CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This chapter will mainly discuss the research background, problem statement, purpose of the study, research objectives and also its questions. Apart from this, the significance of this research will also be discussed along with the limitations and scope of the research. This study will draw on the Fairclough framework of discourse dimensions and discourse analysis. Therefore, this research will focus on discourse analysis involving the scope of sports news headline analysis. The researcher aims to investigate the relationship between sports news headlines and how the elements that have been incorporated into them actually influence the reader's understanding. 1.1 Research Context In the Malaysian context, earlier while planning this research proposal; the researcher believes that the sources available for this topic were very limited or completely absent. Subsequently, after the researcher completes this research; hopefully it is available as one of the many small scholarly writings that actually relate to this topic, especially when it covers the Malaysian context. 1.2 Problem Statement This study aims to examine the differences that occur between the sports news headlines of New Straits Times and The Star. Therefore, it will influence the reader's perception towards the news itself. 1.3 Purpose of the research This research was conducted in order to investigate what were the differences that occur between the sports headlines between New Straits Times and The Star newspaper. Apart from this, this research also aims to look for any linguistic features also involved in the structure of the title and how they actually influence the perception of readers.1...... middle of the paper ...... but which element had actually been incorporated into every layer of this painting. By understanding the hidden elements, the analysis may be better as the researcher understands more about the text itself. In this last framework, explain what really happened in each analysis. As in text analysis, it basically describes what the text is actually about. Meanwhile, in processing analysis; reader interpretation was involved in helping the reader understand the text. It actually refers to the way discourse has been used within the text itself and, more importantly, the reader's discursive practice. Last but not least, in social analysis; the explanation provided must concern both the discourse and the sociocultural practice actually adopted by the reader to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts while reading the text.