This activity uses journalists’ questions (the five Ws: Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?) to help students structure their writing by focusing on the specifics of the topics they have chosen. Through this activity, students create a journalistic piece of text with an effective lead.
Strategies/Skills Used
Writing Skill 1: I generate ideas in a variety of ways.
Writing Skill 2: I organize my ideas based on my purpose for writing.
Writing Skill 6: I choose the tone and point of view that suit my writing purpose.
(1) Share with students several examples of journalistic writing found in newspapers, magazines and online. Discuss with them the characteristics of this type of writing, noting in particular the “lead” (first sentence) that provides the answers to the five Ws.
(2) Select, or have students select, the type of writing (e.g. a story, an article, a report) to use for this activity.
(3) Provide students with copies of the Journalists’ Questions Graphic Organizer, and have them jot responses to the five Ws questions as the text is read.
(4) Have students use information on the Graphic Organizer to write a report or newspaper article.
Primary
- [No activities yet]
Intermediate
Secondary
- [No activities yet]