8th Grade Narrative Writer’s Workshop Bend 2: Investigative Journalism: Writing to Inform and Illuminate

What does good feedback look like? In order to help your partner improve their writing, you must give them positive, HELPFUL feedback. This does not mean simply being nice. Look at these examples. Which ones would actually help you improve as a writer? “Good job.” “Please check your spelling. If you read it aloud you will see your mistakes. Also, include the 5 Ws.” “Nice story, dude! You are soooooo cool.” “I really liked the way you set up the story, but I think you were supposed to write it in third person.” “I liked that you gave all the facts, but I think you could use some more description.”

Session 6: Journalists Delve deeply to reveal underlying issues The great Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Donald Murray once said that most of us tend to write again and again about two or three issues. I thought about what he said and realized that he was right. I mostly write about social injustices that I see affecting young people, and about the pressures of working in education. Take a few moments to think about things you have written in the past and see if you can identify a few issues that matter to you. Turn and tell your partner what you have found.

TODAY’S TEACHING POINT While journalists do notice stories every day, the best journalists do more than that. They investigate issues that matter in their community, and they find stories that reveal those issues. Then they craft news stories to illuminate those underlying issues.

Delving Deeply to reveal underlying issues When I reflected on the topics that were important to me, I found that I care deeply about social injustices that affect young people. Recently, that’s led me to want to find and tell news stories that make it clear how difficult it can be just to be a teen. That is a reason for me to write-to teach people about this issue and make it more visible.

Researching Important issues Journalists have to get out there and follow their stories. They interview people; they collect background information. When you write not just about a ‘story’ but about an issue, you’re not limited to just a single event or moment. You can delve deeper into various true stories that might illuminate this issue.

Steps to finding and telling news stories that matter Focus on issues that are significant to the writer and the community. Gather words around an issue-say it in different ways to cast a net. Seek stories that illustrate that issue. Now take a couple of minutes to jot down some of the issues that you think matter most…then circle the ones that you think also matter to your community and your audience. Need some ideas???

Teen Issues: Bullying Cyber-Bullying Parental Divorce Eating Disorders Cutting Suicide Drugs/Alcohol Gangs Hazing Peer Pressure

Transforming lived experiences into narrative nonfiction Compare the following story leads: The first day of school was also the first fire drill. Five flights down and up! I saw girls taking off their shoes to walk. As I took my shoes off, I remembered this morning-when I stepped into new sandals with heels, and then a long, thin, pencil skirt. I remember I had a fleeting thought that it would be hard to run or climb in these clothes. “Who needs to climb, though?” I thought to myself. “I wanted to impress!” I told my friend. This is a nice lead, but it is better suited for a memoir or a fiction story. It is important to keep a journalistic tone in your writing when you are working as a reporter trying to teach your readers about an issue that concerns you.

Transforming lived experiences into narrative nonfiction Listen to how the author changed the lead to their news story: When the fire alarm rang, there was laughter first. Then, as girls and boys began to file down the five slights of stairs, there was consternation. Kids in sneakers dashed ahead, while girls in heels paused to take off their high-heeled sandals. This reporter, who found herself in the middle of the crowd, learned from firsthand experience that fashion can handicap you. “I wanted to impress,” was a phrase overheard on the way down. “Never again,” was one heard on the five flights back up. Notice how the author shifted from first person to third-from I to she. They adopted the pronouns and tone of a journalist. Check your writing now. Are you writing news stories? Are you staying with the tone of a journalist? Compare with your partner and help each other with this important work.

Time to share! Journalists don’t expect to find their material in their everyday lives. They look for it. And one way to look for material is to let everyone around them know what they’re researching. Take an index card. In big, clear letters write the topic of your investigation-the issue you’re exploring. Then underneath that, put your name. Bring your pencils with you and post them on the bulletin board. Take a minute to look at the posted topics. If you see an issue that you have a news story for, write your name on that index card using small letters. Then that journalist can come find you for information. Look who you can go to in order to research news stories as well.

Homework Tonight your homework is to write another news story. You have three choices: you can either document another news story that you’ve witnessed, write one with research that you’ve gathered from your classmates, or one based on something you witnessed that relates to your topic. Take a minute to figure out what writing you’ll do. Come take a look at the board throughout the day for inspiration.