I can recognize quotes.I can recognize news story structure-building the

rest of the story.I can correctly use attributions.

I can recognize infographics.I can create my own news stories applying the

previously stated targets.

September 29

Name of story/article Moral question(s) story addresses Interesting quote or fact Who does it impact

How

Publication information Is story local, national, or

international

Current events

Choose 1 prompt and respond. Remember you are aiming for ½ page.

[using a current local controversy] Do you agree with the decision? Why? Would you change if anything?

I wish I could see...... because.....

Journal

News writing is the art of presenting facts that are of interest to a group of readers.It differs from other forms of writing because it:

-concerns something recent-is accurate (factual, credible)

-is objective (no bias, no prejudice)-is balanced (getting both sides of the story)

-and is concise and clear (facts presented in easy-to-understand sentences without “clutter”)

News Writing...

After you have conducted your interview…Organizing Your Notes

You’ve interviewed several people (or at least one

person) and perhaps did some additional research

online or from another print or video source.

Now you need to go through your notes and

decide what you can use and what you should

throw out.

The question, though, is how do you know what

is useable?

Organizing Your Notes...

As you look through your notes, you’ll want to analyze the “quotes” you gathered.

You will separate them into three categories...

There are three types of QUOTES:

INDIRECT QUOTES DIRECT QUOTESCRUDDY QUOTES

Types of Quotes

INDIRECT QUOTES are paraphrases of your quotes. Use when the source is giving you background information or additional facts that need not be quoted directly.Example: Sophomore Tanner Jackson thinks all students should get to have early-outs.

INDIRECT QUOTES

DIRECT QUOTES are directly spoken & used word-for-word in a story. Your BEST quotes (the ones that are the most exciting & colorful) should be quoted directly.Example: “I think it’s bogus that seniors are the only ones who get to leave school early,” sophomore Tanner Jackson said.

DIRECT QUOTES

CRUDDY QUOTES are the ones that add nothing to your story. The information is useless, they sound bad, or you just don’t need them.Example: (Notes from Tanner’s interview) “Ya, being in school is so stupid, dude.” This quote is most likely NOT going to add to your story in any way since it is off-topic (your focus is early-outs, not school in general). These quotes should just be thrown out--NOT used at all.

CRUDDY QUOTES

To begin writing, look at your INDIRECT QUOTES pile first for the most important facts of the story.Have you gathered enough information to answer the essential questions:

WHO?WHAT?WHEN?

If so, it’s time to move on to the lead (or, as journalists say, “lede”)

Beginning to Write the Story

WHERE?

WHY?

HOW?

The Lead is the FIRST PARAGRAPH of your story.

It “leads” the reader into the story.Most journalists call it the “lede” so it’s not confused with the typography/design term

“leading.”

News Writing: The Lead (or Lede)...

The purpose of the lead is to tell the reader what the story is about in an interesting way.Additional details and interesting quotes keep the reader enticed for the rest of the story.BUT the LEAD is what gets them to READ the story in the first place, therefore it is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of the story.It is similar to a “hook” in essay writing, but much more clear & concise.

The Lead (Lede)...

A great lead is essential, but if the rest of your story falls

flat, you’ll lose your readers.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to answer the 5Ws and H EARLY in the story.

The why and how are also found throughout the story.

After the Lead...The Rest of the Story

Essential building blocks of your story are:

Transitions are the cement that will hold your story together

The Rest of the Story...

FACTS QUOTATIONS

TRANSITIONSFACTS

QUOTATIONS

FACTS should be arranged in a LOGICAL order or sequence.QUOTATIONS should lend credibility to the facts.TRANSITIONS provide continuity and smoothness.

The Rest of your Story...

You use the fact, transition, quote structure everyday. Pretend you are talking to a friend from another school. Here’s your conversation:

There’s this guy who is way hot and all that and he was hanging out at South Park by the Chick-fil-a, ya know? And when we walked past he totally eyeballed us. I couldn't’t believe what I was seeing. I was like, “OMG!, is he checking us out? He's a total hottie!” My friend Jenna grabbed my arm after we went past him and we both about died. He was still gawking at us. But Jenna totally thinks he’s in to me. “He is sooooo fine, but I think he really wants you. He’s totally staring right at your...um, eyes.”

The Rest of the Story...

OK, so there’s a lot of opinion & it’s written in first person, but basically, you naturally communicate this way. It makes sense, then, to write this way:

FACTS: There’s this guy who is way hot and all that and he was hanging out at South Park by the Chick-fil-a, ya know?

And when we walked past he totally eyeballed us. TRANSITION: I couldn't’t believe what I was seeing. I was like, QUOTE: “OMG!, is he checking us out? He's a total hottie!”

(The quote makes your facts more credible. Someone else confirmed he was looking at you...and that he was “hot.”)

FACTS: My friend Jenna grabbed my arm after we went past him and we both about died. He was still gawking at us.

TRANSITION: But Jenna totally thinks he’s in to me. QUOTE: “He is sooooo fine, but I think he really wants you. He’s totally

staring right at your...um, eyes.”

The Rest of the Story...

Think of your story that you are writing in the same way (except eliminate the opinions & “like” “totally” etc.). You want to write the facts, then make a transition

into an interesting quote

that will back up your facts.Lead + Fact(s) + Quote + Fact(s) + Quote + Fact(s) + Quote (The + is your transition)

The Rest of the Story...

TRANSITION

FACT

QUOTE

TRANSITION

FACT

QUOTE

TRANSITION

Connecting words: conjunctions (and, but, or), such as, according to

Careful when using: however, therefore, in retrospect

These can border on editorializing (inserting an opinion or bias).

The best transitions are transitional facts or quotes that lead the reader to the next fact

or quote.

Sample Transitions:

Example

Lead

FACTTRANSITION

“To first-year coach Jim Caldwell...” is a transition from the fact into the quote.

QUOTETRANSITION

FACT

Another example...

Lead

FACTTRANSITION

QUOTE

TRANSITION

FACT

QUOTE

TRANSITIONAL QUOTE

TRANSITION

Attributions name the source of the information.

You MUST include all attributions, even for minor facts. EXAMPLES:

According to the EHS student handbook, drinks are not permitted in the classroom.

“The coaches encourage us to stay hydrated,” Senior Colin Mix said, “but, we’re not allowed to

have a drink during class.”

Attributions

Types of sources:1. Personal sources- interviews

you conduct2. Stored sources- reports,

studies, other stories/articles, etc.

3. First-hand observation- what you, the reporter, sees or observes

Attributions Cont.

Said Added Explained Continued Shared Remarked Noted Stated (only in formal usage) According to (only used with stored sources)

Verbs of Attributions

Make sure you use the correct verb!!!!

Subject-verb is the preferred order. Example: He said,…

He is subject Said is verb

Example: “The concert was completely awesome,” Danny Brown said.

You can reverse the order, but you must give reader more information about the subject. Example: “The concert was completely

awesome,” said Danny Brown, 18, who resides in Logan County.

Order of attribution

A writer should STOP writing when all of the LOGICAL questions have been answered & all of the interesting information has been presented.Unlike an essay, you do NOT summarize the story at the end. There is no need for a formal conclusion in news writing. It’s too repetitive; plus, unnecessary words equals more ink. And ink is expensive.

Ending Your Story...

The End

A perfect way to end a story is with a zinger of a quote. One that sticks with the reader. One that perhaps sums it all up in a nutshell. Or one that makes people think. Or one that is just funny.

Look at your notes and see if you have any really, really great direct quotes that would make a memorable end to your story. If not, you might want to interview a few more people...

Ending Your Story: The Final Word...

Examples...

Examples from The Quad-City Times, January, 2010

Examples...

Not a “great” ending quote. Or any quote. I think I would have pressed for more in this story. (Or just end the quote after “interested.”)

If a good ending quote doesn't’ work, you can use either use upcoming events or updated stats as your last words in any sports summary.

Analyze your data: do you have any statistics or information that be represented visually? (If not, see next page.)Create a chart or infographic. Use the tools in a word processing document or try an online-generator, like:

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspxhttp://create.visual.ly/Find a list of sites here: http://bestdesignoptions.com/?p=19228

Add an Infographic or Chart

If you need to GET data, try giving a survey. Poll a variety of students (make sure to get an even number of males/females and variety of age ranges--unless you only want to poll one class. Data you may collect could be as simple as: 8 out of 10 students like school lunch.

But, you could go even further with your data:

Add an Infographic or Chart

8 of 10 like school lunch

Of the eight, their favorites are:

31% Favor pizza

Now it’s your turn.Write your news story using the formula shown.1. Stress: are graduation requirements creating more stress than good?  What makes teenage lives so stressful?  Healthy ways of coping with teenage stress... etc.

This story you can start today. Start interviewing classmates, research, brainstorm interview questions for guidance/teachers/college student/etc.

2. You choose an event going on at MCHS and conduct your own research and interviews. You may work with a partner to conduct interviews.

Both DUE: Friday, October 3

Next class period, we will self edit and then peer edit and write final draft.

Make sure you: Read your story aloud. Twice.Have a friend read it aloud. Twice.Have a parent or other adult read it.Answered any and all questions readers

might have.Followed all style rules.