News Writing Exercise

News Writing Exercise:

A. Montville Township High School announced a plan last Monday, October 3, 2011. The principal said a special telephone number was now available to all algebra and geometry students. He called it his “Dial a Teacher Program.” With this number, 973- 555-8513, students will be able to reach a teacher who can help with a homework problem. The line will be answered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students are encouraged to use the line as often as necessary.

1. Write a headline for this story. Make sure it is in the correct tense – future tense for future stories and present tense for present and past stories.

2. Write a lead for this story. Your lead should answer one of the following questions: who did what? Or what happened?

3. Write the body of this story. Be sure to include any of the 5Ws that you did not include in the lead first. Next fill in the information in order of importance – follow the inverted pyramid.

4. Check your story: Are you objective? Did you edit out extra words and avoid redundancy? Did you use concrete language? Did you write in third person? Did you avoid jargon and clichés?

5. Read your story aloud. Make any necessary changes.