Teacher name: Patti Pond/Katherine Staples
Grade(s) taught: 4-6 coordinator-student newspaper
School: John Fuller Elementory Pine Street N. Conway
School telephone number: (603) 356-5381
Subject matter: Writing/School newspaper

Key question(s) to be explored:
What is the writing process as it relates to journalism? What computer skills are needed to lay out a newspaper? What skills are needed to sell advertisement.

Outcome(s):
Students will have a better understanding of the writing process and how that is used as a journalist. Students will learn skills used to sell advertisement and lay out a newspaper.

Activity:
Students will produce an article to be published in the school newspaper (see lesson plans). Students will sell advertisements to local businesses to be published in the school paper. Students will be involved in the layout of the student newspaper.

How will this lesson be reviewed evaluated?
The effectiveness of these lessons may be evaluated be the content and quality of the student newspaper produced.

Other comments:
This is our 2nd year producing a student newspaper. It is a very effective method of relating students writing to careers in journalism

THE FALCON FLYER

1. Group Meeting -- An organizational meeting will be held with all advisors and writers.

Writers will, as a group, brainstorm article ideas for the next edition. Articles and advisors will be assigned, Deadlines will be posted. Students will be given an "Assignment/Work Progress" sheet and folder,

2. Advisor/Writer Meeting -- Prewriting: Collecting Information

Advisor will review "Developing a Writing Plan," "The 5 w's of Writing," "Interview Basics," and begin to help student develop questions for interviews or research. Handout available: "Details Checklist."

Writers need to have final list of interview questions approved by advisor before interview is conducted. Writers need to inform advisors when they have scheduled an interview and when interview is completed. Writers are responsible for letting advisors know if they are having any difficulty researching information or scheduling an interview, Advisors need to set a deadline for this phase to be completed and schedule the next meeting.

3. Advisor/Writer Meeting--Rough Draft

Writers should come to this meeting with notes from research/interview, Advisors will help writers organize their notes and develop rough draft. If students already have a rough draft completed they may work on revisions at this meeting,

4. Advisor/Writer Meeting(s) -- Revisions

Advisors should meet with students to help them improve upon their writing in the areas of organization, adding clarity, using the 5 senses to write, and adding interesting and descriptive words. Handout available: "Revision Checklist."

5. Advisor/ Writer Meeting(s)--Editing

Once all necessary revisions are made writer and advisor should edit article for punctuation, capitalization, word usage, and spelling. Handout available: "Writing Style Sheet."

6. Advisor/Writer Meeting(s) -- Computer Lab

After reviewing "Writing Style Sheet," writers should type articles on the computer. Advisor will need to edit computer copy for errors. Articles need to be saved on writers discs. Final copy should be review by anyone featured in the article for accuracy, and necessary changes should be made at this point. Advisor should have a final printed copy of article. Final copy deadline must be made at this point in order for article to be published in this edition of the paper.

7. Group Meeting -- Sharing articles and preparing for layout of paper

Writers will share their final draft with the group. Group will decide on front page articles and sections of the newspaper.

"Developing a Writing Plan"

Developing a writing plan involves deciding on the following areas:
SUBJECT: Who or What you are writing about
PURPOSE; Why you are writing (i.e.: to explain or describe)
FORM: What are you writing (i.e.: poem or paragraph)
AUDIENCE: Where, When, and Who are your readers
VOICE: How will your writing sound (i.e.: funny or serious)

"Interview Basics"

1. Make an appointment in advance. Introduce yourself. Mention that you are a reporter for the school newspaper and explain why you'd like an interview. Use "please and thank-you."

2. Go to the interview prepared. Take notebook and pencil. Take a cassette recorder only if you have asked permission in advance.

3. Have a list of at least 10 questions ahead of time. Remember the 5 "ws." Avoid yes or no questions. Start with questions, but allow for conversation.

4. It's o.k. to stop them and say you want to write it down, or to ask them how to spell a name. Take careful notes. Look for a good quote. If you plan to quote someone make sure you have the quote word for word. In general, it is more important to get the meaning than the exact words.

5. Offer to bring the draft of your article to your subject for approval.

Organizing Your writing

1. Beginning Lines:
-Grab readers attention
-Tell readers something about the subject
-Some ideas for leads are:
begin with a surprising fact or quote
start with a question
introduce some of the main points you plan to cover
make the introduction suspenseful

2. Middle Section;
-Stick to the point
-Ideas should support of explain subject

3. Closing/Summary
-Stress the importance of your subject
-Keep your reader thinking about your subject