An Analysis Of The Problem-solution Pattern In Chinese And English News Reports

From the dawning of the new millennium, we (the inhabitants of this green planet) have experienced epidemics like SARS and H1N1, a sequence of earthquakes, a constant global warming, and, more recently, the nuclear misfortune in Japan. These global disasters seem to be on the rise and in shorter intervals. As a result, subsequent news reports have become an important medium for exchanging information.In regards to the particularity of this group's news reports, the writer reviews the studies on problem-solution pattern by Hoey (1983), Winter (1994), and McCarthy (1991) in narrative and expository essays, and learn the judges by Tirllonen-Condit (1977), Kummer (1972), and Cai (2002) on the genre of the problem-solution pattern, which should be in the range of argumentation. On this basis, the writer intends to build a relatively comprehensive assessing system for the problem-solution pattern in order to explore the heterogeneity and homogeneity across two languages. In other words, the theories associated with argumentation including problem-solution pattern (such as superstructure, reasoning style, persuasive appeals by Aristotle, strength of reasoning by Toulmin, and the prominence of the thesis statement) are introduced to examine the commonalities and differences of the two languages when reporting the global problems.Combining the national writing characteristics and features of the era, news texts provide contrastive rhetoric with good corpus. And recent studies in this regard extend to in-depth dimensions: we not only put the theme involved, reader community, and the editors'style into consideration, but also the nature of"problem"reported which to a large degree decides the results of analysis. On this basis, the writer chooses the reports of global problems such as SARS and H1N1as content of this research. The following four methods are adopted to analyze the five aspects: 1. To define the superstructure constituents by the writer firstly, then calculate their SE and Z value. 2. To adopt one-way ANOVA (separate univariate analyses of covariance) to contrast the strength of reasoning and persuasive appeals. 3. Adopting the criteria made by Tirkkonen-Condit and Lieflander-Koistinen of 1989 on the reasoning style to analyze their styles. 4. According to the method made by Ron Scollon, Suzanne Wong Scollon, and Andy Kirkpatrick on the"same"news stories, the prominence of the thesis statements are examined by the writer. And the results are as follows:1-The data demonstrates different emphasis on superstructure elements (Chinese news reporters resort more to the constituents--"situation"and"review"whilst their counterparts turn more to the constituents--"effect","current progression"and"ascertain").2- The news writers from two cultures are significantly diverse in the usage of"warrant", but for the other two items, they do not exhibit significantly difference.3- Chinese and English news reports are significantly different in the three elemental persuasive appeals—logos, pathos and ethos. Chinese writers are scored higher by the raters in using"ethos"than their English counterparts, whilst American and British writers are scored higher in using"logos"and"pathos".4- News writings from two cultures are both direct according to the definition made by Tirkkonen-Condit and Lieflander-Koistinen of 1989.5. Finally, in order to explore his/her specific style even further, the writer analyzes the thesis statement and the intended problem separately. Conclusively, it can be apparent that the two languages do not exhibit significant differences in reporting the problems taking place; rather the differences lie in the style of presenting the thesis statement. English-American reports tend to inundate the author's claims (the thesis statement) by providing numerous standpoints from various interest groups. On the other hand, the Chinese writers attempt to represent the thesis statement fully and with much fewer views from other interest groups or the public. Therefore, we can conclude that English-American news texts are more implied in terms of reasoning style, thus developing more comprehensive and objective reports; and that the Chinese corresponding news reports are more direct, but it need further advancement in depth and width.