Caption Writing

Telling Stories With Photography

What Is A Caption?

• A short description or title accompanying an illustration in a printed text

• Also called a “cutline”• Can draw attention to something not

obvious• It provides the context for a picture by

answering the 5W’s • Caption writing involves interviewing,

drafting, rewriting and editing

Types of Captions

• Basic– Describes the moment captured in the

photo– One sentence written in present tense

• Expanded– Answers the 5W’s with background

information and/or a quote– Two or more sentences• First sentence is in present tense• Subsequent sentences are in past tense

We write expanded with 3!

Lead-ins

• Lead-ins are headlines for your caption• Consist of attention-grabbing words or

phrases• Depending on your publication, can be

alliterative or descriptive–We are either one

• Are no more than three words– Sparkling Skyscraper–Warning Web– Academic Achiever

Caption Writing Must-Do’s

• Avoid stating the obvious – Tell the reader something they can’t see by

looking at the photo– Captions that include “looking into the

camera” or “posing for a photo” will earn an F

• Identify all people in the picture who are seen clearly

• Using quotes in a caption adds a personal voice

Let’s Do One

Before you start

•Interview people in the photo as well as those associated with the activity– The director, other

actors, backstage workers, the audience

•Make sure you know when the photo was taken along with who took it

Sentence 1: What are the 5w’s?

•Using first and last names, identify everyone in the photo (up to five)•Accurately describe the action in the photo using the 5Ws•Make sure that verb is present tense!

Sentence 1: What are the 5w’s?

•Who: – Ineke Sproet (11) playing afflicted

teenager Betty Parris, Taylen Bellow (11) playing housekeeper Tituba and Chelsea Haynes (12) playing manipulative neighbor Abigail Williams

•What: – Pretending to be possessed by

witchcraft during the RPHS production of “The Crucible”

•When: – November•Where: – RPHS•Why: – To rebel against their strict

religious society

Heeeeeere’s….Sentence 1!

Betty Parris, portrayed by Ineke Sproet (11),

Tituba, played by Taylen Bellow (11)

and Abigail Williams, portrayed by Chelsea Haynes (12), fall into

fits during the November

presentation of “The Crucible.”

The verb is “fall”

Let’s write Sentence 2!•Write another sentence in past tense that contains additional information•Tell the reader something they cannot see•Get the inside scoop and appeal to the intelligent, curious reader– That means dig up some

good stuff!

Heeeeeere’s….Sentence 2!

The Arthur Miller play dramatized the

Salem witch trials of 1692.

Arthur miller is the playwright

The verb is “dramatized”

Let’s write Sentence 3!•Include any pertinent supplemental information•It can include a quote– Quotes should always be split– Quotes should always use

“said”•Quote attribution depends on the publication– “Attribution” is who said the

quote– We use FIRST LAST on first

reference, and LAST on subsequent references

– This applies to teachers as well

Heeeeeere’s….Sentence 3!

“The Crucible is a difficult

production,” said director Brook

Aurand. “I am so proud of the hard work our students

put in.”

Split quote includes part before the attribution and part after

“said director brook aurand” is the attribution

Let’s write the lead-in!

•Write down some words that are represented in the photo– Theatre– Crucible–Witchcraft– Salem–Manipulation– Puritan

Lead-In ideas

Puritan ParadoxManipulative MaidensWicked WitchcraftInvented IllnessReligious RebellionAfflicted Agitators

Put all three together•Sentence 1– Betty Parris, portrayed by Ineke

Sproet (11), Tituba, played by Taylen Bellow (11) and Abigail Williams, portrayed by Chelsea Haynes (12), fall into fits during the November presentation of “The Crucible.”

•Sentence 2– The Arthur Miller play dramatized

the Salem witch trials of 1692. •Sentence 3– “The Crucible is a difficult

production,” said director Brook Aurand. “I am so proud of the hard work our students put in.”

Final CaptionPURITAN PARADOX Betty

Parris, portrayed by Ineke Sproet (11), Tituba, played by Taylen

Bellow (11) and Abigail Williams, portrayed by Chelsea Haynes

(12), fall into fits during the November presentation of “The Crucible.” The Arthur Miller play

dramatized the Salem witch trials of 1692. “The Crucible is a

difficult production,” said director Brook Aurand. “I am so proud of the hard work our students put

in.”

What’s Wrong With This Caption?

Amanda Guijosa, Allen Barahona and

Amelia Alvarez pause to take a

photo during the yearbook

holi powder shoot. “pause to take a

photo”…tell the reader something they don’t know!

Where are their grades?

Where is the supplemental information? No quote?

Where is the lead-in?

What’s Wrong With This Caption?

Taking photos before prom,

Leanne Hrebenar (12) smoothed out date Justin Farrar’s

hair. “I wanted him to look

perfect for our photo,” she said.Where is his grade?

“smoothed” is past tense. The first sentence should only be present tense.

Where is the lead-in?

What’s Wrong With This Caption?

Varsity cheerleader

Mackenzie Bramlett (11)

acknowledges the crowd as she is

introduced during the Tomball game.

Bramlett also takes gymnastics.

Second sentence should always be in past tense

Where is the lead-in?

Does this sentence help tell the story?

Assignment 1: caption writing

• Using the captions on the next page, identify what is incorrect about each and write a new, correct caption– Don’t forget the captions do’s and don’t’s

and AP style

• Create a Word document titled [last name] captions 1 and save to your H drive. Submit to Mrs. J via Google Drive

• Assignment is due at midnight on Monday, January 12, 2015

“Captions 1” assignment1. A giant Uncle Sam balloon

marched down 6th Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This marks the 87th year for the annual New York event.

2. A woman looks at what is left of her home after it was destroyed during a tornado in Washington, Ill., on Nov. 19. Rescue workers were combing through the wreckage in the wake of a fast-moving storm that killed eight people in two states.

Assignment 2: caption writing

• Select five photos that you took yourself or are from an event that you took place in

• Insert each photo into a Word document• Based on what you know about the 5Ws in

the photo, write an expanded caption– Make sure to include a quote

• Title your document [last name] captions 2 and save to your H drive

• Submit to Mrs. J via Google Drive by midnight Tuesday, January 13, 2015