illustrated from this chapter. It discusses five characteristics of a text namely
location, layout, headings, length and style, which do not have much
relationship to each other except that they are important characteristics of a
text. In sharp contrast to this are the major headings used to divide discussion
of “Layout,” which explains where and why material is located. Each of these
four headings is composed of three words. The last two words are “the Text”.
The first word in each heading is a preposition of location namely “In,”
“Before,” “After” and “Beneath”. Thus these headings are “In the Text,”
“Before the Text,” “After the Text,” and “Beneath the Text”. Here the flow of
ideas is almost excessively obvious as the reader is taken from one place to
another where material is located.
Finally, there is a point about formatting in relation to font types and sizes.
When headings operate at two or more levels (for example, headings and
subheadings), use a consistent format so that each heading at the same level
has the same format.
Advantages for Readers
Headings are valuable to readers because of the three functions that they
perform. (i) Content Function. Headings indicate the contents of various parts
of a text and thus make it easier to find specific information.
162
In this regard
they also help the “delver”.
163
Headings make it is easier to find where a point
is considered so it can take the reader there “efficiently”.
164
In this regard, they
help a reader of any type. (ii) Structural Function. Headings reveal the plan or
structure of the text, “even to the most cursory reader”.
165
Headings are
“simple keys” to unlocking the meaning of a text.
166
In this regard they help the
“porer”.
167
(iii) Summary Function. If headings perform a summary function a
reader can obtain an overview of the book just by scanning the headings. This
orients the reader before the pore over the text as they read it more intently.
Advantages for Writers
Headings also make a text so much easier to write because of the functions
that they perform. (i) Content Function. By carefully designing headings so
that they carry out the content function a writer is able to focus intently on the
___________________
162
Gibbs (1993) p 500-501
163
“Delver” is a term coined by the author to refer to someone who
uses a book to find or delve for specific pieces of information.
164
Kirby (1990) p 702
165
Kirby (1990) p 702
166
Kirby (1990) p 702
167
“Porer” is a term coined by the author to refer to someone who
reads a book from cover to cover, or at least reads slabs of it.
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