Data Handling coursework, newspapers

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Maths Coursework

Do Broadsheet Newspapers appeal to a different type of reader than Tabloids?

Both Broadsheet and Tabloid newspapers approach their audiences in two contrasting styles. Tabloids tend to present their articles in a much more casual manner, an informal use of vocabulary and briefer sections of text, combined with bigger, bolder headlines and a larger amount of the paper devoted to adverts and pictures give Tabloids a more unrefined atmosphere. Therefore they encourage the younger, lower paid and lesser educated individual. On the other hand, Broadsheets tend to induce a more sophisticated tone. A blend of more intellectual vocabulary, large, compact areas of text and a more subtle use of headlines, pictures and advertisement attract an audience that is, on the whole, older, better educated and higher paid.

I believe that the Tabloid newspaper will be easier to read because of the shorter article length, extra use of pictures and simpler vocabulary.

  • I will need to collect the statistics on the two styles in order to complete my task. Using three articles from each newspaper, I will take a sample size of the 1st 100 words and the 1st 45 sentences from each article as this should give a reliable representation of the article and will also be easy to collect. I will count sentence length, calculate and compare word length, finding the averages in the process plus work out the percentage of the article that is devoted to pictures and photos and record this on a spreadsheet. This should provide evidence to decide which of the papers is easier to read.

  • Using computer technology, I will collect totally primary, discrete data and will record my findings using a word processor program along with autograph and a spreadsheet program. I will group my data into sections on my spreadsheet, asses each set individually, representing it in the form of statistical diagrams, charts and graphs. Then I will consider all of the conclusions I have formed, hopefully this will then prove my hypothesis.
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  • I have taken articles from The Sun as my tabloid and The times as my Broadsheet as each are well known and popular examples of their respective newspaper styles. I have taken 3 articles on the same subject from each, one from the sports section, one on a fashion article and an article on politics from each paper, to give a good variation to my data and try to give a good overview of each paper.

% of Article Devoted to Pictures

Pie Chart

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