Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Preparation Writing a News Report

This is an example of a News Report: Sample 1: Storm Shuts Down Region A record breaking snow storm shuts down the region of Waterloo for hours and left hundreds of people without electricity for up to six hours. Early Monday morning, a huge amount of snow dropped. Mary Smith, a third grade student said, “I love the snow! It is so much fun to play in and we get a day off school!” Mary’s mother gave a very different answer. “I don’t mind the snow, but getting this much of it is just too much,” she said. Many people will now spend the next day shovelling the four feet of snow off of their driveway. Read or have student volunteer read this sample of a news report.

This is another example of a news report: Sample 2: Storm Shuts Down Region In the city of Cambridge, hundreds are left stuck in their homes due to heavy overnight snowfall on December 27th 2010. Most residents of the city are unable to leave their property because of the two feet of snow holding their vehicles hostage. Joe Frank clearing snow from his driveway stated, “We have not seen such a bad storm since 1999.” Most residents of Cambridge are expected to be house bound for the next few days because the roads will not be cleared until December 30th in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Also read this second example…

One more example of a news report: Sample 3: Storm Shuts Down Region Yesterday a huge snowstorm left the citizens of southern Ontario buried under four feet of snow. The storm resulted from a cold front from Alaska. Schools and businesses had to be shut down until the snow can be cleared from the roads. One citizen of Cambridge, Mark Ross, said it will take him the whole day to clear out the snow. “It took me over three hours just to shovel my driveway and another hour to clean off my car,” he said. A city worker who is responsible for the snow plows warns that citizens need to be patient. “The snow on the roads is over four feet deep and it is heavy. It will take the next three days to clear the roads. Our main concern is making sure the elderly and sick are not trapped without food and medicine.” The cost of the cleanup is expected to be over a million dollars, and weather forecasters say this is only the first storm of the season. You can continue to read a third sample…

After reading the sample news reports (Sample 1, 2 and 3)… Why are these good samples of news reports? Discuss your ideas in small group. Ask the small groups to talk about the things that make a good news report.

This is NOT a news report Sample 4: Storm Shuts Down Region We have had a lot of snow this year but nothing like this one. We won’t be going anywhere for a long time because the snow is ten feet high so no one is going to be able to leave their home for a long time. Snow is higher than ever and just last night the snow started again but not as bad. We are trying to do something about it, but no one wants to get out there in the cold and wet. It is now also starting to rain. In about two days we should have all of the snow cleaned up we hope. In my opinion, I think we should all stay inside and stay warm and just wait until the snow starts to melt and clear up the driveways. Snow. Snow. Snow. Now, read this sample – it is not a good example of a news report.

This is also NOT a news report: Sample 5: Storm Shuts Down Region The picture shows a huge snow storm. In the picture you can see a resident helping out their neighbours by shovelling their driveways and sidewalks. The kids are not going to school and will have a really fun time playing in the snow making snow men, snow angels and snow forts. School will be cancelled because teachers and students will not be able to get there. Many businesses will have to close and you won’t be able to go to work. The picture shows that you can’t drive on the roads because they are blocked and will not be safe. This is a terrible storm that will shut down the entire region. Here is another sample that is not a good news report.

What is the criteria for a news report? By comparing the news reports with the samples that are not news reports, list the criteria that you think should be included in a news report: Again this can be done in small groups or with the whole class.

Criteria for a News Report a single event is identified that directly relates to the picture and headline details answer the questions who, what, when, where, why and how details are sufficient so the reader understands what happened my news report is divided logically into paragraphs that are clearly marked (indented, lines skipped) transition words and phrases link the sequence of events there are direct and indirect quotes from participants in the story sequence of events is logical complete sentences correct spelling, grammar and punctuation unbiased tone in the news report Compare the student list of criteria with this list – check to see what is the same, what is different, additional, etc.

  Read Sample 6 below and decide if it fits the criteria for a news report: Sample 6: Storm Shuts Down Region On Tuesday March 30th, a snowstorm hit southern Ontario stranding residents and shutting down schools and workplaces. The storm started out west and worked its way into Ontario early Tuesday morning. A weather official, Kate Olsen, says, “Canadian weather can be predictable, but we don’t usually get this kind of storm so late in the season. We had little warning so we were unprepared.” The next step is for the cities to clear the roads so emergency vehicles can get to those who need help. City officials are asking residents to stay inside if they do not need to go out. The storm caused many cars to get stuck on the roads and may be responsible for a deadly accident on highway 401. Emergency workers say they are prepared to handle increased traffic in emergency rooms across the region. Now look at this sample and have the students in small groups or whole class decide if this is a news report by comparing it to the criteria list.

Finding the Criteria in a sample:   a single event is identified that directly relates to the picture and headline details answer the questions who (stranding residents), what (snowstorm), when (Tues March 30), where (southern Ontario), why and how (little warning, storm started out west) direct quotes (Kate Olsen) transition words and phrases link the sequence of events (next step) Indirect quotes (city officials) details are sufficient so the reader understands what happened indirect quotes (emergency workers) Also throughout: logical sequence, complete sentences, paragraphs, unbiased tone   On Tuesday March 30th, a snowstorm hit southern Ontario stranding residents and shutting down schools and workplaces. The storm started out west and worked its way into Ontario early Tuesday morning. A weather official, Kate Olsen, says, “Canadian weather can be predictable, but we don’t usually get this kind of storm so late in the season. We had little warning so we were unprepared.” The next step is for the cities to clear the roads so emergency vehicles can get to those who need help. City officials are asking residents to stay inside if they do not need to go out. The storm caused many cars to get stuck on the roads and may be responsible for a deadly accident on highway 401. Emergency workers say they are prepared to handle increased traffic in emergency rooms across the region. Here is the same article from the previous page annotated with the criteria.

NEWS REPORT LEARNING GOAL: I can make up facts and information to answer the questions who, what, where, when, why, how in a news report based on a headline and picture So for the OSSLT and for the practice today, this is the goal.

On the OSSLT: Task: Write a news report on the next page based on the headline and picture below. You will have to make up the facts and information to answer some or all of the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture. Purpose and Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected. Here is what the question will look like.

Student volunteers improve school grounds Now that you know the criteria for writing a news report, you can give it a try with a sample question from a previous year’s literacy test.