1. Chapter 4: Yearbook Writing
Interviewing, Captions, Headlines, and Body Copy

2. Interviewing
essential for any good writer

3. Two Types of Questions Closed-ended Open-ended
Can be answered with a yes or no or one or two words
Do not invite discussion, opinions, or elaboration by interviewee
Often puts the interviewer’s opinion into the interviewee’s mouth
Open-ended
Answered with more than one word response
Requires elaboration by interviewee
Typically begin with “how?” or “why?”
Why do you want to use open-ended questions in your interviews?

4. Points to Remember with Questions
Concentrate on human interest aspects of the group
Ask questions that make interviewee think
The better the questions, the better the quotes
Put yourself in a reader’s shoes—what would a reader care about? What will readers forget as they age?
Use lots of HOW and WHY questions…describe for me…tell me more about…
Be prepared to ask follow up questions

5. Interview Essentials Complete your beat sheet prior to the interview
This includes creating questions for the faculty advisor/coach
Schedule a time to meet with the faculty advisor first
After you’ve talked with the teacher, then design questions for the students involved in the club, sport, or class
Set up a time to meet with the student leaders
Then prepare your survey questions for all members
Remind students to complete your survey
DO NOT BE LATE TO OR MISS AN INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT!
Doing so will hurt your reputation, the reputation of the staff, make people not want to buy a yearbook, and negatively impact your grade
Dress appropriately
Say “thank you”

6. Interview Pointers Do not ever just say, “Give me a quote.”
Do not just limit yourself to your pre-written questions
Ask interviewee permission to voice record the interview
Ask follow up questions, so that you can obtain specifics
Always do your research before going to the interview
Don’t go to the interview not knowing anything about the group or the interviewee
Don’t be afraid to ask for more explanation
Don’t be afraid to ask for time to write down what is said
Give the interviewee time to answer your question honestly
When possible conduct the interview face-to-face
Try to have a conversation, not a firing squad of questions

7. Writing Your Story
from interview to body copy

8. Transition – Interview to Writing
Write your first draft as soon as you can after the interview
Make sure you have completed all of your interviews
Remember you’re writing to express not impress
It’s your job to find and relate the details to the reader
Most students spend about three minutes or less reading copy
Don’t forget the memories…not just the facts
Avoid clichés
Pick out your best quotes to use in the story

9. Organization Lead (p. 57) Body (p. 58) Conclusion (p. 59)
25 words or less
Must pull reader in – make her want to read second sentence
3-4 Catchy Words
Sensory descriptive sentence
Unusual, though-provoking question
Interesting quote
Body (p. 58)
Show depth and attention to detail
Use a transition – quote – transition format
Cover all sides of the group/story
Use familiar words not fancy ones
Conclusion (p. 59)
Don’t write about future
Resist praising the team, sport, or club
Not an “essay” conclusion

10. Style and Grammar Use past tense Active voice Third person
No editorializing, jokes, or sarcasm
Don’t use “THIS YEAR”
Use lots of quotes
Be short, concise, and to the point
Use Subject-Verb-Object sentences
Use section colors so student names in stories stand out
Focus on VOICE from the 6-Traits
Use 12 point font
Use Mr. Greg Molzahn first and then Molzahn thereafter
Use senior Sarah Peters first and then Peters thereafter

11. Do not use apostrophes in boys and girls
Boys swimming and diving
Girls cross country
Use “said” for quote attribution
Use “stated” if you read the quote someplace first and it wasn’t directly spoken to you
Use other active verbs if and only if they are 100% appropriate
Don’t say, “when asked” or “in response to…”
It is acceptable to fix grammatical errors in quotes/statements
Use quotation marks
Periods and commas = inside “ ”
! and ? can go inside or outside “ ”
Start body copy with drop cap (2 lines deep)
Full justification

12. Captions
most read text in the yearbook

13. Photo Stories – the new caption
Tell the reader more than what is visible
Include quotes from people within the photo
Give additional background about people and action in picture
Helps to take notes while you’re taking pictures
Formula
First sentence = lead
Second sentence = background info about picture
Third sentence = quote directly connected to the people in picture

14. Caption DO’s Answer the 5W’s and an H Use present tense
Use active verbs and descriptive nouns
Use people’s first and last names
Identify everyone even if they are not students
Follow same title and class rules as body copy
Use 10 point font
Learn how to spell the four grade levels – freshman vs. men and sophomores

15. Caption DON’Ts
Don’t begin with names, grade in school, or prepositions
Don’t use “be” verbs
Don’t use gag captions, jokes, sarcasm, or inside jokes
Don’t mention the photographer or the camera or smiling
Don’t editorialize
Don’t talk to the picture or the people within it
Don’t repeat information that is elsewhere on the page
Don’t identify names of non-students
Don’t use “left to right” – we already read that way

16. Headlines
they state more than the obvious

17. Headline 101
They should draw readers into looking at and reading the page
Should be specific and positive
Do more than just label the page
Should do more than state the obvious
Don’t use A, An, The, And (use comma in place of “and”)
Should tie into one of the photographs (dominant one?)
Typically 2-5 words in length
Can be a play on words
Should have a main and secondary headline
Try to tie it back to the yearbook theme

18. Headline 102 Use Present tense Don’t use it to fill up white space
Select typefaces that complement each other
Use strong, active verbs (don’t use “be” verbs)
Avoid abbreviations

19. Practice
happy homework

20. Write captions for these pictures…

28. Write Headlines for these pages…
Football team making it to the state championship game
Teacher of the year
Freshmen Mentor Program
Basketball player sets a state all-time points record
Tech Ed students build race car that won at state fair

29. Write a 20-Sentence story about…
New Teachers at CHS