A readable writing should be:
-well structured
-logical
-cohesive
-clear, precise and concise
-coherent
Today I'm going examine a research article found on the Internet for my final thesis, trying to see if it presents the features of a readable text, which I have reported above. The article I choose deals with translation of comics; I'm not sure I'm writing my thesis on this topic yet, but I find it an interesting field, which I would like to know more about. The writer is Federico Zanettin, and the title is: "Comics in translation studies. An overview and suggestions for research". Let's see:
1. Does it follow the hourglass structure?
Yes, it does. The article presents an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
2. Is there a logical flow of ideas?
The article doesn't really follow a logical order. As the title says, the text is "an overview": it considerates a series of aspects regarding the translation of comics, which do not necessarily constitute a logical flow of ideas. However, I don't think the choice of the order of the themes is casual. The aspects treated are conceptually connected.
3. Is the text cohesive? What is done to make it cohesive?
Yes, the text is cohesive. The use of connectors and linking words is appropriated. Connectors are not 'over used': the aspects presented are already 'conceptually linked', so often they are not needed.
4. Is the writing clear or complex?
I think the writing is very clear; probably, the fact that the writer is Italian makes the text more understandable for Italian readers. Anyway, the author doesn't use too complicated syntax nor terminology, and he often gives examples that make the comprehension easier.
5. Who is the text's assumed audience? What indications of this do you have? How does this influence how the text is written?
The text is clearly addressed to an academic context: it refers to previous academic writing on the topic, it aspires to be a suggestion for further research. Then, the readers will presumably be people with a certain knowledge on comics: specific terminology is used, there are references to many comics from different countries and epoques. As I already pointed out, this does not imply a too complex structure.
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Hi Valentina!
RispondiEliminaI think you chose an original article, it seems interesting!I never thought about the translation of comics before!
Ok, so let's talk about your post.I like the way you structured it. It's very easy to read.
Your answers are concise, I appreciate it :)
Grammatically speaking, I would change something, for example...
in the introduction
- punctuation, every point of the list has to finish with a comma or a semicolon;
- to be going to;
- the first sentence is quite long, maybe I would split it;
- I would go on using the past tense, for example "The article I chose";
- when you present the author and his work it's better not to use comma and "and" together, I would choose only one of them.
Answers
2. - Maybe I would say "the choice of themes order"
Well, I think that's all, in my opinion you made a good job!
Have a nice day!
Francesca
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