2. In daily newspapers, most timely and featured news stories are written in the traditional form--the inverted pyramid form (the order of decreasing importance).
4. The first paragraph of a news story contains the most important information. This is called the Summary Lead , because it summarizes the most important facts gathered about the story.
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14. Poor: Lincoln’s basketball season came to an end March 2 when the Maroons were defeated by Bridgeport, 45-44, in an overtime in finals of the Regional Tournament at Rockford . Whoa! Too much info!
15. Better: An overtime in the semifinals ended Lincoln’s basketball season Wednesday in the Regional Tournament at Rockford. The Maroons were edged by Bridgeport, 45-44. MUCH better! Thanks!
16. The lead tells the most important part of the story, and the body of the story gives the other facts in decreasing order of importance.
17. Summary lead Body of the story Most important facts Next most important Next most important Next
18. Through alternating direct quotes (which contain opinions, feelings or information that cannot be measured by some standard) and transitional statements (which contain facts), the reporter tells the story.
19. What is a transition? Transitions are words or phrases which keep the story flowing smoothly and let the reader know you are either talking about the same thing as before or you have changed subjects.
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21. Summary Lead Direct Quote Fact Direct Quote Direct Quote Direct Quote DQ Fact Fact Fact Alternating paragraphs of quoted opinions, feelings or thoughts and factual transitions The last paragraph should be a direct quote.
23. The Summary Lead: Students who are chronically tardy to class may find themselves suspended if a policy being considered by the Lewiston School Board and faculty is passed. Yikes! I’d better read further!
24. Quote #1: “ Being on time is a virtue,” Principal Jan Kingston said. “Students today, however, don’t seem to think it is important.”
25. Transition #1: The school board discussed the policy Feb. 8 and will bring it up again in March. LHS faculty discussed the proposed policy Wednesday.
26. Quote #2: “ It is about time this district did something about the tardy problem,” Bart Simpson, social studies teacher, said. “It has gotten so bad that more students are out in the hall than in class.”
27. Transition #2: The proposed policy states that students will be considered tardy if they enter the room after the bell has rung. The tardy will be unexcused unless an excuse signed by an assistant principal or counselor is presented to the teacher.
28. Quote #3: “ Too many students are still wandering around in the halls or using the restrooms when the tardy bell rings,” Bob Johnson, sophomore Assistant Principal said. “Teachers have asked that these students receive some sort of penalty.”
29. Transition #4: That penalty would come in the form of a 30-minute detention to be handled by the teachers, according to the new policy.
30. Quote #5: “ We would also be rewarding those students who regularly get to class on time and who set a good example,” Johnson said.
31. Transition #5: Ten percent “punctuality points” would be averaged into a grade at the end of each quarter if a student has fewer than three unexcused tardies. If a student has three or more unexcused tardies, the punctuality points would not be given.
32. Quote #6: “ There would be some tougher penalties for those who don’t seem to understand that we mean business with this new policy,” Johnson said.
33. Transition #6: By the fourth unexcused tardy, a student would be referred to the principal’s office and the parent or guardian would be notified. One-day suspensions would result if the student continues to be tardy.
34. Quote #7: “ The proposed policy provides the incentive to students to be in class on time,” Kingston said.
35. Transition #7: Administrators hope that the new policy, if adopted, will eliminate the majority of unexcused tardies, which have been numbering in the hundreds each day.
36. Final Quote “ The policy change is a step in the right direction,” Johnson said. “It’s a positive program to deal with a negative problem.”
37. The lead told readers a new tardy policy was being considered by the school board and that students who did not comply might be suspended. Summary Lead Direct Quote Fact Direct Quote Direct Quote Direct Quote DQ Fact Fact Fact
38. It summarized the most important facts: Students might be suspended if they are tardy all the time if the new policy goes into effect. Summary Lead Direct Quote Fact Direct Quote Direct Quote Direct Quote DQ Fact Fact Fact
39. The body gave further details about the proposed policy, using facts about tardies and opinions from various sources to tell the story. Summary Lead Direct Quote Fact Direct Quote Direct Quote Direct Quote DQ Fact Fact Fact
