AY Honors/Journalism/Answer Key
1. Describe the elements of a good lead paragraph and the use and importance of headlines.
Lead Paragraph
A lead paragraph in Literature refers to the opening paragraph of an article, essay, news story or book chapter. Often called just "the lead", it usually opens together with the headline or title, almost always gives the reader the main idea of the story preceding the main body of the article and the final conclusion. The "lead" immediately grabs the attention of the reader and must be at least three sentences long. It also needs to directly relate to the body of the article.
Headlines=
2. Write a news article of at least three paragraphs, using a good lead paragraph about something interesting that has happened in your church, school, home, or Pathfinder Club.
3. What are the essentials of writing a good story?
4. Know the difference between passive and active verbs, and give three comparative examples.
5. Write to a publisher, requesting story-writing guidelines.
Story writing guidelines are available free from the following:
- Pacific Press Publishing Association
- 1350 North Kings Road
- Nampa, ID 83687
- Phone: 208-465-2500
- Fax: 208-465-2531
- http://www.pacificpress.com/index.php?pgName=newsOLFPTsub
- Review and Herald Pusblishing Association
- 55 West Oak Ridge Drive
- Hagarstown, MD 21740
- http://www.reviewandherald.org/services/guidelines.asp
6. Write a story on one of the following:
- a. How your family first accepted Christ, whether it was you, your parents, your grandparents, etc.
- b. Personal experiences of answered prayer or divine guidance.
- c. An interesting pet that you have had.
- d. An experience you have had while at summer camp or on a camping trip.
- e. When God first became real to you as a friend and personal savior.
- f. The most difficult thing about being a Christian today.
7. Submit a story to a Seventh-day Adventist publication.
8. Know how to write a cover letter to the editor for submitting your story or article and write a cover letter to the editor to include with your story or article.
9. What education is helpful for getting into the career of journalism?
Many of the most famous and respected journalists of the past and present had no formal training in journalism, but learned their craft on the job, often starting out as copy boys/copy girls. Today, in many parts of the world it is usual for journalists to first complete university-level training which incorporates both technical skills such as research skills, interviewing technique and shorthand and academic studies in media theory, cultural studies and ethics. Many universities offer Journalism as a major. A journalism school is a school or department, usually part of an established university, where journalists are trained.
