well-written caption a well-written caption provides the context for a picture by answering the who,...
TRANSCRIPT
2014
CAPTION WRITING
A well-written caption provides the context for a picture by answering the who, what, when, where, why and how.
Caption writing involves interviewing, prewriting, drafting, rewriting and editing.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Captions add one or two sentences to the first basic sentence to tell a complete story. The sentence that describes the action is followed by a sentence that expands on the moment captured in the photo. This and subsequent sentences are written in past tense.
TYPES OF CAPTIONSEXPANDED
A — Action Lead-In
B — Basic Information
C — Complementary Information
AS EASY AS A, B, C
A — Action Lead-In B — Basic Information C — Complementary Information
AS EASY AS A,B,C
RESEARCH. Find out the who, what, where and when.
BASIC INFORMATIONjust the facts
WHO: seniors Bradley Louis, Tal Lovvorn, Maya Johnson, and Madison Curles
WHAT: compete against the juniors in the Tug-of-War.
WHERE: gymnasium
WHEN: Spirit Week (the week before homecoming)
Facts from interviewB — BASIC INFORMATION
• ____________• ____________• ____________• ____________• ____________• ____________
A — ACTION LEAD-INList words or phrases that come to mind when looking at the picture.
• All-Out War• Scheduling
Conflicts• Peers in Fear• 1-2-3 PULL• At the End of
Their Rope
A — ACTION LEAD-IN Write an attention-getting word or phrase
that links the caption to the picture.
Using first and last names, identify everyone in the photo (up to five).
• Interview peoplein the picture as well as those associated with the activity.
• Accurately describe the action in the photo.
Just the factsB — BASIC INFORMATION
Write nowB — BASIC INFORMATION
During Spirit Week’s Athletic Battle,
seniors Bradley Louis, Tal Lovvorn,
Maya Johnson, andMadison Curles
compete against the juniors in the Tug-of-
War.
Write another sentence that contains key information, the WHY & HOW.
Write it in PAST tense.
Keep on writingC — BEYOND BASIC
Wrap it up
C — COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
• Expand coverage by going behind the scenes.
• Dig deeper. Get the inside scoop and appeal to the intelligent, curious reader.
• Write additional sentences in past tense.
Write nowB — BASIC INFORMATION
The final pull determined the
overall winners. Although they had
trouble at first, they finally pulled through
and won.
"Tal and I got on the front of the rope to get a good initial pull," Bradley said.
Write now+ — ADD A QUOTE
Final Caption
ALL-OUT WAR. During Spirit Week’s Athletic Battle, seniors
Bradley Louis, Tal Lovvorn, Maya Johnson, and
Madison Curles compete against the juniors in the Tug-of-War
The final pull determined the overall winners. Although they
had trouble at first, they finally pulled through and won. "Tal
and I got on the front of the rope to get a good initial pull,"
Bradley said.
• Is grade classification included?
• Have you made sure the caption does not
begin with a name?
CHECK DETAILS
A. ACTION LEAD-IN:B. BASIC INFORMATION:C. COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:QUOTE:
PRACTICE: Try writing a caption for the next picture.
It’s as simple as A, B, C
BASIC
Using the information provided below, write a BASIC caption in present tense.
WHO: Sophomore Tristan Dodds and Stinker (aka “Dink”), a spur-thighed tortoise
WHAT: Tristen feeds her unique pet a vegetarian diet.
Using the information provided below, write a BASIC caption in present tense.
WHERE: Dink lives indoors during the winter, in a room of his own. In the summer, he resides in the backyard. WHEN: She got the tortoise after her mother wouldn’t allow her brother to get a lizard.
EXPANDED
WHY: She doesn’t have to worry about her pet escaping out of the backyard or dying of old age. A tortoise lives anywhere from 50 to 150-years-old and travels at an uncompetitive speed.
Using the information provided below, write an additional sentence in past tense.
HOW: Although it can be a hassle to take care of him, bathing and feeding him, Dink is a member of the family.
QUOTE: “It would make me upset to lose him. Dink is part of my family, and it would be weird without him,” Tristan said.
Consider including a quote in past tense.
LEAD-IN:BASIC INFORMATION:COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:QUOTE:
Now that you have all the information, write a 2-3 word lead-in that will establish a visual/verbal connection.
AdjectiveReal crowd pleasers, the drum line performs “Martian Mambo” before the Westlake game.AdverbColorfully dressed as aliens, the drum line performs “Martian Mambo” before the Westlake game.Infinitive To engage the crowd before the Westlake game, the drum line performs “Martian Mambo” in alien attire. PrepositionalBefore the Westlake game, the drum line performs “Martian Mambo” in alien attire.ParticipleDressed as aliens, the drum line performs "Martian Mambo" before the Westlake game.
VARY LEAD-INSEXAMPLES
Participle (continued)
Playing the "Martian Mambo," the drum line, dressed in alien attire, warms up the pre-game crowd.Causal Since the half-time show had a "Star Wars" theme, the drum line previewed the performance for the pre-game crowd with the "Martian Mambo."Conditional If the drum line performed their pre-game warm-up in alien attire, the Band Boosters promised the percussionists five extra large pizzas. Gerund Playing the “Martian Mambo” challenged drummers because the routine had multiple reach-over movements that complicated the percussionists' sticking.
VARY LEAD-INSEXAMPLES
• Do not editorialize.• Go, Team!• Congratulations Lady Viks!• We love our players• Go out and support the Vikings• We have the best marching band ever
• Avoid clichés or trite wording that describe actions with feelings, such as happily rejoices, jumps with joy, claps with glee, etc.
CAPTION WRITING TIPS
A. ACTION LEAD-IN:B. BASIC INFORMATION:C. COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
QUOTE:
PRACTICE: Try writing a caption for the next picture.
It’s as simple as A, B, C
Using the information provided below, write a BASIC caption in present tense.
WHO: Sophomore Tristan Dodds and Stinker (aka “Dink”), a spur-thighed tortoise
WHAT: Tristan feeds her unique pet a vegetarian diet.
WHERE: Dink lives indoors during the winter, in a room of his own. In the summer, he resides in the backyard.
WHEN: She got the tortoise after her mother wouldn’t allow her brother to get a lizard.
WHY: She doesn’t have to worry about her pet escaping out of the backyard or dying of old age. A tortoise lives anywhere from 50 to 150-years-old and travels at an uncompetitive speed.
HOW: Although it can be a hassle to take care of him, bathing and feeding him, Dink is a member of the family.
QUOTE: “It would make me upset to lose him. Dink is part of my family, and it would be weird without him,” Tristan said.
Who: Sydney Turnbow,sophomore (Lady of the Lake), Brennan McFarland, senior (Sir Galahad)
What: Act I of “Spamalot,”
Turnbow sings “It Goes On and On
and On” to McFarland
When: Thursday, January 30, 2014
Where: Performance Arts Center,
McKinney HS
Why: Last year, they did “Sweeney
Todd” which was really dark. They
wanted to do something a little
lighter, the total opposite.
How: Sydney’s mom made all the
costumes for the play including
seven for Sydney and more than
100 for the rest of the cast.
Quote: “My favorite dress was the trick dress,” Sydney said. “It was a blue dress with Velcro sides, so when it was ripped off there was a wedding dress. King Arthur asks me to marry him and I say, ‘I thought you’d never ask.’ I’m like, I’m ready, I got this.”
• Include the following:– The play’s outcome (when appropriate)– The names of all players from all teams in the
photo– Uniform or jersey numbers in parentheses for
all players
• If you do not have organized sports, cover sports clubs & individual sports.
CAPTION WRITING TIPSSports captions
CAPTION WRITING TIPSSports captions
DIVIDE & CONQUER. Before a match against St.
Thomas Aquinas, senior Parker Johnson practices
his serves. Since the team grew to 47 members from 20, the players were split
into two practice areas. “Aquinas hadn’t showed up
yet, so we were just messing around,” Johnson said. “We went undefeated against Aquinas, not losing
a single match.”
• In secondary information include:– Statistics about the team– Statistics about the player– Information about the season– Details about previous games played
against the opponent.
– Avoid relating the final score.
CAPTION WRITING TIPSSports captions
