1. Structure by Importance
News Article
Structure by Importance

2. What is a News Article? Where do you see them?
What information does it contain?
How are they structured?

3. Go Find One!
You have 15 minutes to find & read a news article from a Canadian news source that interests you.
Stop texting and use that phone for classwork!

4. Important Terms
Headline - The title of an article. It should be brief and convey information about the article.
5Ws - Who? What? Where? When? Why? (& How?)
Lead - The first paragraph of a newspaper article which contains the important information, the 5Ws.
Byline - The name of the author located near the top of an article.
Caption - An explanation of a picture, usually placed below the picture.

5. Important Terms
Paragraphs - Paragraphs in a news article should be brief.
Quotations - Reporters interview witnesses and experts and add quotations in their exact words. Since there may not be room to write everything said, a reporter may state someone’s thoughts and refer to them.
Facts - Every news article includes simple, true statement about what happened.
Vivid Language and Imagery- Journalists use interesting words to create interest and make you feel as if you saw the event yourself.

6. Can you find them?
Find examples of the news article terms in the article that you found.

7. Structure: The Inverted Pyramid
The lead – the most important information (containing the 5w’s)
Summarize the major events leading up to the article’s events
Include quotations and facts from witnesses and experts
Conclude with the least important information

8. Structure: The Inverted Pyramid
Order things by IMPORTANCE,
(NOT CHONOLOGY)!

9. Journalistic Style Your writing style must be informational
You are presenting facts, not bias
Summarize events clearly.
Explain the 5Ws in a clear way without confusion

10. Journalistic Style Rely on your witnesses and
experts for their opinions
Integrate your proof
Make up quotations or facts for supporting details
Be sure to set up your proof by stating who is speaking and why they’re qualified

11. Layout When possible, make your newspaper look like a newspaper
View Mr. Bignell’s website (the News Article Layout) for more information

12. Picture Practice
Infer what you think the article would be about based on the contents of the picture.
Quickly outline your thoughts in point form
Organize this information by importance
Important ideas go at the top
Details and quotations follow in the latter paragraphs
Write the article
You will have to do this on the OSSLT.

13. Practice

14. Evaluation Criteria R Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Knowledge &
Understanding
Poor summary of events
Fair summary of events
Good summary of key events
Excellent summary of key events
Inquiry
Little use of proof
Fair use of proof
Good use of proof
Excellent use of proof
Format & Organization
Does not reflect newspaper layout
Improper organization
Fair newspaper layout
Fair Organization
Good newspaper layout
Good Organization
Outstanding layout
Perfect Organization
Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation
& Voice
7+ apparent errors
Informal voice
4-6 apparent errors
Fair use of style
1-3 apparent errors
Good journalistic style
No apparent errors
Excellent journalistic style