Lesson Series for 2L

Newspaper Report Writing

1. True or False?

News articles are only written about disasters, wars, and other catastrophic events.

Newspapers print articles that are of interest to readers.

News articles are error-proof.

In order to ensure readers read the entire article, journalists like to place the most important information in the last paragraph.

The purpose of news articles is to inform, not entertain.

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inconclusive

1. True or False?

The lead paragraph in a news article answers the 5W-1H questions.

The style of a news article is narrative.

If news articles have mistakes, the news company will usually keep quiet about it and pretend nothing’s wrong.

News articles use a lot of descriptive language.

News reporting is a skill that only journalists will find valuable.

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2. Main Elements

Boy stabs fatherBy Nina Goodwood

MAYCOMB, Al—A young man attacked his father with a pair of scissors at their home yesterday. Arthur “Boo” Radley drove the scissors into his father’s pant leg.

 Prior to the incident, Boo was sitting in the living room cutting some items from the

The Maycomb Times to paste in his scrapbook. Witnesses say that after the stabbing, Boo pulled the scissors out and wiped them on his pants. Then he resumed his activities.

 The police were called when Mrs. Radley ran into the street screaming that Arthur was going to kill them all.

When questioned, Sherriff Heck Tate said, “When I arrived, I found Boo still cutting up TheTribune.”

 A neighbor, Miss Stephanie Crawford, believes Boo belongs in an asylum. “Our streets are not safe with that monster lurking around,” she said.

 Boo was 33 years old at the time of the incident.

Headline

Byline

LocationEverything

else:Supporting

Lead

3. Putting a Sentence in its Place

Headline

Byline

Location

Lead Paragraphs (LP)

Supporting Paragraphs (SP)

4. The Lacilian Tribune

Groupwork (20 mins) Read the news idea you are assigned to Come up with an action plan for writing Create the article!

(about half page length)

Sharing (15 mins) As each group reads their article, prepare to

comment on whether

News Story Ideas

1. Burris Ewell cusses at his teacher, Miss Caroline

2. Items found in the knothole of the tree

3. Shotgun goes off, rabid dog found dead

4. Knothole filled in with cement after more gifts were found

5. Fire at Miss Maudie’s house

News Story Ideas

6. Boo Radley’s gang locks Mr. Connor in the courthouse outhouse(p 10)

7. Snow in Maycomb(p 64-68)

8. Atticus takes case to defend Tom Robinson(p 74-76, 88)

4. The Lacilian Tribune

Sharing (15 mins) As each group reads their article, prepare to

comment on whether All 5 key elements are present? Their lead paragraph: 5W 1H? Details arranged in order of decreasing importance? Article is generally coherent / adequately informative?

SUMMARY

What have you learnt about newspaper report writing today? 5 key elements Types of articles Planning strategies