Using your book and Style manual as a guide, write two headlines, one basic news lead and one summary news lead for each set of facts.
A print headline is: The main title of a news story, printed in large letter at the top of a story to call attention to it.
A basic print lead is: The opening sentence that gives the audience the most important information of the news story in a concise and clear manner.
A summary lead is: Nearly identical to a basic print lead, but used when there is a bit more detail or information needed or a more complex thought that needs to be expressed (it may have 3 – 4 additional words, or an additional detail, for example).
You will write two leads per blurb, for a total of six leads. Each individual lead needs a headline, as well, for a total of six headlines.
Choose only the information you would need for a LEAD and leave out the rest (no need here for second paragraph info, etc.). You are rewriting this information, not simply copy-and-pasting it. There may be errors, things that ought to be reworded, etc. Think of each blurb as a set of notes that was jotted down from which you will refine leads.
You will be graded on:1. If you included all the correct information (while weeding out the rest).2. Your leads/headlines being error-free and structured for AP Style3. Your leads/headlines being written according to the inverted pyramid, and overall comprehension of how leads and headlines work for news.
Rubric
Learning Objective: Demonstrate that you can analyze a set of notes and then take from it the most important information to create a strong, functional, appropriately written headline and a strong lead. Demonstrate that you understand the “who/what/when/where” lead structure, and the basic print headline structure. Demonstrate that you understand the kind of information that does and does not belong in a headline or in a lead, and that you can discard the information that does not belong. Demonstrate that you understand the formatting differences between headlines and leads, and between basic news leads and summary leads, and that you can write them all.
Performance Levels (From the Syllabus): In a journalism class, story grading largely has to do with strong writing, getting your facts right, and steering clear of grammar, spelling, and style errors. An “A” grade is earned when you execute completion of assigned work in a way that indicates preparedness, effort, and careful attention to the assignment requirements. Satisfactory completion of assigned work indicating basic effort and/or basic grasp of the concepts, on the other hand, will earn a grade in the “C” range. Any work that displays significantly less than is required, has extensive errors, or is lacking effort, will earn a “D” or an “F.”
