ESL - Writing a newspaper article (step-by-step guide)

Summary

In this instructional video, Mr. P teaches viewers how to craft a newspaper article, distinguishing between feature and news articles. He outlines the essential elements, including headline, byline, lead, and body, emphasizing the importance of the five W's and H in the lead. Mr. P also advises on writing engaging leads and organizing the article's body from most to least important information, using quotes to add authenticity. The lesson concludes with tips on structuring paragraphs and concluding the report effectively.

Takeaways

• 📰 The lesson focuses on writing newspaper articles, distinguishing between feature and news articles.
• 🔍 Feature articles are longer, more in-depth, and cover subjects from multiple angles with a creative and entertaining style.
• 📈 News articles cover the basics of current events, answering the questions who, what, how, where, and when.
• 📝 Both news and feature articles require the same level of research and reporting.
• 📋 The basic story outline involves writing an outline, reviewing research and notes, and brainstorming ideas for six sections.
• 🎯 The elements of a newspaper article include the headline, byline, place line, lead, body, and quotations.
• 🏷 The headline should catch attention, summarize the story, and follow a formula involving a number, trigger word, adjective, keyword, and promise.
• ✍️ The byline includes the writer's name and specialty, and the date, while the place line indicates where the story takes place.
• 🔝 The lead is the first or second sentence, presenting the most important information and answering the five W's and H.
• 📉 The body of the article is written bottom-up, with the most important information first, using short paragraphs and quotes from connected individuals.
• 🗣️ Quotations add accuracy to the story, and it's important to use reported speech and include quotation marks.

Q & A

What are the two main categories of articles mentioned in the script?

The two main categories of articles mentioned are feature articles and newspaper articles.

What is the primary difference between feature stories and news stories according to the script?

Feature stories are longer, more in-depth, and cover one subject from multiple angles, written in a more creative and entertaining way. News stories cover the basics of current events, answering the questions who, what, how, where, and when.

What are the six sections that should be considered when writing an outline for a newspaper article?

The six sections to consider are the headline, byline, place line, lead, body, and quotations.

What is the purpose of a headline in a newspaper article?

The headline should catch the reader's attention and summarize the story, making it interesting.

Can you provide an example of a headline formula mentioned in the script?

The formula provided is number or trigger word, plus adjective, plus keyword, plus promise, for example, 'How You Can Effortlessly Sell Your Home in Less Than 24 Hours'.

What information does the byline typically include in a newspaper article?

The byline includes the writer's name and their specialty, such as sports, food, crime, and the date of the article.

What is the purpose of the lead in a news article?

The lead is the first or second sentence at the beginning of the article, designed to present the most important information and catch the reader's eye.

What are the five W's and H that should be addressed in the lead of a news article?

The five W's and H stand for who, what, when, where, why, and how, which are key questions that should be answered in the lead.

How should the body of a news article be structured?

The body should be written from the bottom up, with the most important information first, and each paragraph providing less detail than the last.

What is the role of quotations in a news article?

Quotations add accuracy to the story by including things people actually said, and they should be used to support the information presented.

How should paragraphs be organized in a news article according to the script?

Paragraph one should report on who, what, where, and when; paragraph two should report on why and how, adding more specific details; paragraphs three and four should provide quotes from different witnesses, experts, or participants; and paragraph five should conclude the report with a final statement.