Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Writing Headlines
clever headline writing
for student publications
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
head’s up!
It only makes sense that the largest type
on the spread captures and keeps your
readers’ interest with well-written and
creatively designed headlines. Writing
good headlines takes some thought and
a lot of practice! However, headlines
are what draw the reader to your page—
so make them count!
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
verbal-visual
connection
• Well-written headlines:
~Serve as an informational content entry point
~Capture and keep readers on the page with clever
word play & specific details
~Reflect the dominant photo coverage
~Unify the visual elements on the page
• Well-designed headlines:
~Have a strong visual package of headline parts
~Effectively and creatively use of typography
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
parts of a headline
• Primary Headline:
Captures readers’ attention with a hint of the
story content
• Secondary Headline:
Provides keen information and insights that
dates coverage for that year
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
primary
headline
secondary
headline
for example:
Curriculum ~ Writing
effective headlines
Writing Headlines
•
•
•
•
Identify spread content
Attract the readers’ attention
Reflect the mood of the spread
Tie into the action of
the dominant photo
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
creative headlines
• Result from word play
• Use literary techniques such as
alliteration, pun, antonym, synonym,
homonym, onomatopoeia, rhyme
• Coordinate with the content of the
dominant photo
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline writing process
List key words for a spread
Focus on content angle and
significance
Example:
Spirit Week:
hurricane
excitement
cancellation
wild
spirit
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline writing process
Brainstorm key word rhyming words:
week, cheek, peak, weak
List phrases that use those rhyming
words
pinch your cheek
peak of action
a weak moment
Transition those words into a clever
headline
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline writing process
example:
Step 1: Look at your page. For this example we’ll use a Summer spread.
Step 2: List 10-15 words that have something to do with summer
EXAMPLES:
Hot, Fun, Travel, Family, Sweat, Thrills, Love,
Curfew, Work, Tan, Swim, Lazy
Step 3: Brainstorm rhyming/literary words
EXAMPLES:
Hot—not, knot, shot, trot, yacht
Fun—run, sun
Love—dove, shove, above, glove
Step 4: List phrases that have rhyming words and key transition words
EXAMPLES: Fan the flames
Love in the 100 degrees
Summer’s bummers
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Literary Device: Rhyme
sample
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Literary Device: Alliteration
sample
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Literary Device: Onomatopoeia
sample
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Literary Device: Pun
sample
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
designing headlines
Kicker pattern
1 line of secondary above primary
School dismissal crams Spirit Week into four days
The Call of the Wild
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline design:
Kickers
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
designing headlines
Wicket pattern
2 or more lines of secondary above primary
School dismissal crams
Spirit Week into four days
The Call of the Wild
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline design:
wicket
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
designing headlines
Hammer pattern
1 or more lines of secondary below primary
The Call of the Wild
School dismissal crams Spirit Week into four days
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline design:
Hammers
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline design:
Hammers
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
designing headlines
Tripod pattern
2 or more lines of secondary beside line(s) of
primary
The Call
of the WILD
“I couldn’t believe we had
to cram all of Monday’s events into
the rest of the week.”
~Senior Jason Chastain
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline design:
Tripods
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
Headline design:
Tripods
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
now, you try it!
• Write two headlines (primary and secondary)
using the process we just went over for a
spread of your choice.
• How would you design this page to set off
your headline? Sketch out how it would look.
Curriculum ~ Writing
Writing Headlines
headline tips
Revise/refine headlines for strong
appeal
-Keep headlines factual; no opinions
-Use visual nouns and action verbs
-Avoid repetition of words
-Use a comma instead of “and”
-Use single quote marks in headlines
-Write headlines in present tense
-Avoid school name, initials, mascot
-Maintain style consistency with the rest
of the book
Curriculum ~ Writing
practice makes perfect!
Writing Headlines
assignment suggestions
• Break into small groups, give each group topics/activities that
will be covered in the book (volleyball, business classes,
National Honor Society, etc.), and have them brainstorm at
least three clever headlines using the writing process from this
power point. Write them down for future use.
• As an outside class assignment, have students head out to a
mall for inspiration. Start looking at store and advertising
signs for color, type, and layout ideas. Notice which signs
don’t appeal to you and why, so you know what to avoid!
Have students bring in pictures from their phones.
• Use magazines as a muse. Bring in magazines for your staff to
look through. Mark headlines that are catchy, clever, creative,
and cut them out. Put together into a “look book” for staff to
look at when they suffer from headline burnout.
• Have staffers rewrite boring headlines from previous years’
books. Use the better headlines in this year’s book!