Closed Reading: Diction, Syntax, Details.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/11/world/meast/rosenblatt-iraq-withdrawal/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

This is a CNN profile of soldiers serving in Iraq.

I chose this particular article because unlike most of CNN's work, this is a profile rather than a report. The Author makes the whole piece seem more like a story and less like a report through his use of Diction, Syntax and Details.
   The Author's use of diction might be my favorite part of the whole piece. The Author uses heavy, exaggerated words in order to convey a sense of importance in the article. By using words like "pierced" and "blared", it makes the tone of the piece more drastic and  crucial. The diction is like that throughout the piece and also lends it a sense of fear and anxiety that comes with being rocketed.
   The Syntax of this piece is very important to the overall tone of the article. While in a normal news article, you often see shorter fact filled sentences, in this piece, the Author uses longer detail filled sentences to give the whole piece a more story like feel. The syntax makes the article feel more like a story of a soldiers experience in Iraq and less like a report about military action in Iraq.
    Finally, the Author's use of detail is what solidifies the difference between this profile and your average news report. While news reports are filled with statistics and direct information, the Author fills this with personal details from the soldier he is profiling. While he does provide some information about military action in Iraq, he focuses on the details of the soldiers daily lives. It is less factual and more subjective. By focusing on the personal details of the soldier he is profiling, he makes sure that this article is not just another report.
    This entire article is shaped and supported by the author's use of diction, syntax and details. By utilizing those techniques, he gives his piece a sense of urgency where it needs it and provides information about the soldier's life without being bogged down by statistical information. Overall this was a well written piece that i really enjoyed.