Narrowing the focus

“Not every story can interest every reader,

but the reporter must try to write about

events that will interest many readers.”

Why do you need to narrow your

focus?

A topic is a topic. It is big and broad!

Cafeteria Dorm life

Club sign-upFirst week

Adventure day

FACT: Most topics do not change

however, people change!

Last year (2014-15) This year (2015-16)

Adventure DayService learningSubject selectionClubsSportsDormsFreshmenNew teachers

Adventure DayService learningSubject selectionClubsSportsDormsFreshmenNew teachers

Narrowing the focus

Did you know that

you can make

even the most

BORING topic

interesting?

Narrowing the focus

Each piece of pepperoni

represents a different story that relates to

the larger topic.

Does this pizza look boring to you?

Narrowing the focus

Narrowing the focus

Let’s add some

pepperoni to our pizza.

HOW?

Narrowing the focus

It’s easY It’s all about people power

WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS

TOPIC?

Who? What? Why? Where? When? How?

Narrowing the focus

Narrowing the focusLet’s make a pepperoni pizza …Ingredients:

● Team members● Topic card● Blank paper (for ideas)● Pizza base (big circle)● Pepperoni (red circles)● Pens/ pencils/ glue

Makes 6 pizzasMethod:

1. Form a team. There must be six teams. 2. Elect a team leader. The team leader will keep the team on task.3. Everyone needs paper and a pen. 4. The team leader receives the topic card and reads this aloud to the team. 5. For three minutes, silently and individually write down everything you can think

of about that topic. Focus only on that topic.

Narrowing the focusMethod continued ...

1. Revise your list. Choose the best two or three ideas. 2. Everyone takes one pepperoni circle.3. Go around the group, with each team member sharing one idea. Briefly

discuss the idea.4. The person who shared their idea writes the idea (with changes made by

discussing it with the team) on their pepperoni circle.5. Stick the pepperoni onto the pizza. 6. Go to around the circle until everyone has put some pepperoni on the pizza.7. If time permits, go repeat the idea sharing and placing pepperoni on the pizza.8. When everyone is finished, one or two groups will present their pizza to the

class.

Are you a master chef?

Narrowing the focus

Post activity questions:

● What seems to be the most newsworthy

angle?

● What angle affects the most readers?

● Which idea would you like to write an

article about?

Article 1

Try making a pepperoni pizza with the topic you have chosen for your article.

Maybe form a study group to help each other or work with a

friend.

HOMEWORK

1. Narrow your topic down so it has a specific focus if you have not done so already.

2. Write a DRAFT of your lede. (You might change it as you do research into your story, but having a draft of your lede will help you maintain focus).

3. Begin to gather information you can use to write your article. Find:

● FACTS● QUOTES