How to write in Journalism

1. "How Lead", or the beginning how of the story.
 "Why Lead", or the beginning cause of the story.
"What Lead", or the beginning fact of the story.

2. The reason the leads listed above are better than "Who, When, and Where" leads because they give the reader significant reason for the story. A who, when, or where lead mostly gives simple information. A how, why, or what lead allow for an introduction with significance and broadness, not just plain info.

3. A direct quote is an exact phrase or sentence(s) said by an individual inside of quotation marks. It is also exact context from another source.

4. Quotes allow writers to either use exactly what a someone wrote or said as evidence while giving credit to whoever said it. They also used to show that someone wrote or said something concerning the topic being written about.

5. "This is the correct way to format a quote," said Max, "but you can do it other ways such as a split like this."

6. An attribution is the words you use before, after, or in-between a quote to convey who it belongs to and how they conveyed it whether its by writing or saying.

7. Noun then verb such as "Quote," exclaimed Bill Hudson.

8. A transition is the part of a writing in-between two different parts of writing that cleanly links the two together from the first to the next.

9. You can transition with a Fact, a direct or indirect quote, or just part of a quote.

10.
Are the most important and recent facts first?
Is the story accurate?
Are the sources identified fully?
Are the paragraphs short?
Is the sentence structure varied in the story?
Is the story neat and double-spaced so that it is easy to read?
Does your story flow?  Did you use the transition/ quote formula?
Did you use active voice?

11.
Editorializing - Keep your opinion out of the story
Using first and second person - Keep yourself out of the story. Common error: “our school”
Messy handwriting, poor grammar and spelling
Paragraphs too long
Misspelling names in the story
Trying to use all of the information


           During the 2010-11 school year, our school has reported 22 fights so far. Last year, the school had 18 total fights.
          “One of my friends got in a fight, but he didn’t start it. He was defending himself,” said freshman Andy Opel.
           In response to the escalating fights, the school district hired the Teen Conflict Resolution Team to help students solve disagreements through non-violent solutions.
           After March 23, any student caught fighting on campus must complete a TCRT non-violence workshop, in addition to normal disciplinary actions.
          “Students have to learn how to solve life’s problems without violence, and this program will teach our students [them] just that,” said Mr. Brown.
         “Now students will get suspended and be forced to attend this program,” Opal said. “That’s just too much.”

Contest Day

          Fights were escalating at the In-a-State Middle School, and the school couldn't control them. In the past two years, a total of 40 fights have taken place. Most of the time, students were attacking out of a sense rage or revenge. To deal with this, the school district hired the Teen Conflict Resolution Team to help students resolve disagreements in a civilized manner.
          Mr. Brown, the Principle of the school, explained, "Students have to learn how to solve life’s problems without violence, and this program will teach them just that."
          After March 23, 2013, the faculty began to enforce anti-violence policies. Anyone who takes part in a fight and gets caught is required to attend an on-campus TCRT non-violence workshop, in addition to normal disciplinary actions.
         "One of my friends got in a fight," said freshman Andy Opel, "but it wasn't his fault. He was defending himself, but he still got suspended and forced to attend this program. This is way too much."
          Many students are outraged at the severity of the punishments, and bullies attack weaker students just to put them through the TCRT workshop. According survey was taken by one student, approximately 37% of the students who were in the workshop were merely defending themselves, and 79% of them want the workshop to be removed from school all together. This is currently being debated by the City Council, but until then, students are being especially cautious not to be part of any sort of fight.