Writing News Articles

A few times a year, our students are asked to write news articles.  They are asked to do this in response to literature,  about events happening around the school and as a school wide writing prompt.  All too often, we ask the kids to write the article, but don't really tell them how to do it beyond including the 5 Ws.

In recent years, we have found the kids have been more successful in grade six by using a structure for the articles.

The structure we use is as follows:

     First Paragraph: 

• A general overview, including all the 5 Ws.  
• You should get the general idea of the whole article from this.

     Detailed Paragraphs:  

• The paragraphs following the first paragraph are dedicated to giving more specific details on an element of the story.  
• It may be a paragraph that tells more about an event, character, location, etc.  For each specific area, there should be a specific paragraph.

     Quotes:  

• Students should then provide a quote that captures something important about the article. 
• The quote should be specific...not "it was fun!"

News articles are then assessed on the content of the article and content management.



Example:

Should Teachers be Replaced by Computers?

So...in grade 6 I have been driven slowly insane by students not writing in sentences.  As a vehicle to teach proper paragraphing and sentence writing, we decided to use persuasive paragraphs on a variety of interesting topics. Using topics kids were interested in to cover some rather boring grammar issues was actually enjoyable. We have had some very interesting conversations (including social media, sports, homework, etc.), but one that most amused me was the one about whether we should replace teachers.

It all started good.  Dallas wrote the following:
I think teachers should not be replaced by computers because teachers help you unlike computers who just say it’s not correct. Most of the time computers will be glitching and the batteries would die. Stupidly, the computer voice would get really annoying. If the computers taught,  it would probably be with no feeling or care. I would rather have a human as my teacher than a computer.

Zach also had a similar sentiment:
Teachers should not be replaced with computers. They shouldn't because the computers can't deal with emotional and physical problems. Sadly, computers can’t help you with work or your health. If teachers were replaced with computers, computer batteries can drain and they can glitch. Weirdly, computers can't move and can’t teach physical education. Teachers should not be replaced with computers.  

So, after reading these, I am feeling all good not only about the fact that the kids are actually writing in sentences and paragraphs, but also how kids appreciate the human experience.  Then I come across Taycee's paragraph:
I think teachers should be replaced by computers because they are smarter and have more  information. Computers have better and enormous memories. Also, computers are very, very interesting and smarter than teachers because they're at school every day. Computers  know more than teachers and they have way more searches than teachers do. Teachers don't really know much. Sometimes they have to look in books for something and can’t spell a word. But computers know everything.

JUST SAYING MS.KAM!!!

Really can't argue with that! I guess it's all a matter of perspective!