1. Preparing for the OSSLT at ESS
WRITING THE NEWS REPORT
Created by Jane Roberts for Erindale Secondary School
and posted on the Erindale Secondary School Literacy website maintained by Barb Low © 2008 1

2. WHAT should my news report look like for the OSSLT?
You are given a headline and a picture
your report should be 5-7 short paragraphs of 2-4 sentences each
it must connect the picture and headline
it must be written in the past tense
it must be written in third person
it should include a quotation 2

3. How do I write a news article?
Start by looking at the headline and picture
Use the rough work area to answer the basic questions of:
WHO - WHO IS IN THE PICTURE?, WHO IS INVOLVED?
WHAT - WHAT HAPPENED?, WHAT DID SOMEBODY DO?
WHEN - WHEN DID THE EVENT HAPPEN?, WHEN DID IT START? END?
WHERE - WHERE DID THE EVENT OCCUR?
WHY - WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
HOW - HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? 3

4. WHO AND WHAT DO I WRITE ABOUT?
Remember that you are making up the events of the news article. The content is from your imagination, but you need to follow the required format. 4

5. Writing the news article -- How do I begin?
The news article format is very specific. You write a news article in an inverted pyramid format. Start with the final outcome.
The most important information is in the first paragraph. Answer at least four of the basic who, what, when, where, why, and how questions in that first paragraph 5

6. WHEN DO I KNOW I AM DONE?
In the first paragraph tell the reader the ending event, then give more detailed answers to the basic questions with each paragraph.
The paragraphs should be short sentences and in descending order of importance.
You are done when all the questions have been answered. 6

7. How is a news article different than what I am used to?
Take the basic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The story or narrative format is linear with a beginning, middle and end which resolves the problem:
Once upon a time…
and then…
and then…
and they all lived happily ever after. 7

8. How does a news article look? --the first paragraph - lead
BEAR HOME VANDALIZED BY INTRUDER
The home of T. Bear and family in the enchanted forest was ransacked yesterday by a vandal last seen fleeing the scene of the crime.
WHERE?
WHO?
WHEN?
WHAT HAPPENED? 8

9. The body of the article -- WWWWWH
When the Bear family returned home yesterday morning at 8:30 am, after a family walk, they found their food eaten, furniture destroyed and a stranger sleeping in their home.
WHEN?
WHAT HAPPENED? 9

10. HOW?
The Bear family returned home to find their home on Mother Goose Lane in disarray. As they walked through their home assessing the damage, the family found the vandal, asleep in their son’s bed. Upon awakening, the young girl screamed and fled the scene of the crime. 10

11. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
The intruder was last seen fleeing the scene of the crime in the direction of Grandmother’s Bakery. The intruder is female, 9-12 years old, blonde hair, blue eyes and wearing a Mother Nature’s Flower Shop baseball jacket. 11

12. ADDITIONAL, LESS IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This recent crime has sparked fear in the hearts of many woodland creatures. The Enchanted Forest’s Chief of Police stressed that this is a rare occurrence in our happy neighborhood. He said, “This is our first break in since the Big Bad Wolf was dealt with. We do not see the events being connected”.
QUOTATION 12

13. The Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood’s grandmother were unavailable for comment at press time.
LEAST IMPORTANT DETAIL
SO... 13

14. BEAR HOME VANDALIZED BY INTRUDER
The home of T. Bear and family in the enchanted forest was ransacked yesterday by a vandal last seen fleeing the scene of the crime.
When the Bear family returned home yesterday morning at 8:30 am, after a family walk, they found their food eaten, furniture destroyed and a stranger sleeping in their home.
The Bear family returned home to find their home on Mother Goose Lane in disarray. As they walked through their home assessing the damage, the family found the vandal, asleep in their son’s bed. Upon awakening, the young girl screamed and fled the scene of the crime.
The intruder was last seen fleeing the scene of the crime in the direction of Grandmother’s Bakery. The intruder is female, 9-12 years old, blonde hair, blue eyes and wearing a Mother Nature’s Flower Shop baseball jacket.
This recent crime has sparked fear in the hearts of many woodland creatures. The Enchanted Forest’s Chief of Police, Tom Thumb, stressed that this is a rare occurrence in our happy neighborhood. He said, “This is our first break in since the Big Bad Wolf was dealt with. We do not see the events being connected”.
The Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood’s grandmother were unavailable for comment at press time. 14

15. And that is a basic news article:
Clear indentations to indicate new paragraphs
Follows the inverted pyramid format
Planned before written
Written in the past tense
Uses third person. -- You are a reporter writing for a newspaper
Proof read!!! 15

16. Good Luck on the test! This writing task will be in booklet one and should take you about 20 minutes from start to finish.
If you have any questions, see Mrs. Roberts or Mrs. Low in the library. 16