Curated OER
Witness to a Brawl
Using The Musicians' Brawl, middle schoolers first impressions and the effect the title has on a piece of work. Then they analyze the narrative elements to art and write a newspaper article for the painting. In this narrative art...
Curated OER
Plagiarism in the Real World
How would you feel if someone plagiarized your work? After class members turn in an assigned newspaper article, you rewrite the piece using elements of their writing. Then you claim you will be selling the story and that you will profit...
Curated OER
Newsletter Requirements Sheet
In this newsletter activity worksheet, middle schoolers read a book and complete a newsletter activity as a novel analysis project. Students include a newsletter title, advertisements, news story, and obituary.
Curated OER
Lessons to be Learned: The Importance of Attribution, Accuracy, and Honesty
Students investigate real world examples of media law issues. For this media law instructional activity, students read Janet Cooke’s feature and respond to the writing. Students read articles by Stephen Glass to highlight facts in need...
Curated OER
Story Generators
Students develop news stories for the high school paper based on current issues in the local news. Students identify different sources for articles, and develop interviews questions. In this news ideas and sources lesson plan, students...
Curated OER
Writing Headlines
Students define the purpose of headlines and practice writing their own. In this news writing lesson, students define the elements of headlines and view examples. Students read a news story in groups and create a headline for it....
Curated OER
Learning Types of Editorials - and Writing Some
Students recognize and differentiate between the three types of editorials in order to write editorials for the school newspaper. In this editorials instructional activity, students read example persuasive and interpretative editorials....
Curated OER
Case Studies in Journalistic Ethics No. 2
Learners use texts on media ethics and various Web sites to explore real world examples of media law issues. For this media ethics lesson, learners examine the Food Lion case using a transcript from the court of appeals session and...
Curated OER
Extra, Extra Write All About It!
Students examine photographs from newspapers and write a headline and story for one of the examples. In this news writing lesson, students analyze a photograph as a class and discuss it. Students analyze photographs and example headlines...
Curated OER
Bringing It All Together
Learners create a small, six page newspaper to prepare for a staff position. In this newspaper creation instructional activity, learners fill out story idea sheets, pick timely stories, assign photos, and arrange for editorial art to be...
Curated OER
The Daily News
Students complete a news writing activity and improve their writing skills. In this news writing instructional activity, students write about an activity they experience each day of the week. Students use the articles to make a newspaper...
Curated OER
5 W's and H
Young scholars explore the 5W's and H of journalistic writing. In this 5 W's and H lesson plan, students read two articles from a newspaper and locate the 5 W's and H in the articles.
Curated OER
Straight News
Students review the 'Inverted Pyramid' and demonstrate their ability to outline it in a published news story. For this Inverted pyramid lesson, students read an article that is out of order and decide which order it should go in.
Scholastic
Scholastic: News Writing With Scholastic Editors
An excellent site for learning about news writing. This site is an in-depth workshop that takes you through the news writing process step by step by providing examples and tips.
Other
Newswriting for Radio: Glossary of Terms
Here are terms you should familiarize yourself with broadcast journalism or radio news is in your future.
Other
Teachers Network: Witness for the Prosecution: Online Newspaper
This lesson plan uses Agatha Christie's novel Witness for the Prosecution as a starting point for students to learn about the sections of newpapers as they analyze articles from the various sections. This leads up to the students...
Other
News University: Interactive Lead Lab
Use the lead lab to take an in-depth, interactive look at the foundation of news stories: the lead. Flash Player is required.
Columbia University
Tips: Leads
One page document gives important pointers on writing news story leads. Part of a Columbia University site.
CNN
Cnn: You Be the Producer
This is a great learning tool for producing and writing for television news. You have the opportuntity to judge stories and see if they would make it to the newscast.
Other
Writing Effective Leads
Do you know your news elements? Can you spot the most important one? This site helps you spot different kinds of leads, and which news element they emphasize. Includes an exercise for use in your own classroom.
Other
Secondary Lesson Guide for Writing Journalism
Excellent lesson plan page geared towards teachers and students interested in learning how to write feature stories and also learn basic writing tenets. Very practical site.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Beginning Reporting
Research news writing skills for reporters at this website. Discover what it takes to write well organized news-worthy stories.
Other
News Lab: Elements of Great Storytelling
This is a great site for broadcast journalists; it focuses on the elements that make a story great. You can find tips on writing from some of the top people in the industry.