News Report
LITERACY TEST PREPARATION
Parts of a News Report
Headline: the title of the
article.
 made up of 10 words or less
 introduces the article's topic
 captures the readers' interest
Summary Lead: the opening
paragraph.
 consists of 1-2 sentences
 is usually less than 30 words
in length
 contains the Who, What,
Where, When, Why and How
(5Ws and H) of the article.
Fact-based Paragraphs: the
rest of the article.
 short paragraphs that expand
on the 5Ws and H
 is organized from most to
least important information
 include quotations from key
people involved in or related
to the information in the
article
Students Achieve 100%
Brampton, Ontario - The staff and students of Brampton Centennial
Secondary School celebrated yesterday after learning that 100% of
their Grade 10 students, as well as all previously eligible students, who
wrote the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) on March
31st, 2011 passed both sections.
The 400 students who wrote the test were informed of their successful
results last week by mail, but the official whole-school results were
released yesterday by EQAO, the Ministry organization that facilitates the
administration of the provincial test.
"The students did an outstanding job," stated Ms. Wilson, the principal of
Brampton Centennial S.S. today in a brief phone interview, "I couldn't be
more proud!"
When asked about the unprecedented successful results of her school's
students, Galen revealed that the students had been prepared throughout
the year for the March 29th test. "The students were invited to workshops,
were offered resources, and were taught literacy skills cross-curricularly
throughout the year."
Upon hearing the news of their high pass rate, the principal declared the
last hour of yesterday's school day to be a time for celebration. Music was
broadcast throughout the school's classroom LCD projectors.
"The preparation and excellent results shows the goal of our students:
Honour and Excellence," Ms. Wilson said with a smile.
Literacy Test Task:
1. Write a news report based on a headline and picture
2. Make up the facts and information (Who? What?
Where? When? Why? How?)
3. Relate your newspaper report to both the headline and
the picture
4. Focus on the purpose and audience: to report on an
event for the readers of a newspaper
5. Write only on the lined space provided
Literacy Test Task:
 Write a news report based on a headline and
picture
Class Discussion: Brainstorm all of the things you can deduce from the
picture and title.
Headline: “Student volunteers improve school
grounds”
For example:





Where are they?
Who are they?
What are they doing?
Why?
Time of year?
Independently, answer the 5 Ws and How...when you are done, share
your answers as a class and record them on the board.
Headline: “Student volunteers improve school
grounds”
Create the facts
 Who?
 What?
 Where?
 Why?
 When?
 How?
Now consider the following:
Discuss as a class:
 Who is the article being written for?
 How will the audience you are writing for influence
how you write the article?
What to do BEFORE you write:
1. Read all instructions carefully
2. Read all questions before reading the text
3. Read the title, headings and look at the picture
for clues about the topic
4. Make notes or highlight important information
in the instructions as you read
Writing the news report

Analyse the picture and Headline to determine the topic of
the article

Identify the 5Ws and H (who, what, where, when, why, and
how) of your article

Create an interesting Summary Lead that includes the 5Ws
and H of your article

Write short paragraphs (2-3 sentences in length) based on
the 5Ws and H in your Summary Lead. Organize your
paragraphs from the most to least important information

Add quotes to your paragraphs (by people involved in or
related to your article’s topic). Use words like “said” or “says”
before each quote
Adapted from:
 Mary Nanavati – Principal Fletcher’s Meadow
 Created by: Candice Lande, Fletcher’s
Meadow
 Susan Bell Louise Arbour SS