1. The passive voice is used without the appropriate form of “be”.

Example: Town ‘Contaminated’

Complete Sentence: Town is contaminated.

2. It is unusual to find complex forms, generally the simple present form is used

Example: Fire Destroys over 2,511 acres of Forest in 2003-2004

Complete Sentence: Fire has destroyed over 2,511 acres of forest in 2003- 2004.

3. The present progressive tense is used, usually to describe something that is changing or developing, but the auxiliary verb is usually left out.

Example: World Heading for Energy Crisis

Complete Sentence: The world is heading for an energy crisis.

4.To refer to the future, headlines often use the infinitive.

Example: Queen to Visit Samoa.

Complete Sentence: The Queen is going to visit Samoa.

5.Headlines are not always complete sentences.

Example: More earthquakes in India.

Complete Sentence: More earthquakes happened in India

Introductory It

When the subjective is an infinitive phrase

We begin a sentence with it when the real subject is an infinitive phrase. So instead of saying, ‘To accept your advice is difficult’, we say, ‘It is difficult to accept your advice’.

Structure: It + verb + subject complement + infinitive phrase (real subject)

Example:

ž It is easy to learn English. (=To learn English is easy.)

ž It is easy to find fault with others. (=To find fault with others is easy.)

ž It is difficult to know his motive. (=To know his motive is difficult.)

ž It is difficult to find a good job during these troubled times.

ž It is dangerous to play with fire.

ž It could be dangerous to drive so fast.

Note: that when we wish to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning, especially when it is short.

When the subject is a gerund phrase

When the real subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. So instead of saying ‘Your trying to fool us is no good’, we say, ‘It is no good your trying to fool us.’

Example:

ž It won’t be any good complaining to the manager. (Complaining to the manager won’t be any good.)

ž It is silly throwing away this opportunity. (Throwing away this opportunity is silly.)

ž Will it be any good my talking to him about it? (Will my talking to him about it be any good?)

ž It is no fun having so many children to look after. (Having so many children to look after is no fun.)

Note: that it is possible to change the gerund into an infinitive.

Then the subject is a clause

When the subject is a clause, the sentence usually begins with it. So instead of saying ‘That he was once a communist is true’, we say, ‘It is true that he was once a communist’.

Example:

— It does not matter whether he comes or not. (Whether he comes or not does not matter.)

— It is required that he should pay the fine. (That he should pay the fine is required.)

— It is clear that he overheard our conversation. (That he overheard our conversation is clear.)

— It is clear that you are not interested in this offer. (That you are not interested in the offer is clear.)

— It cannot be denied that they tried their best to help him. (That they tried their best to help him cannot be denied)

— It doesn’t matter whether we buy it now or later. (Whether we buy it now or later does not matter. )

Introductory it with seem, appear and look

Introductory it is also used with seem, appear and look when the subject is an infinitive phrase, a phrase with a gerund in it or a clause.

Example:

ž It looked doubtful whether she would come

ž It seemed strange that she should behave like that.

ž It seems possible that she may quit the job.

ž It appeared unwise to offend him.

Introductory it as an object

It is sometimes used as the object of the verbs think, feel, deem, count, consider etc.

Example:

} Don’t you think it dangerous to drive so carelessly?

} I consider it a privilege to have this opportunity of welcoming you.

} I think it odd that she doesn’t write to me these days.

} I think it a pity that she could not win.

} We think it improper that he should be so dictatorial.

} He made it clear what he wanted.

} I find it difficult to talk to him.

Introductory it in questions

The introductory it is sometimes used in questions.

Example:

ž Who was it that broke the window?
It is Peter who broke the window.

ž Why was it that he stole the bread?
It was because he was poor that he stole the bread.

ž When was it that the manager came?
It was at 10 am that the manager came.

Descriptive Text

Purpose:

To describe a particular place/ thing/ person


Text Organization:

^ Identification (mention the special participant)
^ Description (mention the part, quality, and characteristics of subject being described)


Language Features:

^ The use of adjectives and compound adjectives.
e.g. :
- a five hundred seated football stadium.
- a beautiful ancient Roman opera house.

^ The use of Linking Verbs/ relating verbs.
e.g. :
- The temple is so magnificent.
- The temple consists of five terraces.

^ The use of Simple Present Tense
e.g. :
- The museum houses hundreds of Greek Statues.
- The hotel provides 450 rooms and a large swimming pool.

^ The use of degree of comparison
e.g. :
- The weather in Jakarta is hotter than Bandung.
- Bogor has the same weather as Ungaran.

Bandengan Beach

Bandengan Beach or Tirta Samudra Beach is the famous beach in jepara. the place is very beautiful and romantic. people around Jepara, Kudus, Demak knows this place.

This place is located 7 kilometers north of Jepara city center. The way to get there is very easy. Just follow the traffic sign and you will find it. From the town square, follow the road to Bangsri then turn left when reached kuwasen village. You can take public transportation or by your own vehicle.

The white sandy beach which has pure water is good for swimming. The beach is save enough for swimming because the beach is shallow and the wave is not so big. This place is more beautiful at dusk. We can see the beautiful sunset with our family or friends.

In this location, we can sit and relax on the shelter while enjoy the natural beach breezy wind. It also has large pandan tree field. It is suitable for youngster activities such as camping.

If we want to sail, we can rent the traditional boat owned by local people. We can make voyage around the beach or we can go to pulau panjang (panjang island). Some time we can find banana boat and jet ski for rent.

In this place we can find many traditional footstalls. We can order traditional foods sold by the trader such as roasted fish, crab, boiled shell. Pindang srani is one of the delicious food enjoyed by the visitors.

come to the bandengan beach and you will find a paradise on the tips of Muria peninsula.

Direct & Indirect Speech

Direct speech is a speaker’s actual words. In writing, we write a direct speech with quotation marks ("......")

Indirect speech is a report of what the announcer has said.

Example :

1. Comand / request

v Direct : Mrs. Chandra said to Vita "Don't wory about it."

v Indirect : Mrs. Chandra told Vita not to wory about it.

2. Question

v Direct : Vita asked "Are you a journalist?“

v Indirect : Vita asked if / whether I was journalist.

3. Statement

v Direct : Mr. Chandra said "I worked hard yesterday.“

v Indirect : Mr. Chandra said that he worked hard the day before

In comand sentences, direct speech can changed to indirect speech with change "Said" to be "Ordered", "Told", and "Forbade".

v Direct : Hamid said, "Open the door!"

v Indirect : Hamid ordered to open the door.

v Direct : Hamid said, "Sinta, come here!"

v Indirect : Hamid told Sinta to come here.

v Direct : Hamid said to Andi, "Do not disturb me!"

v Indirect : Hamid forbade Andi to disturb him.

Indirect speech : a report of what the announcer has said.

There are 3 kinds of indirect speech :

1. Imperrative (command / request)
If you put a command into indirect speech, you remain changing of the person, backshift of tenses and changing of
expression of time. The form is mostly: to or not to + infinitive.

Affirmative Commands

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Mother said toSulfikha, “Sulfikha, sweep the floor, please”	Mother told Silfikha to sweep the floor.
Anjarach said to Yusni, “ turn on the fan, please.”	Anjarach told Yusni to turn on the fan.”
Arya Wiwaha said to Setyadi, “ Setyadi, buy me a bottle of minute maid pulpy orange, please.”	Arya Wiwaha told Setyadi to buy a bottle of minute maid pulpy orange.

Negative Commands

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Teacher said to Allan, ‘’Allan dont go closethe window’’	The Theacher asked Allan not to close the window
Mother said to me, ‘’don’t switch the channel’’	Mother told to me not to go the channel
Nolan said to me’’ dont go anywhere after you done your home work’’	Nolan told me to not to go anywhere after I had done my home work

Direct speech		Indirect speech
Present simple Wisnu said, "It's cold."	›	Past simple Wisnu said it was cold.
Present continuous Mr. Medianto said, "I'm teaching English online."	›	Past continuous Mr. Medianto said he was teaching English online.
Present perfect simple Sulfikha said, "I've been on the web since 1999."	›	Past perfect simple Sulfikha said she had been on the web since 1999.
Present perfect continuous Mr. Yusni said, "I've been teaching English for seven years."	›	Past perfect continuous Mr. Yusni said he had been teaching English for seven years.
Past simple Mr. Setiady said, "I taught online yesterday."	›	Past perfect Mr. Setiady said he had taught online yesterday.
Past continuous Mr. Arya Wiwaha said, "I was teaching earlier."	›	Past perfect continuous Mr. Arya Wiwaha said he had been teaching earlier.
Past perfect Kristian said, "The lesson had already started when he arrived."	›	Past perfect Kristian said the lesson had already started when he arrived.
Past perfect continuous Vangelis said, "I'd already been teaching for five minutes."	›	Past perfect continuous Vangelis said she'd already been teaching for five minutes.

REMEMBER! You must change the time signals when the direct sentences contain expressions of time. Look at the examples below.

Direct Speech : The annoncer said, “ The accident happened yesterday night.”

Indirect Speech : The annoncetr said that the accident had happened the night

before.

Indirect Speech : Rhomedal said, “ Justin is at the kampung lauk now.”

Reported Speech : Rhomedal said that Justin was at the kampung lauk then.

Expressions of time if reported on a different day

This (evening) That (evening)

Today Yesterday

These (days) Those (days)

Now Then

(a week) ago (a week) before

Last weekend The weekend before last / the previous weekend

Here There

Next (week) The following (week)

Tomorrow The next/following day

Modals in The Past Form

can't have	could	could have	couldn't	couldn't have
didn't need to	had to	may have	may not have	might have
might not have	must have	needn't have	ought not to have	ought to have
should have	shouldn't have	would have	would not

can't have

certainty e.g. I can't have lost my keys! (I'm sure I didn't)

could	permission e.g. When I was a teenager, I could go out as late as I wanted.
	general ability e.g. Tom could walk by the age of 8 months.

could have	possibility, but did not happen e.g. I could have passed my driving test if I'd really tried.
	uncertainty e.g. I guess it could have been Sandra on the phone.

couldn't	permission e.g. When I was a teenager, I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted.
	general ability e.g. I couldn't walk until I was 2.
	ability in a particular situation e.g. I tried hard but I couldn't persuade him to go to the party with us.

couldn't have	possibility/ability e.g. I couldn't possibly have passed my driving test, even if I'd tried harder.
	uncertainty e.g. It couldn't have been Sandra on the phone, could it?
	with comparative adjectives e.g. I couldn't have asked for better weather on my wedding day.
	unwillingness e.g. I couldn't have left the dog in the car for long (so I didn't).

didn’t need to

unnecessary action not done e.g. As I was alone this weekend, I didn't need to do any cooking (so I didn't).

had to

obligation (past form of must) e.g. I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.

may have

uncertainty e.g. I guess I may have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.

may not have

uncertainty e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

might have	possibility (didn't happen) e.g. You might have been killed!
	uncertainty e.g. I guess I might have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.
	annoyance at someone's failure to do something e.g. You might have told me that you had invited all your colleagues round for dinner!
	might have known + would (idiom to ironically express that somebody's action was typical) e.g. I might have known that he would finish with me as soon as he found out I wasn't wealthy!

might not have

uncertainty e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

must have	certainty e.g. He must have known how much it was going to cost. (I'm sure he knew.)
	with surely in exclamations e.g. Surely he must have known how much it was going to cost!

needn't have

unnecessary action that was actually done e.g. Oh, you needn't have done the washing up!

ought not to have

criticism (more common is shouldn't have) e.g. You ought not to have been so frank with him.

ought to have

expectation (should have is more common) Why is she late? She ought to have arrived by now!

should have	expectation Why is she late? She should have arrived by now!
	should have + verbs of thinking e.g. I should have thought you knew.
	with be and adjectives, describing chance e.g. It was weird that you should have been staying in the same hostel last month.
	criticism (you didn't do something, but it would have been the right thing to do) e.g. The party was such fun last night! You should have come!

shouldn't have	criticism e.g. You shouldn't have been so frank with him.
	polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour "Here's a bottle of wine for you" "Oh, you really shouldn't have!"

would have	events in the past that did not happen e.g. I wouldn't have gone out with him, but he didn't ask me.
	assumptions e.g. Oh, that would have been Sarah on the phone just now.

would not

unwillingness e.g. I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it.