WritingWriting

Uncover the AngleOrganize your post-it notes

Categorize by verbal & visual options

Determine your approachAddress readers’ wants & needs

Introduce angle in headline & lead Avoid repetition of information

Develop in single story presentation or collective alternative stories

Reporting Focus // Identify Verbal/Visual Options

Float

Buildin

g

Class

YellsSpiritCaptain

Hat Dance

Parent

Pep

Talks

Skit

PracticeDress-up

DaysSkit

Practices

Cheer

Squad Team

SupportCharity

Money Band &

Drill Team

Pre-Write DraftHighlight high interest material in different colors

for easy recognitionHeadline content

Lead & conclusion details

Informational facts

Important figures

Insightful feelings (quotes)

Story pre-writing // Highlighting

Write Rough DraftCombine facts, figures & feelings into main, cohesive story

Lead

Quote/Transitions

Conclusion

Storytelling // News Feature

L

Q

T

Q

T

Q

C

Avoid the ObviousDon’t begin with a, an or the

Don’t use ‘this year’ or the school name, initials or mascot

Don’t incorporate editorialized adjectives or adverbs

Don’t use label leads

Don’t begin with names

Content-focused leadsOne word: single, key word introductionContrast: two extremes or oppositesAstonisher: exclamatory statement that catches readers off-guardPunch: dramatic or action-packed statementQuotation: an unusually insightful direct quoteQuestion: query that compels readers to want moreSequential: events in the order they happenedSights & sounds: an image appealing to one or more of the five senses

Grammatical leadsPrepositional phrase: shows aspect of the story that deserves attention Participial & gerund phrases: features action, manner in which action

is accomplished or unusual circumstancesInfinitive phrase: features purpose, dramatic action or creates

a minor note of suspenseCausal clause: begins with because, since or because ofConditional clause: begins with if, unless or provided

Consider Lead Options

Storywriting // Headline & Lead

First & 10Spirit peaks as varsity football teamcaptures premier state championship

A feverish pitch resonated throughout the commons

and infused the crowd as senior captain Jason

Chastain nervously waited to make his debut center

stage to “perform” the traditional hat dance at the state

championship game pep rally November 11.

Quality QuotesQuotes are intimate enough when only the person quoted could tell that specific story

Partial or quickie quotes

Story quotes

Anecdotes

Storytelling // Quality Quotes

Good“It was fun being captain one week and getting to do the hat dance. We played to win each and every game.”

Great“I barely remember shoving my way through the crowd to where my mom was waiting at the ‘W’ for me. I just remember thinking that I couldn’t look at her or I would start crying. She danced the dance with me—that moment I will never forget.”

Smooth TransitionsTransitions work effectively when they link together two paragraphs with informational & insightful facts & figures

Between lead & first quote

Between quotes

Between quote & conclusion

Storytelling // Smooth Transition

GoodMany students attended the pep rallies to support the varsity team.

GreatAn average of 925 out of 1050 students attended 16 pep rallies including a full five days of homecoming spirit week celebrations ranging from dress-up days to a record-setting 23-float parade.

In ConclusionConclusions 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

Storytelling // Conclusion

GoodCongratulations to the football team, cheerleaders and band for winning state championships this year.

GreatOn a chilly November Friday night, three state champions bonded mid-field to celebrate the thrill of victory—football players screamed ‘We’re number one” while cheerleaders cried tears of joy and the marching band played on.

Story Packages

Quick reads combine to tell the storyFacts

Figures

Feelings

Appeal to selective readers

Open up reader-friendly design options

Just the FactsFactoids/infographs

Listings

Question & answers

Interactive tests & quizzes

Maps & diagrams

Definitions, index & glossaries

Statistic boxes

Storywriting // Fact Packages

Go FigurePie charts, bar & line graphs

Numerical tables & charts

Schedules

Calendars

Timelines

Scoreboards

Storywriting // Figure Packages

Get the FeelingPartial quickie quotes

Story, featured quotes

Anecdotes

Advice & how-to’s

Personality sketches

Storywriting // Feeling Packages

Writing ChecklistFresh, lively anglesInformational & insightful

Little-known, fascinating facts & figures

One-of-a-kind, quotable quotes

Attention to the five sensesUnquestionable accuracyRefined style & design

Editing & rewritingRevision considerations

Content

Accuracy

Style

Design

Common ProblemsBoring nouns

Student, members, players

Weak verbs/passive voiceAppears, seemsIs, are, was, were, be, being, been

Long paragraphsWord overuse

School name, initials, mascot, “this year” or the year

EditorializingBusy, diligent, successful, hard-working

Use of second personLabels & names

Common CourtesyEditing suggestions

Focus onImproving word choiceAdding/deleting contentConforming to style

Show consideration byEncouraging self-editingWriting in margins & not in redBalancing positive/negativeReturning personally

& explaining expectations

WritingWriting