3. • Begin sentences
with subjects and
verbs
• Make meaning
early, then let
weaker elements
branch to the right.
4.
5.
6.
7. Rebels seized control of Cap Haitien,
Haiti’s second largest city, on Sunday,
meeting little resistance as hundreds of
residents cheered, burned the police
station, plundered food from port
warehouses and looted the airport,
which was quickly closed. Police
officers and armed supporters of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled.
New York Times
8. Rebels seized control of Cap Haitien,
Haiti’s second largest city, on Sunday,
meeting little resistance as hundreds of
residents cheered, burned the police
station, plundered food from port
warehouses and looted the airport,
which was quickly closed. Police
officers and armed supporters of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled.
New York Times
10. He didn’t need a clock. He had been
working in a tidal pattern so long that
he could feel a tide change in his sleep.
In the dawn he awakened, looked out
through the windshield and saw that
the water was already retreating down
the bouldery flat. He drank some hot
coffee, ate three sandwiches, and had a
quart of beer.
by John Steinbeck from Cannery Row
11. He didn’t need a clock. He had been
working in a tidal pattern so long that
he could feel a tide change in his sleep.
In the dawn he awakened, looked out
through the windshield and saw that
the water was already retreating down
the bouldery flat. He drank some hot
coffee, ate three sandwiches, and had a
quart of beer.
by John Steinbeck from Cannery Row
12. The tide goes out imperceptibly. The
boulders show and seem to rise up and
the ocean recedes leaving little pools,
leaving wet weed and moss and sponge,
iridescence and brown and blue and
China red. On the bottoms lie the
incredible refuse of the sea, shells
broken and chipped and bits of
skeleton, claws, the whole sea bottom a
fantastic cemetery on which the living
scamper and scramble.
18. The stories about my childhood, the
ones that stuck, that got told and retold
at dinner tables, to dates as I sat by red-
faced, to my own children by my father
later on, are stories of running away.
Anna Quindlen’s memoir How Reading Changed My Life
19. A bill that would exclude tax income
from the assessed value of new homes
from the state education funding
formula could mean a loss of revenue
for Chesapeake County schools.
20. A bill could mean a loss of revenue for
Chesapeake County schools. The State
House will vote this week on a that
would exclude tax income from the
assessed value of new homes from the
state education funding formula
21. • You can hold
both the
subject and
the verb to
build
suspense.
22. Before the prayer warriors massed
outside her window, before gavels
pounded in six courts, before the
Vatican issued a statement, before the
president signed a midnight law and
the Supreme Court turned its head,
Terri Schiavo was just an ordinary girl,
with two overweight cats, an
unglamorous job and a typical
American life.
23. The next time you
struggle with a
sentence, rewrite it by
placing subject and
verb at the beginning.
For dramatic variation,
write a sentence with
subject and verb near
the end.
24.
25. The New England Journal of Medicine
released a study today. The study says
people who abruptly quit drinking
coffee may suffer effects of caffeine
withdrawal. Some of the symptoms
include headaches, depression, anxiety
and fatigue. The study says that even
people who drink fewer than three cups
of coffee a day may be affected.
26.
27. A new law went into effect yesterday in
Maine. The law affects all businesses
that have more than 25 employees. The
law requires employers to hire one
physically challenged worker for every
25 employees. Under the law,
employers must post advertisements
seeking individuals with physical
challenges as denied under the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
28. A guest speaker was scheduled to
speak at North. The speaker has
written that those attacked in the
World Trade Center on Sept. 11,
2001, were justified in their actions
because of previous U.S. abuses.
Parents have asked that the speech
be canceled.
29. Police suspected two students of drug
dealing. Police witnessed the students
exchanging money and what appeared to be
marijuana. But after they arrested the
students, police couldn’t find the drugs.
Police called in their drug-sniffing dog. The
dog headed directly to one of the students’
locker. Inside was a pound of marijuana.
The two students were charged with a
felony.
33. “The best day is one when I can
write a lead that will cause the
reader at his breakfast table the
next morning to spit up his
coffee, clutch at his heart and
shout, ‘My God! Martha, did you
read this?’”
Edna Buchanan, The Miami Herald
34. General Tips
• Keep it short: 35 words or less
• Men have landed and walked on
the moon.
• Points of emphasis: Place the
key words at the beginning
and the end.
– Start with the horse
– Woman in shoe
35.
36.
37. General Tips
• Write a focus sentence at the
top of your story.
• Avoid suffering: Start with
your nut graph and write the
lead later.
• Don’t invent your lead. Back it
up with your notes.
38. The Nut Graph
• A focus statement, a thesis, a
summary – but not necessarily
that interesting by itself
• The second or third paragraph
in a story with a strong,
dramatic lead
39. “Think. Don’t write yet.
Just think.
Think about what you want to
say and how best to say it:
clearly, concisely,
conversationally. … Start strong.
Well begun is half done.
Mervin Block, Writing Broadcast News
40. HARD NEWS LEADS: Also
called summary leads, tells
who, what, when and why
41. Hard news
• A student at Lamphere High
School in Madison Heights has
tested positive for a staph
infection, according to a letter
parents received today.
42. SOFT LEADS: Also called
feature leads, delays the
news for something colorful
43. Soft news lead
• At 6-feet-9, Norm Allgood was
the tallest of the 16,000-plus
participants who turned up
Sunday for the 30th running of
the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar
Marathon.
44. Soft news lead
• So when he was asked why he
chose this event for his first
race, it was a bit disconcerting
to see this giant of a man
double over to hide his face as
he tried to choke back tears.
46. Karen Davisson, child protection
worker with the Michigan
Department of Social
Rehabilitation Services district
office in Warren, said Tuesday
that only rarely are neglected an
abused children removed from
their parents’ care and placed in
foster homes or put up for
adoption.
47. Neglected or abused children are
rarely removed from their
parents’ care and placed in foster
homes or put up for adoption, a
state social worker said Tuesday.
Karen Davisson is a child protection
worker with the Michigan
Department of Social
Rehabilitation Services district
office in Warren.
Nut graph
49. Descriptive: Focus on one person
“Skippack farmer John W.
Hasson stood ankle-deep in
mud, pumping milk into a
wooden trough as his pigs,
squealing and grunting,
snouts quivering, climbed
over each other to get to their
feed.”
50. Anecdotal: Like fiction writing
“When the shock wave from a
magnitude 4.7 earthquake
rolled through Anchorage
Wednesday morning, dentist
Kendal Skinner had just
inserted a 3-inch needle into
the mouth of a patient and
begun an injection.”
51. Narrative: Feels like you are there
Police Officer Juan Cabrera felt
the barrel of the gun press
against his head.
“I’m going to kill you,” a voice
from behind said.
53. The wasted line
Here we go again.
It happens every time.
Color me (blank).
Psst.
54. The Term Paper
Throughout history man has
struggled with the problem of
finding enough food to eat.
The latest figures from the
Census Bureau show this
struggle continues, especially
in the nation’s big cities.
55. Welcome to the world of
Dirty plates piled as high as the
eye can see. Steam above and
fetid water below, for eight,
nine, 10 hours at a time.
Indecent proposals from male
co-workers. Minimum wage
and no tips. Welcome to the
world of dishwasher Barry
Mulso.
56. Not Alone
Kyle Campbell started seeing
unfamiliar charges on his Visa
card last summer. He started
calling around and soon
learned he had been a victim
of identify theft. Campbell is
not alone.
57. The dictionary definition
Webster’s Dictionary defines
“hero” as one that shows great
courage.” Maria Liddane, who
saved a kitten from a tree
yesterday, undoubtedly fits
that definition.
(By the way, there’s no such
thing as “Webster’s
Dictionary.”)
58.
59. The cause of the deadly blast at the Falk
Corp. remained under investigation late
Wednesday, but signs point to an
explosion of volatile propane gas.
Rick Romell
60. When ambulances raced past Maynard
Street Casting Co. on their way to the
accident scene at Falk Corp., it was a
chilling sign for Bob Thill, Maynard’s
president.
Rick Barrett
61. A spectacular day of racing turned
catastrophic when Barbaro, a 3-year-old
colt with a seeming clear path to the Triple
Crown, broke down in the first furlong of
the 131st Preakness Stakes yesterday and
was fighting for his life last night.
Ken Murray
62. The first thing Charles Carl Roberts IV did
when he walked into the one-room Amish
schoolhouse, police said, was to show the
children his semiautomatic pistol.
Mario F. Cattabiani
63. She sits at the lunch table, quietly
munching her pretzels. Not normal
pretzels though. Pretzels without salt on
them.
“One of my quirks is that I’ve always taken
the salt off pretzels before eating it,” says
junior Martina Bell. “I’m worried about
bloating.”
64. Bell is not just a regular 16-year-old girl
worried about losing weight to fit in a
homecoming dress. She is obsessed with
losing weight, every day of the year. Bell
says she has worried about her appearance
since she was eight years old.
Kristen Dreisig
66. Stu-Co has made an effort his year into
improving Homecoming; staying hours
after school, holding workdays and even a
lock in, preparing.
“We are trying to upgrade from last year’s
homecoming since many people
complained about it not being that great,”
said Jasmina Mulaic (11).
67. Stu-Co has made an effort his year into
improving Homecoming; staying hours
after school, holding workdays and even a
lock in, preparing.
“We are trying to upgrade from last year’s
homecoming since many people
complained about it not being that great,”
said Jasmina Mulaic (11).
68. Like always, LHS will be hosting a spirit
week. This year spirit week will be during
the week of Oct. 6 through Oct. 10.
Pilot, Lindbergh High School, MO
69. Like always, LHS will be hosting a spirit
week. This year spirit week will be during
the week of Oct. 6 through Oct. 10.
Pilot, Lindbergh High School, MO
70. Lights dance across the gym floor, songs
blare from speakers, and banners scream
from every corner of the school reminding
students that the annual dance has come
again.
Homecoming, the first dance of the year, is
scheduled for September 27th and is open
to all students and will be held withing the
school’s two gymnasiums.
Outlook, Oakton High School, VA
71. Lights dance across the gym floor, songs
blare from speakers, and banners scream
from every corner of the school reminding
students that the annual dance has come
again.
Homecoming, the first dance of the year, is
scheduled for September 27th and is open
to all students and will be held within the
school’s two gymnasiums.
Outlook, Oakton High School, VA
72. A sea of sweating bodies dance closely
together as a techno song thumps through
East High’s big gym. Neon colors can be
seen everywhere without the help of the
flashing lights. The darkness of the room is
brought to life by the girls’ brightly colored
dresses and guys’ matching ties. The décor
of the school screams “PARTY!” with glow
sticks and neon colors. The atmosphere is
electric.
73. This year the theme for homecoming is
East High Remix – student government
describes it as “rave-like”
“We wanted to do something different and
we thought everyone would like it,” said
senior and student government president
Courtney Morton.
The East High Scroll, Des Moines IA
74. Do freshmen know what’s happening in
the main building? Are the upper-
classmen aware of what the 9th Grade
Academy is? Has this year started off a
little bit confusing for some people?
The East High Scroll, Des Moines IA
75. Do freshmen know what’s happening in
the main building? Are the upper-
classmen aware of what the 9th Grade
Academy is? Has this year started off a
little bit confusing for some people?
The East High Scroll, Des Moines IA
76. “Hectic” could describe the campus’s
atmosphere on the first day of school.
Students made a mad dash to pick up their
new schedule while the incoming
freshmen displayed blank faces,
apparently lost, as they struggled to find
their new classrooms.
Wildcat, Brea Olinda High School, CA
77. “Hectic” could describe the campus’s
atmosphere on the first day of school.
Students made a mad dash to pick up their
new schedule while the incoming
freshmen displayed blank faces,
apparently lost, as they struggled to find
their new classrooms.
Wildcat, Brea Olinda High School, CA
78. The big, white hallways look endless and
confusing, the rooms are too far apart, the
scattered upperclassmen seem
intimidating and non one knows which
turn is the right one. Everyone’s been
there, and this year’s horde of mildly
disoriented freshmen was no different.”
79. “I’m worried that I’m not going to be able
to figure this building out, because it’s
enormous, and I thought I knew where
places were, except today I had no clue,”
said Michael Dettmar, a freshman who
attended Rachel Carson, who looked like
he couldn’t decide which was more
important, his schedule or the clock.
The Outlook, Oakton High School, VA
80. For junior Anthony McGriff, the new
school year didn’t start off easy.
Three out of his five classes were
incomplete, and he spent most of the first
and second weeks of school waiting for a
counselor’s appointment to fix his
schedule.
Elizabeth O’Keefe, The Squall, Dexter MI
81. When most people have a craving for coffee,
“Starbucks” is usually the first word that comes
to their minds. With nearly 16,000 stores
worldwide, Starbucks has become the world’s
leading coffee company.
However, Starbucks Corporation announced its
closing of 600 “underperforming” U.S. stores in
a July press release. Two of Brea’s Starbucks
have been shuttered this summer, located at
2435 E. Imperial Highway in the Brea Union
Plaza, and 703. E. Imperial Highway at Laurel.
82. Established in 1971, Starbucks was first
opened in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
Howard Schultz, chairman, president and
CEO, sought to develop a coffee bar
culture in Seattle similar to Milan, Italy, in
1983
Wildcat, Brea Olinda High School, CA
83. Sophomore Jeff Pituch arrived at Hart
Plaza in Detroit at 8:30 a.m., greeted by a
long line of people, old and young alike.
Democratic Presidential candidate Barrack
Obama was scheduled to speak, but not
until 11.
Alex Everard, The Squall, Dexter MI
84. A drop of sweat set on his brow is gently
wiped away by a hand marked by creases,
displaying the evidence of a day’s job well
done. Removing his shoes and entering
the house he is greeted with a warm
welcome from his wife and sons, the faint
wrinkles around his eyes complementing
the smile on his lips as Jerry Herrera,
custodian, is reminded of why each day is
a blessing to him.
Wildcat, Brea Olinda High School, CA
85. A drop of sweat set on his brow is gently
wiped away by a hand marked by creases,
displaying the evidence of a day’s job well
done. Removing his shoes and entering
the house he is greeted with a warm
welcome from his wife and sons, the faint
wrinkles around his eyes complementing
the smile on his lips as Jerry Herrera,
custodian, is reminded of why each day is
a blessing to him.
Wildcat, Brea Olinda High School, CA
86. The smell of chlorine can be overwhelming
when sophomore Lisa Crompton walks
into a pool. And usually, Crompton dreads
going to swim practice every day because
of this. However, when the most prolific
Olympic gold medalist in history is in the
same building, it takes the edge off.
Scott Crompton, The Squall, Dexter MI
87. Drama director Sue Lombardo does not
have actors. She does not have
technicians. The only think Lombardo has
is a family.
“We are one big family working together to
put the show on,” she said.
The next show that will be produced by the
Drama Club this fall will be “Lend Me a
Tenor.” This play follows …
Andrew Maxwell, Focus, Midland High
School, MI
88. Yesterday the Student
Association met to consider
the fate of the Science Club’s
plan to build a new telescope
on the south side of the
building in Mr. Kosmas' room.
The plan was approved by a
20-11 vote.
89. The wind storms yesterday
knocked over power lines, causing
blackouts in Grosse Pointe, broke
branches off trees throughout the
area, toppled an oak tree in Harper
Woods and knocked over some
garbage cans. Power was off in
Grosse Pointe for six hours before
the fire department was able to
restore service to the about 800
affected homes.
90. Michelle Williams, 23, of 2363
Country Club., in Grosse
Pointe Woods, and her
daughter, Shelly Williams, 4,
of the same address, were
fatally killed when their car
collided with a milk truck at
4:13 p.m. at the corner of
Moross and Mack yesterday.
91. Grosse Pointe North High
School met Grosse Pointe
South High School for the
regional women’s basketball
championship yesterday at
South, and North won in
double overtime by a score of
63-60.
92. President Barrack Obama announced
yesterday that he will not seek re-
election as President in the year
2012. Obama said he made his
decision after discussion with his
wife and “long and hard soul
searching.” “This is a 24-hour-a-
day job and it leaves no time for
family,” the President said. “I am
simply not willing to give up my
family life for another four years.”
93. About 100 policemen from the state
police barracks in nearby Detroit
under the direction of State Police
Capt. Roger Thomas used tear gas
and riot gear to regain control of
Parcells Middle School at 12 p.m.
yesterday from a group of rioting
students who had been demanding
improvements in the school lunch.
94. Closing thoughts
• Start with the horse: Put
the subject at the top of the
story, and at the start of the
story.
• Write about people, not
issues.
• Go beyond W questions.
• Read.
