Transcript Caption Writing

Caption Writing
The Most-Read Copy
in the Yearbook
by Lori Oglesbee
Pre-writing

Start with an excellent, story-telling,
action/reaction photograph.
Pre-writing


Start with an excellent, story-telling,
action/reaction photograph.
Talk to the photographer. (He/She was
there.)
Pre-writing



Start with an excellent, story-telling,
action/reaction photograph.
Talk to the photographer. (He/She was
there.)
Interview people in the photograph and
others who were there.
Pre-writing

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Start with an excellent, story-telling,
action/reaction photograph.
Talk to the photographer. (He/She was
there.)
Interview people in the photograph and
others who were there.
Gather the correct spellings of names.
Parts of a Caption

Caption headline: usually clever tie-in to
the photograph.
Parts of a Caption


Caption headline: usually clever tie-in to
the photograph.
Sentence 1: Names all visible people and
details the action/reaction and is written in
present tense.
Parts of a Caption



Caption headline: usually clever tie-in to the
photograph.
Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details
the action/reaction and is written in present
tense.
Sentence 2: Gives needed information that is
not obvious in the photograph and is written in
past tense.
Parts of a Caption




Caption headline: usually clever tie-in to the
photograph.
Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details
the action/reaction and is written in present
tense.
Sentence 2: Gives needed information that is
not obvious in the photograph and is written in
past tense.
Sentence 3: Meaningful quote.
Caption Example

Sister Act: After hearing her name
announced as a member of the
homecoming court, Christa Washington
collapses into her best friend, Robin
Elliot’s arms on the gym floor.
Caption Example

Sister Act: After hearing her name
announced as the last member of the
homecoming court, Christa Washington
collapses into her best friend Robin Elliot’s
arms on the gym floor. All five of Christa’s
older sisters had been named to the
homecoming court and had planned to
attend the event.
Caption Example

Sister Act: After hearing her name announced
as the last member of the homecoming court,
Christa Washington collapses into her best
friend Robin Elliot’s arms on the gym floor. All
five of Christa’s older sisters had been named to
the homecoming court and had planned to
attend the event. “I felt so much pressure,”
Christa said. “I didn’t want to let my family
down.”
What questions
does this photo
beg to have
answered?
Who: Geoff Anderton
What: represents the senior
class at the Hillcrest pep
rally
When: Friday, Sept. 5
Where: gym
Why: Geoff claims to be the
ghost of seniors past to
carry on the tradition of
seniors’ winning the spirit
stick
Extra: became so popular
that he was asked to join
the cheerleaders on the
court by the end of the
season.
Senior Spirit: At the Hillcrest
pep rally,Geoff Anderton
starts his run as the ghost of
seniors past. Geoff wore the
regalia to remind the Class
of 2003 that it was their
responsibility to win the
spirit stick. “This started out
as a joke, then I could work
the crowd into a frenzy and
win the stick,” Geoff said.
“Before I knew it, I was on
the floor with the
cheerleaders.”
Sports Captions

Add the result of the
play and game/match
Sports Captions
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Add the result of the
play and game/match
Name players from
both teams.
Sports Captions
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
Add the result of the
play and game/match
Name players from
both teams.
Use stats for the
second sentence.