40 Plain Language
Learning Objectives
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Practice writing techniques that journalists use, such as plain language and the inverted pyramid organizational structure.
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Create multiple drafts of extended and short answer responses to prompts to correct and refine your writing.
Activity & Discussion
This week’s activity is from BBC Academy’s Learning Resources for Journalism Students. Here is the link:
Writing with Impact: Simple Language (via BBC Academy)
Work through the different sections of the activity and discuss ideas and topics as they arise. If you’re working independently, take notes instead. The activity will include an overview of this week’s big ideas.
Assigned Reading
Here are this week’s readings. Additionally, please read for your own personal enjoyment for 1/2 hour each day. This will be called your “Reading Zone” reading and it will coincide with many upcoming activities.
Writing with Impact: Thinking and Planning (via BBC Academy)
Assignment: Press Release (250 Words)
Create a press release about a recent even in your life. Use the advice offered in this week’s activity. Make sure your press release includes:
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A headline
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A lede paragraph: one or two sentences that give the audience the most important information
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A nutshell paragraph: two or three sentences that give the audience everything they need to know to understand the story
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Evidence paragraphs: these may include facts to back up ideas as well as relevant quotes
Assignment: Reading Zone Response (250 Words)
For Reading Zone, you must find a novel that is interesting to you and enjoyable to read. If you need help finding a Reading Zone book, please ask. Please read your Reading Zone book for a half-hour each day. On class days, there will be time in class dedicated to reading.
Create a two-paragraph response to the reading you did this week. The first paragraph should summarize what you read this week. The second paragraph should address the following prompt:
What questions have come up as you’ve continued to read this book? If you could interview the author, what five questions would you ask? Why?
Attribution
British Broadcasting Corporation (2024). BBC Academy: Learning Resources for Journalism Students.