© WDR Planet Schule 2015London Files – Parkour

How to Write a News Article

London Files – Parkour

Write a short report Imagine you met the Parkour instructors and talked to them yesterday. Now, it is your task to write a short report about Parkour for your school magzine. Follow the guidelines on this worksheet.

Your news article should have a purpose: Select an important, interesting or unusual topic that readers will want to read about. What about Parkour?

Gather information for your news article.

• Watchthefilmagainandtakenotesonthekeyfacts.• Yournotesshouldanswerthefive W-questions: Who? Where? When? What? Why? Thesequestionshelpyoutofindthemostimportantinformationforyourarticle.Theyalsohelpyoutostructureyourtext.

Note-taking sheetThe 5 Ws Questions Your notesWho? Who is involved?

Where? Where did it happen?

When? When did it happen?

What? What happened?

Why? Whydidithappen?

Include quotesDirectandreportedspeechbringyourstorytolife.Watchthefilmagainandtakedownquotesyouwouldliketoinclude.Remember:Quotationsshouldbeshortandsnappy.Don’tincludetoomanyquotes.

© WDR Planet Schule 2015London Files – Parkour

Guidelines for a News Article

London Files – Parkour

Guidelines for a news article Plan your news article. Use the planning aid to collect ideas.

Guidelines for a news article Your notesFind a strong, catchy headline.Thetitlesumsuporhintsatthestory.Itshouldgrabthereader’sattention.Come up with a snappy subheading.The subheading gives readers more information.Give more details in your main part.Remember: The most important detailsshouldbewrittenfirst.

Use paragraphs.Paragraphsalwaysfocusononeidea.Thefirstparagraphisthemostimporantinyournewsarticle.Itgivesreadersthekeyfacts(compare5Ws).

Use quotations.Mixdirectspeechwithreportedcomments. Direct quotations should besnappy.

Remember:Beclear,factual.Don’texpressyouropinion.

Use your notes to write a first draft.Then check your news article with the help of the checklist.

London Files – Parkour

Check Point 1: Self-Assessment

London Files - Parkour

Check point 1: self-assessmentWhen you have finished writing, check your news article carefully. Use the checklist.

o Mynewsarticlehasapurpose.

o Ikeptmyaudienceinmind.

o Mynewsarticlehasastrong,catchyheadline.

o Mynewsarticlehasapowerfulsub-heading.

o Mynewsarticlestartswiththemostimportantdetail.

o Ihookedthereaderstartingwithafunny,cleverorsurprisingstatement.

o I hooked the reader starting with a question.

o Iaddressedthe5Ws(who,what,when,where,why).

o Ihavegivenmyreadersthekeyinformation.

o Iusedprecise,factualinformation.

o Myideasareexpressedclearly.

o I wrote several short paragraphs.

o I included quotes.

o Myparagraphsareclear.

o Myparagraphsarelinked.

o I used at least three connectives.

o I checked spelling and punctuation.

© WDR Planet Schule 2015London Files – Parkour

Check Point 2: Peer Correction

London Files – Parkour

Check point 2: peer correction Check your partner’s text. Use the assessment sheet.

Tick ü CommentsYour news article has a purpose.

Youkeptyouraudienceinmind.

Yournewsarticlehasastrong,catchyheadline.

Yournewsarticlehasapowerfulsub-heading.

Your news article begins with the most important detail.Youhookedthereaderstartingwithafunny/clever/surprising statement.You hooked the reader starting with a question.

Youaddressedthe5Ws(who,what,when,where,why).Yougaveyourreadersthekeyinformation.

Youusedprecise,factualinformation.

Yourideasareexpressedclearly.

You wrote several short paragraphs.

You included quotes.

Your paragraphs are clear.

Your paragraphs are linked. You used connectives.

You used proper spelling and punctuation.