The picture showing the extent of the injuries Mr Parr sustained, grabs your attention as soon as you glance at this report. It has been deliberately centred in the middle of the page so the reader cannot overlook it, because this is one of Ben Taylor’s methods to stir feelings up inside the reader. This picture can develop deep condolence for Mr Parr because of his bruised eyes staring at you and the injuries sustained is clearly visible e.g. the bruises, cut face, arm in a sling etc. This picture would also prevent us from getting the impression Steven Parr brought on this brawl because he appears to be an innocent and fairly aged man. A picture of the repaired phone box has been placed in this report to signify what the meaningless argument that nearly cost a man his life was all over, a phone box.
Before even reading this report you can tell that the report is split into columns and there is an immense use of short paragraphs through out. These short paragraphs were used to grab the reader’s attention and sustain it right through the report. Conjunction are also used a lot to start paragraphs, “But”, “And” plus “However”. As the reader reads through the report they are told something in one paragraph that they were not told before, this is known as pyramid writing. Pyramid writing is another technique Ben Taylor uses to develop this story into a full-page report; the story is developing all the time as you go through the report. There is also a basic sentence structure used in the report, first Ben Taylor writes the subject of the sentence puts in a comma and then goes on and gives information about the subject. Ben Taylor has also included factual information to develop the report by creating a pleasant character profile of Mr Parr for the reader. In the first paragraph of the report it tells us Mr Parr had a springer spaniel, this immediately reveals to us that Mr Parr must have an amiable and considerate character if he has that type of gentle Dog. In paragraph three this technique is used once again it tell us Mr Parr has two children, “The father of two”. This creates a picture of Mr Parr being a caring family man. These pieces of factual information are slipped in to try and show that Mr Parr didn’t deserve the injuries or trauma he has received.
Quotations are a key element on how the author develops this into a full-page report. Ben Taylor has sets out his quotes in a typical tabloid style. First he says who said the quote then put what the person says. This is a complete contrast to stories, because in stories what is said is put first then who said it is written after it. Quotes are partly used to create a character reference for people involved in the story. These quotes are used to give an idea of what Mr Parr is like, from quotes from friends or family. Another use of quotes is to offer an expert opinion on the events being accounted. Both of these uses of quotes are used in the report. The “expert” opinion has been included in the form of Jack Straw the Home Secretary at the time being quoted. Jack Straw has been chosen to be the “expert” on the subject because he is the person in charge of all affairs in this country, in this case crime. Mr Straw mentions how the up most should be done to prevent crimes of this calibre. These comments add a real weight to the report and a feeling that something should be done due to Mr Straw’s position in government. The police have also been quoted because, like Jack Straw, they are experts on crime because it is their job to prevent it but also they also show their appreciation for Mr Parr doing the right thing. Steven Parr’s wife and cousin have been also quoted to tell the reader of their first hand experience of Steven Parr’s attitude and personality. These first hand accounts of Mr Parr only tell us pleasant things so the reader will feel empathy for Mr Parr, again Ben Taylor has succeeded in getting the reader to feel for Mr Parr. Steven Parr words have also been used frequently in this report because it will be of interest to the reader to see what he thinks about this terrible misfortune. He also is the main subject in the report so it is important for the writer to get his views on what happened.
Language been a key method used to develop the story because the language Ben Taylor used for certain people could create a clearer picture for the on what those people are like. In this report there are many examples of Ben Taylor using emotive and dramatic words to manipulate our responses, “Thug”, “Smashing”, “Frenzy” and “Sickening” to name a few. Ben Taylor could had told readers about the events without using these words but these words are an important method to keep the readers attention and getting the reader on Mr Parr side. The report that was written could easily be labelled biased because of the way the author dramatise the story to get the reader to feel for Mr Parr. This language has succeeded in getting the reader to feel sympathy for Mr Parr and at the same time being appalled with the youth who carried out the attack. You can also notice that before Ben Taylor records Mr Parr’s words he adds his own words, “With his voice shaking”, to give more feelings to the one Steven Parr says. Ben Taylor would twist Mr Parr’s words so the reader would feel more and more consideration for Mr Parr.
My final conclusion of the report is that Taylor has made good use of the various writing techniques available to him, like emotive language, and detailed accounts of what happened. But at the end of the day I cant still help but feel that Steven Parr should of thought a moment longer before jumping in to save a telephone box.