OSSLT WORKSHOP

THE NEWS REPORT

WHAT IS A NEWS REPORT?

A report about a SPECIFIC EVENT

Many people wrote information paragraphs, or opinion pieces, etc.

THIS IS NOT A NEWS REPORT!

YOUR TASK

Write a news report based on the headline and picture on the next page.

You will have to make up the facts and information, answering some or all of the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.

Purpose and Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper

Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

TIPS FOR WRITING:

1. Write about 5 short paragraphs with 1-2 sentences only per paragraph.

Paragraph 1: Address When, Who, Where, What Paragraph 2: Details on Why + 1 quotation Paragraph 3-4: Explain the How + 1 quotation Paragraph 5: A conclusion that wraps up the report in a meaningful way + 1

quotation

2. Use specific details to make it realistic – ex. not just “food,” but “pasta like spaghetti and lasagna”. Don’t just say the student said, give the student a real name student, Shirley Tan, said “This was fun!”

3. Don’t skip a line for each new paragraph, a simple indent will do.

4. Use the picture for hints on what types of specific details to include.

5. Talk about what you know.6. Integrate 2-3 quotations from interviews with people who are

connected to the event (students, teachers, participants etc)7. Use the past tense when writing; this event happened a day or

two ago.

Content /60 Conventions /40

This is what the marker looks for:

-the 5 W’s-a clear focus on an event-2 or 3 quotations from interviews-specific and relevant details-ideas are logically organized from intro to conclusion

This is what the marker looks for:

-Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization-Overall clarity; can they read and understand your ideas.

Marking the News Report: 2 separate markers, 1 for content and 1 for

conventions (writing)

Today’s Focus

BRAINSTORMING FIRST!

Your first step in to look at the picture/headline and make notes in the Rough Notes section about the following:

WHO?WHAT?WHEN?WHERE?WHY?HOW?WHO WOULD YOU QUOTE?

WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?

Sample News Report (2010)

How did we do?

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is one area of the OSSLT where you get to be creative, so have fun!

Use specific details as much as possible.Re-read your report to check for spelling,

grammar, and punctuation errors.Practice, Practice, Practice!

THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK!