Transcript BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS
How to Write a Newspaper Article (in a nutshell)
• Should express just ONE main
idea
• Quickly identifiable at the
beginning of the article
• Other info should be supporting
• News headline
Purpose of a News Story
• Relates factual information about a topic
• Follows basic format: The Headline
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Part 1 – The Lead
P2 – Main Idea
P3 – Background
P4 – Elaboration
P5 – The Closer
The Basics
• Headline
• Goes at top of story
• Tells what the story is about
• Should be a key word or catchy phrase
• Summary blurb
• Sub-headline
• Quick overview of story’s content
• OPTIONAL
Headlines and Stuff
• An essay hook = a news “lead”
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Tells the reader what the story is about
First sentence
Can be creative/exciting; not necessary
Answers who, what, where, when
• Generally around 35 words
• Next sentence/paragraph = “backup”
• More who, what, where, when
Taking the “Lead”
• Answers how and why
• What is the reason for this story?
• Usually about third-fifth sentence
• Always followed by a supporting quote
• Kind of like an essay thesis
Main Idea (or Nutshell)
Sentence
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Immediately after main idea/nutshell
Who, what, where, when, how, why of story
Extra information necessary to understand?
Possible impact
• Who is impacted by this information?
• Why is it relevant?
• Should contain one-two more quotes
• Should be multiple paragraphs
• Background info should transition into any related
topics
• (Hint hint: How this research applies to the novel)
Background and Elaboration
• Two ways:
• Summary or reaction quote: Relates to,
but does not restate main idea
• Foreshadowing: What might happen in
the future as a result of this?
• Should be 1-2 sentences
Ending
• How to use a quote:
• Embedded: Dickens set his book during the “best of times” and the
“worst of times” (1).
• Paraphrase: Dickens famously says that his book is set in
simultaneously the best and worst environments (1).
• Direct: Dickens’ world-famous book begins, “It was the best of times, it
was the worst of times…” (1).
• When to use a direct or embedded quote:
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Is it a good quote? Strong? Insightful?
Can you say it in your own words better? If yes, skip it.
Does it add new information from a specific person’s perspective?
Does it reveal emotions or directly support something you’ve
explained?
Questions on Quotes
• Two options for formatting a quote:
• Quote first, then speaker
• Speaker first, then quote
• EITHER WAY:
• Explain who the speaker is and
• how s/he relates to your quote
• If using a direct speaker, include first and last name, and
title/position/occupation
Questions on Quotes, cnt.
• Speakers: Full name, then last name
• Paragraphs: Generally 1-2 sentences; rarely
longer
• Format: Single column; no indent in a new
paragraph
• Quotes: New paragraph for each new dialogue
• Personal pronouns: None
Newspaper Etiquette