BGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE REVISION PAPER 1

GUIDED COMPOSITION PART 10 (WRITING A NEWS REPORT)

By Berry Shaba

1. INTRODUCTION

English Language Paper 1 is a composition paper. Section A is a free topic composition component in
which candidates are given a number of composition titles to choose and write. Section B is usually one
question (title) and all candidates have to answer this question. Both sections require that candidates
display a high level of linguistic ability and grammatical accuracy. The two sections have equal
importance. Therefore, candidates need to treat these sections with equal importance because they
both have significance contribution to the candidate’s final mark in Paper 1.

2.NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

A newspaper article is a story that is written for the newspaper or magazine. There are a number of
different kinds of newspaper articles. Most news articles in newspapers are news stories and focus only
on the facts but there are other kinds of articles. These include:

A news article focuses on what's going on in your neighbourhood, village, town, city or country.

An international news article focuses on news that's happening outside the country. A story on the
famine in Somalia would be considered an international news story.

A feature article is an article that is about "softer" news. A feature may be a profile of a person who
does a lot of volunteer work in the community or a movie preview. Feature articles are not considered
news stories.

News reports have certain characteristic features which make them different from communication
documents such as memos, notices, letters or reports written within organisations. The basic format of a
newspaper article can be simplified as follows:

Headline

By line

Lead Paragraph

Explanation and Amplification

Background

Headline
A headline is a sentence, phrase, word, or group of words written in large, bold type on a newspaper
front page or above a body of text on any page of a newspaper or magazine. All newspaper articles start
off with a headline which is written at the top of the article. The headline serves the purpose of getting
the reader’s attention and usually to encourage the reading of the following the article. The headline
indicates the nature of the article below it. It is the title of a newspaper article.

Example:

JEALOUSY MAN KILLS WIFE TODDLER DROWNS

PIT BULL MAULS ELDERLY MAN LOST CHILD FOUND

ZEBRAS QUALIFY FOR AFCON 2012

Byline

This tells who wrote the story. (By…….. ……….). The byline usually follows the headline. It states the
author’s full name. However, in some cases the byline can be written at the end of the article.

Lead Paragraph

The lead paragraph is the first one in a news story. Normally, the lead is one sentence long which
summarizes the facts of the news story. This is a very important part of the article. Professional writers
spend considerable time and effort working out how to write the most suitable lead paragraph. The lead
paragraph should include the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of the story.

Who - names the subject(s) of the story. The “who”, may refer to a person, an animal, a group, a
building, an institution, a concept or anything which a story is about.

What - is the action taking place. It tells the reader what the ‘who’ is doing.

When - tells the time the action is happening.

Where - is the place the action is happening.

Why - explains the action in the lead.

How - usually describes the manner in which action occurs.

Example:

December 3 2009 was a fun-filled day for the children who learn at Mafisa School, Mogoditshane, as the
school honoured its top achievers of the year during its annual prize-giving ceremony.

The “who” in the lead above are the children who learn at Mafisa School.

What is happening? - annual prize-giving ceremony.

When - December 3 2009, annual prize-giving ceremony

Where - Mogoditshane.

Why - honoured its top achievers of the year

The lead sets the structure for the rest of the story. If the lead is good, the rest of the story comes
together easily. Many reporters spend half their writing time on the lead alone. One guiding principle
behind story organization is: the structure of the story can help the reader understand what the author
is writing about. The structure should lead the reader from idea to idea simply and clearly. The object is
to give readers information, and wow them with convoluted style.

Explanation and Amplification

After the lead paragraph comes the explanation and amplification, which deals with illuminating details.
(Explanation – make facts of the article comprehensible or clear by describing the relevant
circumstances. Amplification – it is the addition of extra material or illustration or details.) The author
must choose details to include in this part of the article. Some details may not be as important as others
so they should be presented in order of importance from most important to least.

Background Information

It is important that the

++writer of the article also provide background information about the story they are writing. This helps
the reader to put the story or the subject of the story into perspective. For instance, when writing sports
contest (e.g. the soccer world cup final), most journalists will always include information about these
tournaments even though this information may be common knowledge.

Direct and Indirect Quotes

When, necessary writers must use direct or indirect quotes to enrich the article. Remember quotations
should not be included just for the sake of using them. They should be relevant. Direct quotes can be
used in the following situations:

to answer the questions “why, how, who, or what?”

if a source's language is particularly colourful or picturesque (The source is the person/persons from
whom the writer gets most of his/her information)

when it is important for written information -- especially official information –(which comes from
authoritative voice. (For example when writing about a case of theft, the writer may get official
information from the officer-in-charge of the police station handling the case)

A direct quote repeats exactly what the interviewee said - word for word. If a person's exact words
aren’t known, the writer will paraphrase, but will not change the meaning of a person's words.
Remember when paraphrasing, quotation marks are not necessary but the person’s name must be
included after the paraphrased sentence.

Example

MAFISA SCHOOL HONOURS ITS 2009 STARS By Mothuse Mothuse

December 3 2009 was a fun-filled day for the children who learn at Mafisa School as the primary school
honoured its top achievers of the year during its annual prize-giving ceremony.

The event was well attended and this is testimony of the level of co-operation between the parents and
the school. In her welcome remarks, the Principal Mrs. Hope Mojaji told the gathered parents that all
children are important. She reminded the parents that the focus of the ceremony should not be on the
prizes rather the ceremony was held to show parent that there is excellence at Mafisa School. She told
the parents that the school had done its part in helping in the education of the 2009 learners but their
success is credited to the great teacher Jesus Christ. Mrs. Mojaji thanked the parents for entrusting their
children to Mafisa School, Mogoditshane.

2009 also marked success in the Standard 7 PSLE. Thirty-one learners registered for the examination,
seven of them had been promoted from standard 5. The school attained a 100% pass rate. There were
22 “As” and 9 “Bs”. From the seven who were promoted to standard 7, five of them got “As” and two
got “Bs”.

The guest speaker, Pastor S. Modise urged parents explore the five tenets of excellence: Diligence,
Focus, Concentration, Handwork and Integrity. He pointed out that excellence can be elusive if these
elements are missing from children’s lives. He emphasized that there was need to adopt the attitude of
an eagle: (Isiah 40:31).

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint...”

Achievement of diligence, focus, concentration, hard work and integrity is possible if these tenets are
coached from a young age. Pastor Modise added that the achievement of these goals can be quick if
parents practiced these principles at home so children can emulate.

Mafisa School has held successful annual prize-giving days for the past five years. Mafisa School
Mogoditshane is enrolling Form 1 and 2 for 2010. Already there are twenty pioneering students at the
secondary school. In 2010 automotive studies, driving and secretarial studies will be added to the
secondary school curriculum.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise

Read the following news report and answer the questions which follow.

MAPOSA SCHOOL HONOURS ITS 2009 STARS By Mothuse Mothuse

December 1 2009 was graduation day for the little ones enrolled at Little Lambs Pre-school at Maposa
School Mogoditshane. It was a very moving moment for those in attendance. Here were sweet little
“tiny-tots” participating in their very first academic recognition ceremony.

Mrs. Hope Mojaji., the principal, could not have said it any better: such events do not come twice nor
can they be reversed so they are very important to the children because they mark the beginning of
their academic journey. For most children the pre-school graduation sets the tone and character of
future successes. The principal commended the parents for doing their part but reminded them not to
forget to praise Jesus Christ. She said that while it is not easy to train minds but at Maposa Little Lambs
Pre-school it was possible because of the help of the Heavenly Father. Mrs. Hope Mojaji emphasized
those children who are grounded in preschool education usually are better-positioned and equipped to
deal with life challenges as they grow up.

The Guest Speaker Pastor S. Modise also equated pre-school graduation as a first giant step in a child’s
life. The Pastor told the parents to help their children to remember the Creator, for it will help the
children overcome life’s troubles. He said it is also important for parents to set a good example during
this impressionable period of their lives.

The Little Lambs Pre-school 2009 graduation at Maposa School was a colourful event. It was so moving
that it was easy for one to reminisce about one’s own first giant step.

Questions

Identify the following parts of a news report a) the headline b) byline c) lead paragraph.

Find the: who, what, when, where, why, and how” of the story.

What information did the writer give as background information?

Which quotation does the writer makes? Which aspects of the story does the quotation address? Is it
the why, how, who, or what?

Who provides the official information?

.......…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

News Reports Headlines

A great headline communicates a full message to its intended readers. It must lure the reader into the
body text. It can be difficult to understand newspaper headlines. The reason is newspaper headlines are
often incomplete sentences (Axe Killer on the Loose). Headlines usually have the following
characteristics:

--uses the present tense

- usually consist of a maximum of six words

-use short words (usually no longer than two syllables)

-uses the shortest synonyms (e.g. wed for married)

-omits definite and indefinite articles (i.e. the and a)

-contain sensational vocabulary (e.g. Horrific crash, tragic death)

Examples

Lost Child Appears - A lost child has appeared (after a long period of time).

Residents Protest Power Cuts - Residents are protesting electricity power cuts.

President to New School - The President is going to open a new school.

Amantle Montsho to Visit Orphanage - (Botswana’s famous athlete) Amantle Montsho is going to visit a
local orphanage next weekend.

Family Killed in Air Crash - A family has been killed in an air craft crash.

Karabo Sampson Crowned the Miss Bots - Karabo Sampson was crowned the Miss Botswana last night.

President Visit South Africa - The president is visiting South Africa.

Motorist Rescues Baby Elephant - A motorist rescued baby elephant along the A5 route.

Exercise

Write these headlines as full sentences.

1. Passerby Sees Woman Jump 2.Forgotten Brother Appears

3. Man Killed in Accident 4. Minister to Visit Flood Victims

5. Overwhelming Response to Census 6. Botswana Celebrates Zebra’s Win

7. First Man on Mars 8. Hot Weather Ahead

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3.PRACTICE EXERCISES

1. A local sports team has entered a competition. Write a report about this event. Use the guidelines
below. Remember to provide a suitable headline.

Who is the team? Who is the coach? Who are the prominent players? Who are the supporters?

What sport do they play? What is the competition?

Where is the competition? Where the team is normally based?

When is the competition? How long have they been preparing? Are there any other important time
factors?

Why are they entering this particular competition?

How are they going to enter the competition? Do they need to fundraise? How much training and
preparation is required? What will they need to do to win?

2. Use the following lead paragraph to write a news report. Remember to formulate a suitable headline.

The continent’s strongest man Daniel Moabi wasn't content just to heave a 35-tonne haulage truck
yesterday. The former junior secondary school Physical Education teacher stunned spectators at
Bobonong Spring Consumer Show by then dragging an even heavier 50-tonne truck for 5m in 10sec.
Moabi wishes to set a new record in Africa.

3. At the recent launch of the new power-saving Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) project the director
of Botswana Power Corporation called on consumer to save power. Using the ideas below, write a
report of the event.
-electricity conservation is very important in present times. -clothes iron

-buying efficient electric appliances -refrigerators and freezers

-clothes washing machines and clothes dryers -the stove

-computers -cut off “standby” losses

-geyser -consumer attitude to power-saving

-air-conditioning -other energy guzzlers

4. Read and complete the news report below

16 YEAR OLD BOY RAN OVER BY TRUCK

A sixteen-year-old boy was run over by a haulage truck on the Tlokweng-Zeerust Road yesterday around
11 last night. The accident victim has been positively identified as Thabo Mokoena. Thabo was carrying
IDs; one belonged to his twenty-two year old brother. Police investigations showed that Thabo had had
a lot of alcohol before the accident and had a fake moustache. The Officer-in-Charge at Tlokweng Police
Station warned the youth against drinking alcohol.

5. You recently invited by Letsatsi farm management to experience their boot camp. Using the
information on their brochure, write a news article about their boot camp.

Letsatsi farm is located in an environment which has a mixture of savanna trees, bush and grassland.
These superb surroundings are well watered by an all season stream that runs across the farm. There is
a lot bird life and small game too. Such peaceful natural surroundings offer you and your children a gem
of opportunity to experience peace, far from, ‘the madding crowd’. This is the place where there is
neither smoke nor smog.

Our special farm life experience will see your beloved children emerge from our three-week Boot camp
healthier, trimmer, re-vitalized and re-energized. Letsatsi Boot Camp holiday on a real farm will offer
your children opportunity to do the following:

-try a hand at being a livestock farm hand -participate in food preparation activities

-keep fit in our jungle gym -small game hunting-go logging

-swimming -ride horses -play ball games

-cycling -hiking -bird watching

-go camping -go fishing -quad biking

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4.CONCLUSION

A news report includes the who, what, when, where, why and how. A typical newspaper article contains
five (5) parts: Headline, Byline, Lead paragraph, Explanation and Additional Information. However, for
examination purposes candidates need to analyse the key parts of the question so as to answer the
question satisfactorily.

NB. Consult your teacher/tutor for more advice.

…ends/bs