Lesson 6 - Writing a News Story

Purpose:

Students will practice writing a simple news story following the 5 W model presented in previous lessons.

Time:

2 periods, about 45 minutes each

Materials:

  • News event scenarios (included in this kit)
  • Pencils/paper
  • Handout on Writing a News Story

LD Connection: Students with learning disabilities can participate by using a fill-in-the-blank template. The student chooses information from a 5 W fact list.

The Lesson:

  1. Tell students they are reporters in a big city newsroom. A colleague is calling in a story from a remote location. At this point, all he or she has are some basic facts. It’s the reporter’s job to take the notes and turn them into a news story. Remind students that the information they will receive will not be given out in order of importance. 
  2. Read the information provided out loud. Write key facts on the board after you have read the information to the class.
  3. Ask students to order the information by numbering it, 1 being the most important. Once they have decided what information is most important, they can begin to put the news story together. 

    Seasoned reporters can dictate a story over the telephone that may only need minor changes before it is ready for print. But sometimes, especially when news is breaking, a reporter will only have time to call in information as the news unfolds. In large city newsrooms there are reporters assigned to handle story calls from other reporters. They work on what’s known as the rewrite desk. 
  4. When students are finished, reveal how the story actually appeared in print. 
    In this lesson there are sample stories that can be used for practice.

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Rubric for News Story

Name :_______________________________________________

Title: ________________________________________________

  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Lede Contains no important information Contains some of the important information Contains most of the important information Contains all of the important information 
5 W’s 
Who, what, where, when and why		 Story is missing the 5 W’s Story includes some of the 5 W’s Story includes most of the 5 W’s Story includes all of the 5 W’s
Paragraphs Paragraphs do not contain a complete thought Some  paragraphs contain a complete thought Most   paragraphs contain a complete thought All  paragraphs contain a complete thought
Spelling Story has more than five spelling errors  Story has  three to five spelling errors Story has one to three spelling errors No spelling errors
Punctuation Story contains more than five errors Story has  three to five  errors Story has one to three  errors No errors

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Sample Newspaper Story (Adobe Acrobat format)
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Sample 1- Toronto Star - 244 KB