ENGLISH LANGUAGE

SECTION B
ARTICLE WRITING

Writing a News Report

 ELEMENTS IN A NEWS REPORT

• Headline
• Byline and Dateline
• Placeline
• Lead Paragraph
• Body Paragraphs (Other additional information- use
quotes)
 DEFINITION OF ELEMENTS

• Headline
- Title of article
- Grab the reader’s attention
- Sums up the story
Example : “Prayers for Stricken
Vincentians”
- 5-10 words for most
 DEFINITIONS

Byline:
• Writer’s name
• Writer’s Specialty, e.g. sports, food, crime,
current events

Dateline
States Date
 DEFINITIONS

•Place line
• It tells you where the story
originated.
• Comes at the very beginning
of the first paragraph. It is
simply the name of the
location where the event
took place
 DEFINITIONS

• Lead Paragraph
• Answers most of the 5Ws
• The lead paragraph
introduces the topic to the
reader. It should be only 2-4
sentences in length and
answer who, what, where,
and when.
• Gives most important
information.
 DEFINITIONS

Body Paragraphs • Quotes: News articles typically have

• Supplies detail most important first quotes from a witness or participant
of the event, or a specialist on the
Simple true statements
topic. For your assignments, you can
make up a person and the quote.
Quotation
• What someone actually said
• Adds accuracy
• Adds “at the scene” feeling
Summary
 NEWS REPORT WRITING RULES

• 1. News reports are always written in past tense. When writing, write as if the
event happened yesterday.
• 2. News reports are always written in third person. No personal opinions, except
in the direct quotations.
• 3. All paragraphs are maximum 4-5 sentences in length.
• 4.You must use quotation marks when putting in a quote from a witness,
participant, or specialist.
• 5. When naming people in a news report: First time, use their first and last name.
Other times, use only their last name.
VIDEO- Review of The Report
 NEWSPAPER CHECKLIST

• ❏ Headline
• ❏ Byline
• ❏ Placeline
• ❏ Lead paragraph answers who, what, where, when
• ❏ 2-3 body paragraphs
• ❏ Each paragraph is between 2-4 sentences in length. At least one direct
quotation (make up the people and quotes)
• ❏ Written in past tense
• ❏ Written in third person (no personal opinions)
• ❏ Grammar and spelling
 ASSESSMENT

• https://www.settlementatwork.org/lincdocs/linc5-7/info.management/LINC5/re
ading/03.news.articles.glance/03.news.articles.glance.act1.headings.htm