News Item

a.  Definition

News item is a text which informs readers about events of the day. The events are considered newsworthy or important.

       b. Generic Structure

      Main event

      Elaboration (background, participant, time, place)

      Resource of information

              c. Language Feature of News Item

      Focusing on circumstances

      Using material process

      Using Action verbs

      Using saying verbs

      Using Passive sentence

        d. Example

Two Tibetan Monks Sentenced to Prison 

A Chinese court sentenced two more Tibetan monks to long prison terms on Tuesday, accusing them of “intentional homicide” in the death of another monk, who immolated himself last March, according to Xinhua.

The court sentenced Tsering Tenzin and Tenchum of the Kirt Monastery in the Tibetan area of Sichuan Province to 13 and 10 years in prison, respectively. On Monday, the same court found a 46-year-old monk, Drongdru, guilty of “intentional homicide” in the death of the monk, a 16-year-old who was his nephew and disciple. 

Prosecutors said that after the teenager immolated himself, the three monks hid him and delayed emergency treatment. Human rights groups said the teenage monk was protesting government policies in Tibet.