Matthew Baughman's List: Journalism

Step 9: Distribute The Big Question to each student. Inform them that they need to decide what their news article will be about and create a compelling headline. Using your transparency of the handout, instruct students to take notes with the colored pencils as you discuss the details of the 5 W and How questions. Talk about how news articles answer some or all of these questions. Write the following on the transparency:

* Who - names the subject of the story. Can be a person, group, a building, an institution, a concept, etc. Provide some examples pertaining to the mythical characters.
* What - the action taking place. Tells what the who is doing. Use action verbs. Provide examples.
* When - the time the action is happening. Use an adverb or adverb phrase. Provide examples.
* Where - the place the action is happening. Use an adverb or adverb phrase. Provide examples.
* Why - explains the action in the lead. Use an adverb or adverb phrase.
* How - usually describes the manner in which action occurs.