A PRAGMA-RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF EVALUATION IN NEWS REPORTS ON THE GAZA-ISRAELI CRISIS IN SELECTED NEWSPAPERS

This study tackles the pragma-rhetorical strategies and functions of evaluation in American news reports.Three leading newspapers are selected to be the data of analysis.They are News Today, The Washington Post and The New York Times.To achieve the main aims of the study, an eclectic model of analysis is developed.The findings of analysis reveal that the main pragmatic strategies are expressive and assertive speech acts, flouting the maxims, overstatements and understatements.Metaphors as a rhetorically study is utilized to foster the effect of pragmatic evaluations in news reports.They influence the reader's mind and attract their attention.The main functions elicited in the evaluative acts are expressing stance and negotiation.They are incorporated to reflect the writers' position towards the crisis and to formulate the minds of the readers towards specific targets.Rhetorical modes appealed are mainly pathos and ethos.They are employed to reinforce the emotive and moral effect on others.