Good news reporters are observant, taking notes about their subject matter. On the back of this sheet take a moment to make a chart of six sections. Label one section WHO, one WHAT, another WHEN, a fourth WHERE, a fifth WHY, and a sixth HOW. Jot some notes: your impressions, thoughts, facts about what you've read on the subject in each category. Use this chart to help you organize your news article.
Remember:
___ 1. 5-8 sentences per paragraph
___ 2. quotation marks for dialog
___ 3. new paragraph for each speaker
___ 4. Answer the questions Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
___ 5. five elements of good writing, focus on PURPOSE and DIRECTION
___ 6. a headline
___ 7. signature of adult who helped you proofread your rough draft
___ 8. all three papers stapled together with your final on top
based on an idea from Houghton Mifflin's "Beyond the Reef" 1991
Return to the Paragraph a Week Index.