Closing
When
&
Where
Opening
Who &
What
Why &
How
Divider
Caption
Divider
Divider
Walsworth Workshop
Writing Captions
&
Writing Opening, Closing, & Dividers
By John Langley
© 2012
Captions are important.
Add Depth and
Clarity
Challenging to write
– not impossible
Caption rules are
simple
"Writing Captions with Flair." School Yearbook Publisher - Walsworth Yearbooks. Web.
28 June 2010. <http://www.walsworthyearbooks.com/idea-file/7140/writing-captionswith-flair/>.
Bad captions are evil!
No name leads
No
Don’t overuse same lead pattern
•
•
•
•
No label leads
Don’t state the obvious
Avoid use of to be verb (is, as, was,
were)
Don’t pad caption
Pictured above
Shown above
Seems to
Attempts to
Captions don’t
• Comment to person pictured
• Talk to the person pictured
• Ask a question of the person
pictured
• Editorialize
No “gag” or joke captions
"Writing Captions with Flair." School Yearbook Publisher - Walsworth Yearbooks. Web.
28 June 2010. <http://www.walsworthyearbooks.com/idea-file/7140/writing-captionswith-flair/>.
Bad captions are not allowed.
Smekens, Kristina. Yourbook: His Story, Her
Story, Their Story, Your Story. Marceline:
Walsworth Company and Kristina Smekens,
2001. Print.
Good captions have strong
components.
Function
Grammar
Two sentences
• Natural extension
of the photo
• Use complete
sentences
• Use complete
names
• Factual information
• Adequate detail
• Strong nouns
• Vivid verbs
• Variety of
adjectives &
adverbs
• Present tense
• Active voice
• Variety of sentence
patterns
• First sentence is
written in present
tense and
describes the
activity occurring in
the photograph
• Second sentence
is written in past
tense and provides
background
information relating
to the photo
"Writing Captions with Flair." School Yearbook Publisher - Walsworth Yearbooks. Web.
28 June 2010. <http://www.walsworthyearbooks.com/idea-file/7140/writing-captionswith-flair/>.
The formula for a good caption is easy.
consider the action before and
during the photos, and reaction to
the event
interview teachers, sponsors,
officers, coaches and other sources
identify all people pictures (up to
seven, and then just the main
participants)
"Writing Captions with Flair." School Yearbook Publisher - Walsworth Yearbooks. Web.
28 June 2010. <http://www.walsworthyearbooks.com/idea-file/7140/writing-captionswith-flair/>.
Good captions are awesome!
Smekens, Kristina. Yourbook: His Story, Her Story, Their
Story, Your Story. Marceline: Walsworth Company and
Kristina Smekens, 2001. Print.
Good captions are clear!
Smekens, Kristina. Yourbook: His Story, Her
Story, Their Story, Your Story. Marceline:
Walsworth Company and Kristina Smekens,
2001. Print.
Some captions have special needs.
Sports
Group
• identify both the school’s players
and opponents by jersey number
and name
• State position of player to add
depth
• Consider those players which lead
up to the action shot
• Tell result of the play or outcome
of the game
• Begin with name of group
• Identify from left to right, but don’t
write that as part of the caption
• Give clear row designation of
Front row, Row 2, Row 3, Back
row
• Row designations should be set in
different typeface or in
parenthesis
"Writing Captions with Flair." School Yearbook Publisher - Walsworth Yearbooks. Web.
28 June 2010. <http://www.walsworthyearbooks.com/idea-file/7140/writing-captionswith-flair/>.
Theme writing is a continuum of
caption writing and is circular.
Closing
Opening
Divider
Divider
Divider
The opening lays the groundwork
for your theme.
Begin the story
of the year
Introduce the
theme
Includes
impact on
students,
teachers,
administrators,
staff,
community
Can be a
narrative,
poem,
dialogue
The divider copy continues your
theme story for that section.
Can be a
narrative,
poem, dialogue
Expresses
the theme as
portrayed in
the section
Includes impact
on students,
teachers,
administrators,
staff,
community
Form should
be consistent
throughout all
dividers
The closing copy closes the circle
of your theme story.
Should be the
same form as
the opening
Includes impact
on students,
teachers,
administrators,
Wraps up the staff,
community
story of the
year
Demonstrates
growth on the
theme topic