1. Investigative Journalism
Lesson 1
Narrative Writing

2. Necessary Notebook Pages
Page 1-5 W’s
Page 2-Jouralist’s Notebook
Page 3-Journalist’s Sequence
Page 4-Writing is Like Bacon
Page 5a- To Write a News Story…(from now on known as “Anchor Chart”) bullets 1-4

3. Connection Who are the most read writers in the world?
Why do you think this?
Turn & Talk

4. Connection A notebook for a writer is like a snowboard for Sean White.
Why do you need a notebook?
Jot notes of what you see
Record ideas for newscasts
Write questions you have for interviews
Record interviews
Sketch scenes
Fast-draft newscasts

5. Connection
Every writer has a place where he/she records his/her work. “Everywhere I went I’d write. If I was crossing a street with my friends and a rhyme came to me, I’d break out my binder, spread it on a mailbox or lamp post and write the rhyme before I crossed the street.” Jay-Z

6. Teaching Point
Today, I want to teach you that journalist notice small life dramas and try to capture who, what, when, where, why, and how of those dramas so they can turn them into newscasts.

7. Teaching

8. Teaching
After hearing Louis story, Hillenbrand found it newsworthy and most likely composed a brief newscast to highlight her thinking.
I want you to do the same thing…you don’t have to research and find a Louie Zamperini though.
Just look around your classes, the hall, the cafeteria, the bus…there’s drama all around you.
You just need to record the dramas until you find one worth writing about.

9. Teaching
Louis Zamperini embodies what it means to be an American hero. Zamperini, a WWII veteran who served in the the South Pacific, overcame many obstacles in his life time. Many believe his childhood antics and his training for the Olympics helped him survive his time in a POW camp. Zamperini’s perseverance, courage and strength represent what true American heroes stand for.
This is worth writing about.

10. Are they all there?
Let’s check

11. Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?

12. Today we’re going to do something unusual
Today we’re going to do something unusual. Instead of you each choosing your own topic and writing your own story, we’re going to try and capture on paper the events that we all just experienced. Then, we’ll compare our work so we can learn from each other. It’s unusual for us to write about the same topic at the same time, but it’s actually a good exercise that beginning journalists go through, so let’s give it a go. Go back to your works spots, then—and capture what just happened, especially the five W’s , in a news story! If you finish quickly, try starting a second version, on that captures the five Ws in a different way.

13. Remember: Start and keep writing-you can fix later
If it’s done—MAKE IT BETTER
Think of the 5 W’s
Use sequencing skills: first, next, and, & finally
You can use these to take notes or try to remember to get yourself started

14. Begin Brainstorming with Sequencing
Get your thoughts rolling by sequencing your ideas on paper.
Page 3

15. Draft by Writing Lean Get right to the point: Here’s an example:
Tell readers what they need to know
Respect readers’ time
Here’s an example:
“8th grade teacher Mrs. Cenna entered the room today with an alarming message, “All books containing romance are banned by the principal.”

16. Reflecting on Your Draft
Notice how quickly the who, what, when, where and why are answered.
This is COMPLETELY OPPOSITE of what you learned about detail, I know.
When doing a newscast, you want to get to the point quickly because readers listen to the news to get the point and move on.
Look at your draft and see if you need to revise to get to the point.

17. Mid-Workshop Teaching
FAN-BOYS

18. BTW- your class mate is not really in trouble!
Turn and Talk with your partner—
“What made the simulation realistic, and what made you think it may be fake?”

19. Leave your piece on your desk and walk around while we play “musical share.”

20. Share
Here’s another great example from the past. This guy put a spin on things:
“Twenty-seven students stood paralyzed by the news that their favorite books would soon be banned. Angel and Nate took action. They crept to their desks and hid their copies of Stargirl and Romeo and Juliet. Books featuring romances were being banned by the Department of Education, but they were not going to let that stop them from reading freely.”

21. Recap
Newscasts are a way to begin your bigger thinking. Think of a newscast as the way to state all the necessary information first.
Have you ever listened to the previews for the news on TV, “Today at 5…,” and then it highlights the bigger story? That’s what we are writing now, the preview.
Eventually, we will turn your previews into bigger stories, but for now, think small.

22. Recap
Remember, this is a different much “Leaner” kind of writing. We get to the point quickly. Journalists have to be efficient, decisive and adhere to word counts and deadlines.
Let’s look at the beginning of our Anchor Chart.

23. HW Lesson 1
Find a few topics for a newscast. Look for dramas no one notices. Is the bus late? Is the soccer coach sick? Is the grocery store closing early? Is there a long line of traffic at dismissal? Is something “newsworthy” happening in your neighborhood?
Come with a list of 5 ideas for tomorrow, and list the five Ws for each.