Writing a Newspaper Article

Headline

Short, grabs attention, summarizes, not a complete sentence What is the 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.

What is the headline?

subheading

SubheadingIt tells us more about what the story will be about.

The headline attracts attention, while the subheading is used to focus your topic of discussion and prepare your readers for what follows.

Subheadings focus the reader

What will this story be about?

How does the subheading help you?

Lead Sentence

How does the reporter focus the reader?

What words are used to grab your attention?

The lead sentence grabs the reader’s attention and focuses the reader on the topic.

Lead Paragraph(s)

Who, what, when?Where, why, how?

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, where, when, why, how?

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.

Time to write your own!

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.

Subject

Example using Oliver Button

Oliver Button

Monday morning after talent show

Peacefully defeats bullies in his school

School/talent show

Students see the value in Oliver’s strength and ability to persevere.

By being brave enough to enter the talent show

Sissy to StarOliver Button loses the contest, but wins the

crowd

Sissy to StarOliver Button loses the contest, but wins the

crowd

Short, grabs attention, summarizes, not a complete sentence

Sissy to StarOliver Button loses the contest, but wins the

crowdIt tells us more about what the story will be about.

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

Lead Sentence

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

Lead Sentence

The lead sentence grabs the reader’s attention and focuses the reader on the topic.

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.

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.

Lead Paragraph

The lead paragraph briefly answers the questions “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, and “how”. The skeleton of the story can be found here.

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.

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.

They develop the ideas introduced by the lead, and give more information in the form of explanations, details, or quotes.

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.