Contents Pages

            CONTENTS PAGES:

 1.The function of a contents page is to allow

   the reader to see what features the magazine
   contains and where they are located within the
   magazine. It enables them a quick method of
   navigation through the magazine, where they
   can easily find the articles they are most
   interested in reading.

 2.A reader uses the contents page by scanning
   the information to see which articles they are
   interested in and they using the corresponding
   page reference to find it.


 3.A conventional layout for contents pages
   includes a heading such as "contents" or
   "features" etc. They almost always feature
   images related to the main articles, with the
   corresponding page references in bold. A
   selection of the smaller articles are then listed
   with their page references in columns. Layouts
   vary depending on whether the contents page
   is a double page spread or single. For example,
   a double page spread is more likely to have more
   than one column of page references.
4.A conventional design for a contents page
  typically includes a bold heading, white background
  so that the articles and page references are clear
  to read and a selection of additional images. Fonts
  are generally simple and easily readable and images
  are easy to identify. Sometimes shapes such as
  arrows, circles, or stars are used to highlight certain
  information.

5.The amount of information that contents pages contain
  may vary. Again it usually depends on the size of the
  magazine. They usually contain a lot of information,
  but about multiple topics. Text information gives a small
  insight into what each article is about, but nothing more.
  Whilst photographic information allows us to visualise it.
6.The content of its information includes page
  references, small amounts of information about
  articles and perhaps a message from the magazine editor.
7.Images are used on the contents pages to help the
  reader recognise articles more quickly. They are often
  placed in the centre if the contents are on a double
  page spread. Depending on the amount of content
  within the magazine, there may be more or less images.
  Some contents pages have a main image for their main
  article if it's particularly important. Others have
  multiple images of equal size.
 (Empire magazine often uses a double page spread with ten images in  the centre which include pictures of the actual articles for the reader to see)


8.The language used is often not complex, it is simple
  and easily understandable for the reader. It is
  often aimed to be attractive to the reader and
  as there is little space to give information
  about each article, sometimes slang or abbreviations
  are used. As well as witty or catchy titles to
  interest the reader.


 9.The key codes and conventions include a heading
   that shows or implies that it is a contents page,
   in a bold and clear font which is easily
   identifiable . As well as clear, well
   organised layouts of text and eye-catching font.
   There will always be page references that
   are straightforward for the reader to find,
   and images that are key to the articles inside.


 10.The function of a contents page prevents it
    from being overloaded with text. The layout
    must be spaced out and clear so that readers
    can find page references with ease and must
    only contain small chunks of texts. The 
    article descriptions must be short but still
    gain the readers' interest and correspond
    appropriately to their content. Because the
    function of a contents page is to allow the
    reader to navigate through the magazine, the
    layout needs to include an image/images
    corresponding to the main article/articles
    to allow certain pages to be easily located.
    And also needs to make page references
    stand out to the reader using bold text or
    colour against a white background which
    affects the design.