WRITING A NEWS STORY. #1 How does the reporting of news affect people and history? What is the structure of a new story? Why? Are news stories slanted?

WEEK 3, DAYS 2 & 3WRITING A NEWS STORY

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS #1 How does the reporting of news

affect people and history?

What is the structure of a new story? Why?

Are news stories slanted?

PHOTO HEADLINERS

As you look at these photos, think of appropriate headlines.

PHOTO HEADLINERS


PHOTO HEADLINERS


PHOTO HEADLINERS

DIRECTIONS In the next activity, you will apply what

you have learned about reporting news to the writing of the news for an article.

The pictures may be unusual, but you are writing a believable headline and news article that answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How questions.

You will also write a headline that captures the message you are conveying in your article.

GOALS OF A NEWS ARTICLE

1. A news article tells the truth. Journalists write only facts that are, to the best of their knowledge, true.

A careful journalist only states things that he/she can prove to be true, and will cite the source of any uncertain information.


Example, “According to Mrs. Brown, principal of North Oaks High School, most high school freshmen take Spanish as a second language.”

In the statement above, even if it is later discovered that more high school freshmen take French, the journalist has not lied.


2. News is factual. Something that is factual can be proved or disproved.

ExampleLast Saturday was a rainy day. FactRainy days are depressing. Opinion


#3. News articles are objective. They do not reflect the personal opinions of the journalist.

Quotes and opinions of witnesses and observers to events may be included in an article, but they must be cited.


#4. News articles relate information that affects or is of interest to the public.

Some newspapers print articles that are of interest to a smaller audience.

When the audience is concentrated in a particular region, such as a particular city or state, the newspaper is known as a ‘local’ paper.


#5 The purpose of a news article is to report the facts of a current event or a problem.

Although many people enjoy reading the news, the purpose of a news article is not entertainment.


#6 The language used in news articles is often different from the language that is used in everyday conversation, or in stories or narratives.

The style of writing is impersonal, and the vocabulary is often more formal.

WRITING TO INFORM (REVIEW)IDEAS

All necessary information needed to understand the story is present.

Ideas and actions are fully developed and explained

WRITING TO INFORM (A REVIEW) ORGANIZATION

Ideas are organized logical ly. Topic sentence introduces the

topic. Suffi cient, appropriate detai ls

fu l ly support the topic. Concluding sentence t ies the

story together.

WRITING TO INFORM (A REVIEW) VOICE AND AUDIENCE

Enough information is presented so the reader can understand the topic.

The story answers quest ions that the reader might have.

WRITING TO INFORM (A REVIEW) CONVENTIONS

Vocabulary is appropriate for the topic.

Precise, appropriate, and descript ive language adds meaning to the story.

Variety of sentence structures Spel l ing, grammar and

punctuat ion errors are not present.

CHOOSE A PICTURE FOR YOUR ARTICLE.

CHECKLIST Is my headline accurate?

Did I write all of my notes?

Did I write an accurate news article?

Did I re-write the fact and opinion statements?

Documents

WRITING A NEWS STORY. #1 How does the reporting of news affect people and history? What is the structure of a new story? Why? Are news stories slanted?