LO2: Know the construction and content of news articles

The professionals taking smart drugs to get through the day

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/professionals-taking-smart-drugs-get-day/

This article was published on The Telegraph's website, and it's purpose is to inform and educate the reader on a certain category of drugs and who it is used by. The articles target audience is likely to be both male and females aged 18-35, because the topic of the article is about drugs which can enhance your thinking and learning ability, and focus's on the drugs uses in universities and other professional work places. Because of this the audience interested is likely to be either in university or have work in a higher profession, and these people can be both male and female.

The title "The professionals taking smart drugs to get through the day" is likely to gain the target audience's attention, firstly through the word "professionals" since the target audience are either hoping to become a professional, or are already a professional. This way when they read the word professional the target audience are likely to believe that the article applies particularly to them, and therefore feel an urge to read the magazine. Secondly, I recon the phrase "smart drugs" would also stick out in the title, since the target audience are likely to be smart, and would be interested in drugs which would apparently make them smarter. In worse cases, perhaps the audience are struggling in university, and are looking for such a drug to make them smarter.

Unlike the other articles I have analysed this article has barely sensationalised any of the content, and discusses the smart drugs and their realities in a rather plain manner. This is because the article's subject is actually a rather serious subject, and should be approached carefully, since the writer could unknowingly come across as if they were promoting the "smart drugs" and then get done for legal and ethical reasons. The article uses a teacher to pupil mode of address, for example:

"His instant response was to offer her some of his personal supply of Modafinil – a so-called smart drug only prescribed in the UK to treat narcolepsy – and one that is now being used - and abused - in the ivory towers of academia."

In this complex sentence, the writer explains how a person offered someone a drug to cure their drowsiness, however the sentence includes an explanation of the drug, and what it's original purpose was, how the drug is being used, and in what background the drug is used - all in one sentence. Articles that feel the need to include that much detail in one sentence are usually found in articles with a teacher to pupil mode of address, since the article feels the need to educate the reader as much as possible. More evidence that the article has a teacher to pupil mode of address is because the article justifies itself with figures and percentages for example:

"A survey run by the Oxford University student newspaper The Tab showed that 26 per cent of students at the university claimed to have used Modafinil."

I believe a simple sentence is used in order to make the sentence have direct impact on the reader, this is because the article is using Unambiguity to affect the reader more with a direct fact. To make the article feel more realistic and human the article also includes direct quotes from trusted individuals, for example:

"“It’s definitely an increasing problem,” says Professor Sahakian, who ten years ago published a seminal paper on the issue entitled Professor’s Little Helper."

The article informs the reader that the person who is giving their opinion in the article is infact a Professor, which makes the reader trust what that person said, and is more likely to take what they are saying. The article even goes further to explain that the person published a seminal paper on "Smart Drugs" which makes the reader trust what he is saying about "Smart Drugs" even more since it is apparent that he knows what he is talking about.

Who: Professor Barbara Sahakian, Dr Hannah Critchlow, Dr Anders Sandberg
What: "Smart drugs" including Adderal, Ritalin and Modafinil
Where: Universities, Professional work places, Florida
When: June 2017
How: The article uses Elaborate Coding, since the article's target audience are people who are either in higher education or have professional jobs. For example: "These pills are thought to work by improving neurotransmitters to manipulate the prefrontal cortex at the front of the brain and improve planning and problem-solving tasks..." This sentence include words which could only be understood by people who understand how the brain works, which is proof that this article is intended to be read by people either in universities or have a professional job.

1: This paragraph explains from Professor Sahakian's point how she was feeling after a flight to Florida.
2: Using the context of the previous paragraph, Professor Sahakian explains how she first came across the use of smart drugs. The paragraph also gives the reader more detail and background on the particular drug, which was Modafinil.
3: Again, using the context of the previous paragraph, Professor Sahakian asks other academic people whether they used drugs, and was taken by surprise.
4: This paragraph quotes Professor Sahakian who explains how most of the academics take different drugs, and many of them take drugs just to send them to sleep during flights.
5: This paragraph explains how Dr Hannah Critchlow is concerned with other professors who used drugs which were intended for people that suffered from narcolepsy, ADHD and Alzheimers. The paragraph describes the people to be "dependent" on the drugs in order to make the reader concerened about Smart Drugs in order to avoid promoting the drug.
6: This paragraph states that Dr Critchlow told a festival about a study which showed that 1 in 5 professors admitted to taking "Smart Drugs". The fact that the paragraph tells you that a Doctor said this makes the reader trust what the article is saying more.
7: This paragraph reveals more statistics about the increased use of "Smart Drugs" in universities and professors, in order to make the drug seem like it isn't a good thing. The article names many different Universities in the UK to make the article seem more realistic.
8: This paragraph explains exactly how the drugs work, which should appeal to the academic target audience who are likely to be interested in and understanding of the explanation.
9: This paragraph reports that the effects of the drugs are debated about in a "fierce" manner.
10: This paragraph reports that global competition increases due to the "Smart Drugs" which again gives the drugs a darker side to them.
11: This paragraph quotes a Professor Sahakian who believes the smart drugs to be an increasing problem, and the reader will trust her opinion more since she is a Professor.
12: This paragraph quotes the Professor again, who tells you more and more people include drugs which increase their peformance in their lifestlye.
13: This paragraph reports that the long-term effects for these drugs are unknown.
14: This paragraph reports that gaining access to these drugs un-perscribed in the UK is illegal.
15: This paragraph uses the previous paragraph for context and explains how it is a danger to gain access to these drugs illegally since you cannot be certain what you are taking.
16: This paragraph reports that another Doctor at Oxford is very open about his drug use.
17:  This paragraph reports that Dr Anders used Modafinil during his research, and now takes it twice or three times a week.
18: This paragraph reports that it costs only £50 year to keep using the drug, and argues that it is not addictive since he sometimes forgets to order the next batch, however he notices a difference in his work when he doesn't take the drug.
19: The article reports that Dr Anders realises how the drug was effecting him when working on really complicated philosophy.
20: Dr Sandberg compares the drug to drinking a strong coffee. He is quoted on saying that is is hard to improve the human brain, however you are able to tilt it in certain directions.
21: This paragraph reports that Dr Sandberg believes it would be better to allow "Smart Drugs" to be prescribed legally in order to make the drugs safer, and also work out the pros and cons of using the drugs.
22: This paragraph asks a rhetorical question which is why are smart drugs so popular in academia.
23: This paragraph relies to the previous paragraphs question and quotes Dr Sandberg who says that people in academia are obsessed with brains and thinking, and also states that there is a premium of thinking well and learning quickly (due to "Smart Drugs).
24: This paragraph informs the reader that "Smart Drugs" are effective and justifies the statement of evidence which includes 24 studies of Modafinil in Oxford which proved that the drugs improve your thinking ability, and that there are few side effects.
25: This paragraph reports that the scientists which carried out the experiments with Modafinil were worried about releasing their discovery to the public for ethical reasons, since due to that experiment, people would be more likely to use the drug.
26: This paragraph reports that "Smart Drugs" are beggining to be used in many different industries and professions.
27: This paragraph quotes Professor Sahakian who states that drugs are being used lots in Silicon Vally, and by the people in London in order to keep their minds sharp.
28: This paragraph reports that Professor Sahakian believes that the drugs should not be banned, but their value people give them due to their effects should be lowered.
29: This paragraph quotes Professor Sahakian who wants to know if people want to compete and work all their lives, or would they rather improve the quality of their lives. This paragraph should appeal to the target audience directly since this is a challenging thought, which people in higher educations or professions like to have.
30: This article concludes by stating that we have come to the end of our working limit, and that we should leave it at that instead of trying to improve ourselves through drugs.