Story Time

1. Story Time Reporting and Writing for student publications

2. Uncover the Angle • Organize your notes • Determine your approach • Introduce angle in headline and lead • Develop in single story presentation or collective alternative stories

3. Prewrite Draft • Highlight your notes, using different colors for different sections • Headline content • Lead and conclusion content • Informational facts • Important figures • Insightful feelings (quotes)

4. Consider Lead Options Content-focused leads •One word: single, key word introduction •Contrast: two extremes or opposites •Astonisher: exclamatory statement that catches readers off-guard •Punch: dramatic or action-packed statement •Quotation: an unusually insightful direct quote •Question: query that compels readers to want more •Sequential: events in the order they happened •Sights & sounds: an image appealing to one or more of the 5 senses

5. Consider Lead Options Grammatical leads •Prepositional phrase: shows aspect of story that deserves attention •Participial and gerund phrases: features action, manner in which action is accomplished or unusual circumstances •Infinitive phrase: features purpose, dramatic action or creates a minor not of suspense •Causal clause: begins with because, since or because of •Conditional clause: begins with if, unless or provided

6. Quality Quotes Quotes are intimate enough when only the person quoted could tell that specific story. Partial or quickie quotes Story quotes Anecdotes

7. In Conclusion Conclusions make the most impact when they bring the story full circle. Reference the angle of the lead Add new information & insights Logically wrap up the story

8. Lead>Quote>Transition>Conclusion • Due to hurricane-threatening weather and the canceling of school on Monday, September 21, Spirit Week had to be crammed into four days rather than the traditional five. • “We thought it might be lame when we had to revamp all of our activities and move Monday’s events throughout the remaining days of the week, but it worked out great and I think it even added more excitement,” senior events chairman Monty Taggert said. • Monday’s patriotic dress-up day combined with red, white and blue school-color day while Monday’s garage band concert served as the prelude to Wednesday night’s bon fire. • “We worked all day Monday on our float despite the storms that shook the old warehouse. There was only once that I thought the rain might threaten to flood the building and ruin all our hard work,” junior Ling Lu said. • What could have been “Spirit Weak” ended up one of the most spirited homecomings in seniors’ memories as 95% said that despite only four days, it was the best in their four years. Unique angle for lead Insightful quote Factual transition Follow-up storytelling quote Full-circle, factual conclusion

9. Writing Checklist • Fresh, lively angles • Informational & insightful • Little-known, fascinating facts & figures • One-of-a-kind, quotable quotes • Attention to the five senses • Unquestionable accuracy • Refined style & design

10. Common Problems • Boring nouns | Students, members, players • Weak verbs/passive voice • Appears, seems • Is, are, was, were, be, being, been • Long paragraphs • Use of second person • Labels & names

11. Common Problems • Avoid word overuse • Don’t begin with a, an or the • Don’t use ‘this year’ or school name, initials or mascot • Don’t incorporate editorialized adjectives or adverbs • Don’t use label leads • Don’t begin with names - Editorializing (Busy, diligent, successful, hard-working)

12. Editing and Rewriting • Revision considerations Content Accuracy Style Design

13. Editing and Rewriting Editing suggestions Focus on… Improving word choice Adding/deleting content Conforming to style Show consideration by… Encouraging self-editing Writing in margins and not in red Balancing positive/negative Returning personally and explaining expectations