OSSLT: Writing Lesson

News Report

Your Task You will write a 1 page news report

based on the title and picture provided

This is what page one will look like. Use the ‘Rough

Notes’ column to plan your report. Storm Shuts Down Region

This is what page two will look like. You can only use the lines provided to write

your report.

How is the News Report Marked...out of 100 marks

Convention: 40 marks

Assesses your ability to write.

-use of sentence structure, organization, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.

Topic Development : 60 marks

Assesses your ability to develop a realistic story based on the title and image provided.

-5 W’s and 1H, use of quotes, participants, and specific details.

What MUST be in your news report

Criteria: Four paragraphs:

• Lead (Intro), Body Paragraph #1, Body Paragraph #2, Closing

Quotation • minimum of one quote in Body #1 or Body #2

Conventions: • Third person, spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence

structure

Use ONLY the space provided!

Elements of an News Report Lead: Introductory paragraph

• Keep it simple- approximately 2-3 sentences Body Paragraph #1: Explains the Who, What,

When, and Where Body Paragraph #2: Explains the Why and How

• Be sure to have 1-2 quotations • Quotations can be in body paragraph #1 or #2• Quotations add the “at the scene” feeling”

Closing: concluding paragraph that answers “What’s next?” • Do NOT restate information from the introductory

paragraph• Keep it simple- approximately 2-3 sentences

Let’s take a look at a sample news report.

This is what the blank test looked like.

Students Turn Classroom into Film Studio

Grade ten students (who) at Sandalwood Heights Secondary School (where) turned their classroom into a film studio (what) this week, (when) so that they could create a video. (main idea) With some technical help from their teacher, (how) Ms. Beaker, (who) they created a 15-minute video about how to do a science experiment. (what)

“It was entirely the students’ idea,” Ms. Beaker explained. (direct quote) “The kids I have this year just love science, and we do a lot of experiments. (why) They’ve become very good at planning and setting up, too.” Ms. Beaker went on to explain that one day 15-year-old Elisha, who is shown in the picture, said, “We’re so good at this; we could be teaching it!” (indirect quote) & (why) After brainstorming many ideas, the students decided that making a movie would be an exciting challenge. Finally, (transitional word to join ideas) they decided that filming a demonstration of an experiment about how the water cycle works would be interesting and easy to do.

This is how the student responded.

Report continued on the next slide.

They planned the project for two weeks and gathered the supplies (how) they would need. The local cable company agreed to lend the students recording equipment and lights. (how) It took about one day of filming and then another four days to edit and polish.

In addition, (transitional word to join ideas) by creating this video, the students learned so much more than science. Everyone took part. They showed real teamwork! (concluding statement)

Practice: Using the following slides, practice writing your own

news report.

Before you begin:

1) Remember your news report must connect to the headline and picture provided.

2) Use the “rough notes” section for planning

Take some time now to complete a

practice news report

in a separate document.

Is the article related to headline? Do my lead and body paragraph

#1 answer: Who, What, When, Where?

Does my body paragraph #2 answer:

Why and How? Is there a quotation used? Have I used third person

narration? Are 3-4 paragraphs used? Have I used proper spelling and

grammar? Is my News Report realistic?

Self- Evaluation- Checklist YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

×NO×NO

×NO

×NO×NO×NO×NO×NO

Need Extra Help? March Break Camp I Can – March 16-18 at DSSS.

Cost is $10. See Ms. Stokes in the Student Support Office for sign-up, fee payment, questions.

Literacy Counting on You classes – Mondays after school started this week. See Ms. Stokes to sign up immediately (only two more classes before the test).

Visit the school website or www.eqao.com for sample tests and extra practice.