Activities for News Writing, Science Writing, Editorial Writing and Column

News Writing: Inverted Pyramid

The aim of this exercise is to help students develop skills of structured news writing. The
students are free to select a topic and create a news story using the Inverted Pyramid style and
the guide provided.

Lead:

● Who: Who is the subject of your story? Who are the people involved and how they're
connected to the story as concisely as possible.
● What: What is happening?
● When: When did this happen? Give a date and time, if applicable.
● Where: Where did this happen?
● Why: Why is this important to the reader?

Body:

● Additional information: Expand the news by stating evidence, quotations from the
people involved in the story, and How the story happened.
Tail

● Extra information: State interesting yet relevant details and context. (Ex. Other
upcoming events.)
Science Writing: Opening Bite Activity

Write an introductory paragraph based on the given details by employing the Direct Strategy:
(1)Intrigue, (2) Surprise, and (3) Problem.

Example:
Fact Sheet:
• Recent research in animals suggests that hydrogen sulfide, one of the major components of
smelly gas such as your fart, might be beneficial to humans.
• A 2014 study conducted by a research team in the United Kingdom and University of Texas
provides some ample support for the idea that smelling fart may be good for you.
• Here's what the research suggests the compound may be able to do: lower blood pressure;
treat heart attack and stroke; improve kidney health, protect your brain and may prevent
dementia; reduce the effects of aging.

Possible Answer
Intrigue: So you're lying in bed, cuddling with your partner, and you hear it. Maybe it's a silent
hiss, maybe it's a voluminous blare.

Surprise: But you recognize the announcement of its arrival no matter what form it takes: gas...
flatulence... a toot... a fart...
But ignore your immediate instinct to leap out of bed and take shelter in the next room until the
smell subsides.

Problem: Recent research in animals suggests that hydrogen sulfide - one of the major
components of smelly gas, the one that gives it that "rotten egg" smell - might provide some
health benefits in humans, from preventing heart disease to kidney failure.

ACTIVITY TOPIC: Alzheimer’s: Not exclusive for the old

FACT SHEET:
Old age doesn’t guarantee the development of Alzheimer’s disease — but it’s the greatest risk
factor. And as the global average life span increases, Alzheimer’s disease endures as a major
public health burden, and one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of modern medicine.

Alzheimer disease most commonly affects older adults, but it can also affect people in their 30s
or 40s. When Alzheimer disease occurs in someone under age 65, it is known as early-onset (or
younger-onset) Alzheimer disease.

Experts don't know what triggers the start of Alzheimer disease. They suspect that 2 proteins
damage and kill nerve cells. Fragments of one protein, beta-amyloid, build up and are called
plaques.
Science Writing: Primary and Secondary Sources

The nature of feature writing and science writing is not drastically different. The crucial part of
Science Writing is citing sources: primary and secondary.

In this activity, the students are assigned to read credible references about the current state of
the COVID 19 in the Philippines. Create a science article out of it. Highlight the primary sources
by encircling it and underlining the secondary sources.

Ex: Breakthrough in the production of an acclaimed cancer-treating drug achieved by Stanford

researchers
By Adam Hadhazy

“We are very excited to report the first scalable synthesis of EBC-46,” said Paul Wender, the
Francis W. Bergstrom Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences, professor of
chemistry and, by courtesy, of chemical and systems biology at Stanford, and corresponding
author of a study describing the results in the journal Nature Chemistry. “Being able to make
EBC-46 in the lab really opens up tremendous research and clinical opportunities.”

In 2020, both the European Medicines Agency and the Food and Drug Administration in the
United States approved an EBC-46–based medication, sold under the brand name Stelfonta, to
treat mast cell cancer, the most common skin tumors in dogs. A study showed a 75% cure rate
after a single injection and an 88% rate following a second dose. Clinical trials have since
commenced for skin, head and neck, and soft tissue cancers in humans.
EDITORIAL WRITING: The Basics. The Current.

Direction: Select a current issue.

● Jeepney Modernization Program

● Mandatory ROTC
● US Navy and AFP Defense Partnership

Decide what your position is on the issue ( for or against ).

Give your opinion as to why you have selected this position on the issue. State the facts,
evidence and data (if available) to back up your position.

State the opposing position. Provide the facts that support the opposing position/opinion.
Dispute, challenge and question the opposing opinions, backed up with facts.

How will you capture and appeal to your readers