Use this PDF fillable form to help you organize your news story. Make sure you follow the directions for each paragraph and provide the necessary information. Stay within the character count. Do not write more than allowed in each box. Each paragraph should be 35-40 words or less, one or two sentences, and begin with a subject.
Paragraph #1: Write a lead here. You can use a summary lead (who, what, when, where, why, and how) or any other lead format, but make sure you include interesting and catchy information that would interest readers and make them want to read the story.
Now that you have written the lead, think about creating a dialogue with the reader or at least deal out the facts of the story in descending order of importance (the most important facts at the top) and work down the story. Keep thinking about what the reader wants to know next.
Paragraph #2: Write the most interesting piece of information concerning your story or a delayed lead.
Paragraph #3: WRITE a “Direct Quotation” in the box below. A direct quotation is one that uses the speaker’s exact words contained within quotation marks. The correct sequence for a direct quote and its attribution is direct quote, speaker, verb (the word said).
Paragraph #4: Information:
Paragraph #4: WRITE the next interesting piece of information concerning your story.
Paragraph #6: Information:
Paragraph #5: This should be an indirect quote or paraphrase. An indirect quote should maintain the meaning of what the speaker said but use fewer words than the speaker used. This still needs an attribution.
NEWS STORY ORGANIZER
News Story Organizer/Kennedy/2019 ©PGZ2019 2
Paragraph #6: This should be another interesting fact or piece of information about the story. What should the reader know next? Paragraph #7: This can be an indirect (paraphrase) or direct quotation. Don’t forget your attribution. Paragraph #8: Keeping in mind that you are having a dialogue with the reader, what should he or she know next?
Paragraph #9: As you are coming to the end of the story, think about what is the last piece of information you want to include.
Paragraph #10: End the story with a kicker. Something interesting. DO NOT WRITE A SUMMARY. This can even be a great quote that you didn’t use anywhere else in the story. Does this need an attribution?
Now that you have written your story using the organizer, it is time to put all of your paragraphs together in a Word document. If you followed the directions, you should have a story of 300-400 words. Don’t think about word count, but think more about quality and coverage. Copy and paste each paragraph exactly as you have written it here. Then read your story out loud. Does it make sense? Does it have flow? Have you guided your reader through the facts with accurate descriptions and well-chosen direct quotes and well-written paraphrases? If necessary, reorganize your story and make any adjustments necessary to make your story flow.