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26 Writing Newspaper Stories

Page
126
from
Write on Track

Writing Newspaper Stories

Start-Up Activity

Clip an interesting news story, human-interest story, and letter to the editor from a local newspaper and bring them in to read to your class. After each article, lead a discussion:

  • What is this story about?

  • What makes this story interesting?

  • Is the writer trying to explain something, to share something interesting, or to convince us?

Then have volunteers read the two paragraphs on page 126, explaining the difference between the three types of stories. Help students know that they can write any of those types of stories in this chapter.

Think About It

“A nonfiction writer is a storyteller who has taken an oath to tell the truth.”

—Russell Friedman

You are viewing: 26 Writing Newspaper Stories

25 Writing Information Essays
27 Writing Persuasive Essays

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State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.6

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.6

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.D

Page 127 from Write on Track

Sample News Story

Have a volunteer read each paragraph of the sample news story. Afterward, return to point out the headline, byline, lead, body, and closing, explaining each. Let students know that their own news stories will have all of these same parts but focus on a different topic.

If you would like students to write human-interest stories or letters to the editor instead of news stories, read through pages 130–131.

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Page 128 from Write on Track

Writing a News Story

Help students brainstorm important events in their school or community. If they have trouble, prompt them with questions:

  • What big announcements happened this week at school?
  • What interesting things have you noticed in the city?
  • What is everybody talking about?
  • What are you most excited about that is going to happen?

After students choose topics to write about, lead them through the three ways to collect information. Also, make sure they understand the 5 W's: who? what? when? where? and why?

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Page 129 from Write on Track

Writing, Revising, and Editing

After students have interviewed, observed, and read about their topics to answer the 5 W's, they are ready to write their news stories.

Present the tip and example for creating a lead. Then have them write their leads. Next, show them the tips and examples for writing the main part and the ending. Have them create these parts as well.

Afterward, have students revise their work by underlining answers to each of the 5 W's questions. If they cannot find an answer, have them add it. If the answer they find is not clear, have them rework it.

Finally, have students check the spellings of all names in their news stories. Then publish student stories together in a classroom newspaper.

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Page 130 from Write on Track

Human-Interest Story

Help students understand that newspapers and Web sites feature different types of stories. Human-interest stories focus on topics that touch people's emotions.

Have volunteers read each paragraph in the sample story. Then lead a discussion of the story, using the side notes to prompt questions: "What make the lead catchy?" "Give some examples of interesting details." "What makes the ending fun?"

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Page 131 from Write on Track

Letter to the Editor

Help students know that some "stories" in newspapers and Web sites are actually trying to persuade them to agree with a position or take action for a cause. Editorials are persuasive articles written by the editors. Letters to the editor are persuasive articles written by readers.

Have volunteers read the example letter to the editor. Show how the student starts by expressing an opinion, then gives the main facts, and ends with a call to action.

If you have students write letters to the editor of a local paper, have them use the same basic format.

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