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Step 3: Organize Your Thoughts
Now you've got a big pile of notes and research, and it
sure looks tough to tackle. How will you sort out what you
need for a good news story anyway? Listing the Who? What?
When? Where? Why? and How? questions can help. Jot them
down and use your notes to answer them. For example, if
you're writing about how your class held a bake sale to
raise money for a special cause, here is how your questions
and answers might look:
WHO: Mrs. Green's fifth-grade class
WHAT: held a bake sale
WHERE: in the school cafeteria
WHEN: yesterday
WHY: to help raise money to protect endangered animals
HOW: by selling homemade baked goods
Now you have the basic (and most important) facts. They will serve as the core of your story. Write a paragraph that includes all these facts.
EXAMPLE:
Mrs. Green's fifth-grade class
(who) held a bake sale (what) yesterday (when) to raise
money for Save America's Wildlife (why), an organization
that protects endangered animals. Students sold homemade
cookies, cupcakes, and other treats (how) at a table in
the school cafeteria (where). Their total sales for the
day added up to $50.
In the paragraphs that follow, make your readers feel like
they are at the center of the action by including specific
details and lively descriptions. Quotes from sources can
help make this happen and offer important information. Getting
different viewpoints from several people can help give readers
a better idea of the whole story as well.
EXAMPLE:
The bake sale was a big hit
with students, who bought sugar cookies, chocolate cupcakes,
and slices of banana nut bread. Fourth-grader Ted Garcia
lined up for them with ten other kids in the crowded lunchroom.
"The chocolate cupcakes with the rainbow sprinkles are my
favorite," he said. "I'm going to buy some more to share
with my friends." Fifth-grader Lisa Meyers, who was selling
treats at the bake sale, felt good about her work. "Our
class has been learning a lot about endangered animals.
I'm glad that all the money we make will go toward saving
them."
Summarize your key findings in the last paragraph and review
your article. You can do this by reading your story aloud.
If your voice stumbles at certain parts, you may need to
rework sentences to make them flow more smoothly. Don't
forget to check for correct spelling, punctuation and grammar,
too. Finally, write a short headline that will grab readers'
attention and point out what's most newsworthy.
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