1. WRITING THE NEWS REPORT
OSSLT LESSON ONE

2. Learning Goals a.k.a. What we are learning to do this session
Today, we are learning to…
identify the purpose and characteristics as well as the text features and elements of style of a Newspaper Article
apply what we learn about the purpose and characteristics as well as the text features and elements of style of a Newspaper Article into our own writing as we prepare for the OSSLT

3. a.k.a. How you will know that you’ve achieved our goals
Success Criteria
a.k.a. How you will know that you’ve achieved our goals
I can assess my ability to read and understand a news report
I can identify the parts of a news report
I can interpret a picture and heading, and use it to generate ideas
I can generate ideas according to the 5Ws of a news report
I can use the 5Ws to write a lead summary paragraph
I can incorporate quotations and other facts in the body of my news report
I can present my ideas logically using the inverted pyramid model

4. WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS SESSION:
Yesterday’s homework completed “‘A Huge Mural Marks a Graffiti Philosophy in Montreal’
TIPS on writing a News Report
The News Report Practice Package
Pens, pencil and highlighters
A positive attitude :-)

5. Homework Check - SECTION I READING
ANSWERS:
A B C D C
Response:
Montreal’s approach to graffiti is beneficial because it turns “an energy that might be negative into one that’s positive”. Graffiti art gives the chance to show off artists’ talents, and gives the area a multicultural character that people can admire. For example, graffiti artists “transformed a dingy, beige brick wall in Montreal’s west end into a sixty-story canvas that hundreds now stop to admire.” Overall, it is beneficial as it allows voices to be heard.

6. MINDS ON: Homework Check
What did you learn about news reports by reading one?

7. OSSLT - The NEWS REPORT Task
A news report is a factual account of an event.
It is meant to tell the reader about the details of something that has happened. News reports do not express the opinion of the reporter or writer. As the reporter/writer, you are only reporting on the facts. ANY opinion should be quoted from a witness or participant in the story.
News reports are an efficient way to report the events taking place locally and around the world.
Students will have to write one news report on the OSSLT using only a headline and picture as a source of information.

8. What does the News Report Task ask you to do?
Writing a News Report
Task: Write a news report on the next page based on the headline and picture below.
You will have to make up the facts and information to answer some or all the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.
Purpose and
Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper
Length: The line space provided for you written work indicates approximate length of writing
expected.

9. Writing a News Report
Task: Write a news report on the next page based on the headline and picture below.
You will have to make up the facts and information to answer some or all the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.
Purpose and
Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper
Length: The line space provided for you written work indicates approximate length of writing
expected.
Headline
Picture
Rough Notes: Use this section to brainstorm the facts you see in the picture, and to add your own made-up ideas and facts where needed, to identify the 5Ws.
On the OSSLT, the only elements given are the picture and headline. You will need to create the rest.

10. SCORED A CODE 60 (LEVEL 4 EXAMPLE) - Car Wash a Success!
A group of Mississauga, Ontario teens who heard about the events in Haiti decided to hold a car wash to raise money on April 7th, 2010.
The teens put up signs in their neighbourhood to attract the cars passing by. “It feels great to do something for a good cause,” said Angela Smith, one of the teens involved in washing cars. The teens said that they plan to give the money to the Canadian Red Cross, who will be sending more people to help Haiti later this month.
As cars passed by, many drivers couldn’t resist a good car cleaning and pitching some money. “It’s so nice to see kids that care about a cause and are willing to make a difference abroad,” said Berta Jones, who was one of the people to donate and have her car washed.
The teens saw what happened in Haiti on television and called one another to get together and do something about it. Mona Smith, the parent of one of the teens said, “I’m so proud of them. They were shocked by what happened, and they did something spectacular.”
The teens are very satisfied in the amount that they made and how they not only helped people in their community, but people hundreds of kilometres away.

11. Which parts of the News Report do you need to demonstrate?
Summary Lead:
The Summary Lead consists of the first paragraph, the 1-2 sentences consisting of fewer than 30 words that begin an article. The content of this paragraph consists of the 5WH (who, what where, when, why, and how) of the article.
Fact-based Paragraphs:
The remainder of the article consists of short paragraphs that expand on the 5WH mentioned in the Summary Lead and include quotations from key people involved in or related to the incidents in the article. The content of these paragraphs is fact- based and organised from most to least important, so that the editor can cut the bottom paragraphs out if needed.

12. STOP, THINK, IDENTIFY!
Read the Code 60 Response - Using different coloured pens and highlighters, find and label the following parts of a news report, “Car Wash a Success!”:
Summary lead paragraph
Body paragraphs
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?
Quotes
Less important detail (end of article)

13. SUMMARY LEAD
CODE 60 (LEVEL 4)
WHERE?
WHO?
WHY?
A group of Mississauga, Ontario teens who heard about the events in Haiti decided to hold a car wash to raise money on April 7th, 2010.
The teens put up signs in their neighbourhood to attract the cars passing by. “It feels great to do something for a good cause,”said Angela Smith, one of the teens involved in washing cars. The teens said that they plan to give the money to the Canadian Red Cross, who will be sending more people to help Haiti later this month.
As cars passed by, many drivers couldn’t resist a good car cleaning and pitching some money. “It’s so nice to see kids that care about a cause and are willing to make a difference abroad,” said Berta Jones, who was one of the people to donate and have her car washed.
The teens saw what happened in Haiti on television and called one another to get together and do something about it. Mona Smith, the parent of one of the teens said, “I’m so proud of them. They were shocked by what happened, and they did something spectacular.”
The teens are very satisfied in the amount that they made and how they not only helped people in their community, but people hundreds of kilometres away.
WHAT?
WHEN?
HOW
QUOTES
HOW
LESS IMPORTANT DETAILS
BODY PARAGRAPHS

14. THE OSSLT NEWS REPORT ‘MUST HAVES’
Quotes & Important Details
THE 5Ws
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
THE WRITER OF A NEWS REPORT DOES NOT GIVE AN OPINION.
ONLY THE FACTS!!
Written in 3rd person; uses simple language & short sentences
Summary Lead
Body Paragraphs

15. YOUR TURN TO WRITE A NEWS REPORT!
Task: Write a news report on the next page based on the headline and picture below.
You will have to make up the facts and information to answer some or all the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.
Purpose and
Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper
Length: The line space provided for you written work indicates approximate length of
writing expected.

16. STEP 1 : Read, Look and Think!
Read the headline and look at the picture. Think about - What is happening in the picture and how does it connect to the headline? Make a list of the facts you see in the photograph and connect it to the headline.

17. STEP 2 - Brainstorm & Make up a real life scenario in context of the picture and headline
Turn to your “Rough Notes” section and generate and brainstorm ideas by listing what you see in the picture and headline, using words and phrases. Then, begin identifying the 5Ws. Remember you will have to make-up the details and have them make sense with the headline and picture.
The Facts (What do you see?):
Stage
Audience
The 5Ws:
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

18. MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THE INVERTED PYRAMID STRUCTURE:
Lead Summary Paragraph (4Ws)
(BEGINNING)
Lead Summary Paragraph (4Ws)
Facts
and Quotes in... S H O R T P A
A G R A P H S
(MIDDLE)
HOW? & WHY?
Facts and Quotes & more important information about the topic or event.
(END)
Less essential details

19. News Report Success Criteria:
My news report clearly and consistently:
relates to the photo and headline provided
focuses on the event communicated in the photo and headline
provides sufficient and specific supporting details, which were thoughtfully chosen to develop the news report (including quotations)
organizes ideas logically and with a progression of most important to less important ideas
communicates ideas in third person

20. STEP 3: Begin writing your summary lead using the 5Ws.

21. STEP 4: Begin writing the short body paragraphs
STEP 4: Begin writing the short body paragraphs. Think about which detail you want to expand and where you can insert quotes. Make sure to end with less important details.
Based on the 5Ws you’ve chosen to write on - think about who you would want to interview as a reporter, and what would they say about the talent show? You might quote the organizer, a participant, a viewer in the audience. If it’s a school talent show - maybe students, principal, parents and so forth (Use at least 2-3 quotes.)

22. CONSOLIDATION: THINGS TO REMEMBER when writing a NEWS REPORT!
The headline and picture are always given. Use them to generate and brainstorm ideas (5Ws) in the ROUGH NOTES section provided in the test booklet.
You will need to stick to the facts presented in the photograph and headline but will have to make up the rest of the quotes and additional information needed to make the scenario real and believable. Ensure your news report is complete with a Beginning (5Ws), Middle (Quotes/More details) and End (Fewer details).
Only use the lines provided in the test booklet - DO NOT write beyond the lines provided.
Write using 3rd person. Do not use ‘I’.
You can make up the names or use names of real cities, schools and people.
Make sure to reread, review and check your work.

23. WHAT NOW?
Finish writing your News Report for “Talent show enjoyed by a huge crowd” and use the checklist provided to check it over. Swap news reports with a partner. Use the checklist to give each other feedback. OR Look at the Code 60 Response and compare it to your own response. Think about where you need to improve in writing the news report.
Review Tips on Writing a News Report.
Try to write a second News Report.
Use the second News Report Task provided in your practice package, or check the school or EQAO websites for other sample exercises.
EQAO website (
School website (