IELTS Research Reports

Tim Moore, Janne Morton and Steve PriceSample 2.3: Journalistic-style headings used in Section-summary match taskThese more journalistic-style headings are notable in the first instance for their lack of reference to thelarger rhetorical units evident in many of the other prompt samples (eg cause, prediction etc). Otherdistinguishing linguistic features include the use of:■■■■■■a range of syntactic structures i.e. noun phrases (eg Fighting fraud, Common objectives);full sentences (eg This type sells best in the shops); question forms (eg How does it work?)more idiomatic phrasing or ‘prefabs’ (eg The figures say it all, Accepting the inevitable) andinexplicit pronominal reference (eg They can’t get in without these).A number of writers have commented on the challenges generally involved in interpreting journalisticlanguage (Nwogu 1991; Myers, 2003). It seems reasonable to suppose that dealing with lesssystematic categories of the type shown in Sample 2:3 is likely to require a greater interpretativestretch for the test-taker. In the grid shown in Figure 4, an attempt has been made to account for thistask variety (see T2b).More LocalMore GlobalT2aMore literalT2bKeyT2a = more academic style promptsFigure 4. Analysis of Section – Summary match task type208 www.ielts.org