Writing a Newspaper Article

1. Writing a Newspaper Article

2. Headline • The headline is the title of the news article. The headline should be short, does not include a lot of detail, and should catch the reader’s attention. It is normally not a complete sentence, and tries to summarize the main idea or subject of the article. It is often printed in larger letters than the rest of the article, and the major words are capitalized. Short, grabs attention, summarizes, not a complete sentence What is the headline?

3. What is the headline?

4. subheading • The headline attracts attention, while the subheading is used to focus your topic of discussion and prepare your readers for what follows. Subheading It tells us more about what the story will be about.

5. Subheadings focus the reader What will this story be about? How does the subheading help you?

6. Lead Sentence • The lead sentence grabs the reader’s attention and focuses the reader on the topic. How does the reporter focus the reader? What words are used to grab your attention?

7. Lead Paragraph(s) • The lead paragraph is found a the beginning of the article. The lead paragraph briefly answers the questions “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, and “how”. The skeleton of the story can be found here. Who, what, when? Where, why, how?

8. Who, what, where, when, why, how?

9. Supporting Paragraphs • These are the paragraphs which follow the lead. They develop the ideas introduced by the lead, and give more information in the form of explanations, details, or quotes. In many newspapers, these paragraphs are found on subsequent pages.

11. Time to write your own!

12. Subject • Your article will be based on a significant event from the book you read. • It should be told using the characters as if it is a real story. • It does not HAVE to be the MOST significant event. For instance, it might be Byron beating Larry Dunn, or Hiram saving Emmett from the river, or Mrs. Williams stealing the money to give to Paul Adams.

13. Example using Oliver Button

14. Monday morning after talent show Oliver Button Peacefully defeats bullies in his school Students see the value in Oliver’s strength and ability to persevere. School/talent show By being brave enough to enter the talent show

15. Sissy to Star Oliver Button loses the contest, but wins the crowd

16. Short, grabs attention, summarizes, not a complete sentence Sissy to Star Oliver Button loses the contest, but wins the crowd

17. Sissy to Star Oliver Button loses the contest, but wins the crowd It tells us more about what the story will be about.

18. Lead Sentence • Oliver Button, once teased and taunted by classmates, gains respect by scoring big in the talent show.

19. Lead Sentence • Oliver Button, once teased and taunted by classmates, gains respect by scoring big in the talent show. The lead sentence grabs the reader’s attention and focuses the reader on the topic.

20. Lead Paragraph • Oliver Button, once teased and taunted by classmates, gains respect by scoring big in Sunday’s talent show. Amid upbeat music and bright lights, Button danced his way into the hearts of audience members as he bravely faced his fears and tapped to the beat of his own drummer.

21. Lead Paragraph • Oliver Button, once teased and taunted by classmates, gains respect by scoring big in Sunday’s talent show. Amid upbeat music and bright lights, Button danced his way into the hearts of audience members as he bravely faced his fears and tapped to the beat of his own drummer. The lead paragraph briefly answers the questions “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, and “how”. The skeleton of the story can be found here.

22. Oliver Button, once teased and taunted by classmates, gains respect by scoring big in Sunday’s talent show. Amid upbeat music and bright lights, Button danced his way into the hearts of audience members as he bravely faced his fears and tapped to the beat of his own drummer. Oliver Button has long been known as a boy who enjoys atypical activities. While other boys are riding bikes, playing baseball, and racing remote control cars; Oliver is jumping rope, making paper dolls, and picking flowers. Button has been the target of bullies at school his whole life, even having epithets written about him on the school building. But Oliver proved everyone wrong at the community talent show. Though he didn’t win any prizes, he did win thunderous applause from the audience and admiration from many. When Oliver returned to school on Monday, his classmates greeted him with a sign of affection. They had erased the derogatory name from the wall and replaced it with, “Oliver Button is a Star”! Oliver is an inspiration to all children and adults who are unique in our community.

23. They develop the ideas introduced by the lead, and give more information in the form of explanations, details, or quotes. Oliver Button has long been known as a boy who enjoys atypical activities. While other boys are riding bikes, playing baseball, and racing remote control cars; Oliver is jumping rope, making paper dolls, and picking flowers. Button has been the target of bullies at school his whole life, even having epithets written about him on the school building. But Oliver proved everyone wrong this past Sunday night at the community talent show. Though he didn’t win any prizes, he did win thunderous applause from the audience and admiration from many. When Oliver returned to school on Monday, his classmates greeted him with a sign of affection. They had erased the derogatory name from the wall and replaced it with, “Oliver Button is a Star”! Oliver is an inspiration to all children and adults who are unique in our community.

25. Oliver Button, once teased and taunted by classmates, gains respect by scoring big in Sunday’s talent show. Amid upbeat music and bright lights, Button danced his way into the hearts of audience members as he bravely faced his fears and tapped to the beat of his own drummer. • Oliver Button has long been known as a boy who enjoys atypical activities. While other boys are riding bikes, playing baseball, and racing remote control cars; Oliver is jumping rope, making paper dolls, and picking flowers. Button has been the target of bullies at school his whole life, even having epithets written about him on the school building. • But Oliver proved everyone wrong this past Sunday night at the community talent show. Though he didn’t win any prizes, he did win thunderous applause from the audience and admiration from many. • When Oliver returned to school on Monday, his classmates greeted him with a sign of affection. They had erased the derogatory name from the wall and replaced it with, “Oliver Button is a Star”! Oliver is an inspiration to all children and adults who are unique in our community.