Magazine Introductions

My Introduction-1^st person narrative

Out of control. That’s how both my friends and family described me. The reason? Alcohol. Staggering home at 4am, just a normal Saturday night maybe. But no, this was a Wednesday and the college bell would be piercing my ear drums in 5 hours. If I made it. 2 years of drinking left me with nothing. I’m unemployed with little hope of finding a job. I’m stuck. Save the alcohol for weekends, abuse alcohol and it’ll leave a scar. Is that what you really want?

1^st person narrative is very effective in creating a personal experience and is very subjective. It gives an individual’s own personal experience or viewpoint and adds intimacy to an article, as if the reader is being allowed into a personal secret. This narrative is not used in newspapers which are much more impersonal. Using 1^st person plural creates a caring, inclusive feel. This may be used when addressing a certain group of people-it may appeal to the elderly who may like the more caring feel given by this method. 1^st person introductions are used to give a person’s view of an event which is often more fitted for use in magazines. 1^st person narrative introductions can also inject information by revealing personal secrets, making the reader feel privileged to know these points.

My Introduction-Question Introduction

Saturday night. How much will you be drinking? A night out with friends spending the weeks wages. But is it worth the risk? Think about it-a night in A&E thanks to too much alcohol or limiting yourself. Which would you prefer?

Question introductions present the reader with a question. This forces them to be active and to read on for the question to be answered. This type of introduction is effective when presented to young people as the question within the introduction engages them and makes them want to read on as young people are often more curious. I think that this method would be effective when writing about less interesting topics as they ask the reader a question so add interest-this question may be about something the reader has never considered before.

My introduction-2^nd Person     Narrative

Binge drinking is a huge problem in Britain. Teenage girls in Britain are more likely to be binge drinkers than anywhere else in Europe with more than half of 15-16 year old girls saying they drink to excess at least once a month. But where do underage youths get their alcohol from? The most common source-parents. Do you buy your teenage children alcohol? Think of the health risks. Keep them safe by saying no, you as a parent can change the shocking statistics. Are you the reason behind underage drinking? You can stop it.

2nd person narrative introductions are used to personally target the reader and are very assertive. Some introductions may feature commands, telling the reader to do something which may involve reading the article. Therefore, the reader is engaged and has interest for what is included in the article. These introductions can have an energising feel but this can also be seen negatively-they can feel patronising and sometimes wearing on the reader. 2^nd person narrative introductions may be used when an important issue is being addressed and the reader is being told to do something about it themselves.