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Anecdotal Lead Writing Exercises

Summary leadBURBANK, California – North Korea released two American journalists Wednesday after Bill Clinton successfully sought their release as part of a humanitarian effort.

The pair, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, had spent 140 days in captivity. They said it was the worst period of their lives.

More info for a anecdotal lead…

After interviewing Euna Lee, you learn that when she was pulled across a Yalu River that she became very frightened and worred about the safety of some of her sources. She had a list of the sources and phone numbers on a piece of paper in her coat pocket. She said purposely let her coat fall to the ice so that the names of those people wouldn’t fall into the North Korean hands. It could have endangered many people in China and North Korea who were involved in the smuggling of North Korean refugees.

Write narrative lead

Rewrite the following summary lead into an anecdotal lead and nut graph.

Two girls from Fontana survived after they were pulled in by a powerful undercurrent in Cucamonga Canyon Thursday.

Maria Ascentio, 16, and Luis Lopez, 17, both of Fontana survived. They had slipped into a 6-foot-deep pool near the spot where 19-year-old Bo San Pang of Azusa drowned Wednesday. Pang died after a forceful undertow pulled him under near a waterfall where the canyon narrows, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department.

Ascentio and Lopez were taken to San Antonio Community Hospital, where Lopez was treated and released.

Reporter’s notesWhat happened?Maria Ascentio: “We were just swimming in the big pool near the waterfall at Cucamonga Canyon. I saw bubbles before my eyes. I knew I was going down.”What were you thinking as you slipped under the water?“As crazy as it sounds. I was thinking about Halloween. The water was so cold. The next thing I knew, I was lying on rocks and a woman was talking to me.” "Don't close your eyes," she said.The witness Janice Stuart “When I found her she (Ascentio) coughed. Her face was pale. She shook.”

Write anecdotal lead

By Glen L. Bleske Maria Ascentio saw bubbles before her eyes as she slipped under the water. As she began to drown in the cold water of Cucamonga Canyon, she dreamed of Halloween. The water covered her. The next thing she knew, she was lying on rocks and a woman was talking to her: "Don't close your eyes," she heard. Ascentio coughed. Her face was pale. She shook. Ascentio, 16, and Luis Lopez, 17, both of Fontana survived Cucamonga Canyon on Thursday. They had slipped into a 6-foot-deep pool near the spot where 19-year-old Bo San Pang of Azusa drowned Wednesday. Pang died after a forceful undertow pulled him under near a waterfall where the canyon narrows, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. Ascentio and Lopez were taken to San Antonio Community Hospital, where Lopez was treated and released. According to Ascentio's friends, here's what happened.