Junior News Reporters Writing Workshop (Ages 8-10)

Junior Reporters plan and research relevant newsworthy topics from your community and organize them into an editorial writing format. In Session 1, we will explore the elements of a typical news article, rules for responsible and ethical journalism, and four basic types of writing found in news publications: Profile Piece, Promotional Piece, Investigative Piece, and Opinion Piece.

Students will have writing homework each class, which may include research and/or personal interviews. In classes 2 through 5, students will be expected to read their news article out loud to the class. The audience will practice active listening and critical thinking. They will be expected to answer comprehension questions based on the news report given. Reporters will receive feedback by peers and in teacher notes. "								
								
No experience is necessary. This is an introductory-level (sampler) course. Pencil/Pen and paper is necessary for notetaking and completion of weekly handout activities.								
								
1. Parts of an Editorial Article, Ethical Rules for Journalist, Assignment: Profile Piece  								
2. Review Parts of an Article, Student Delivery of Homework ("What's News?"), Structuring an Article, Assignment: Promotional Piece								
3. Review Structuring an Article, Student Delivery of Homework ("What's News?"), Discuss Article Appropriateness For Publications, Creating a SUPER Call to Action, Assignment: Investigative Piece								
4. Review Rules for Editorial Writing, Student Delivery of Homework ("What's News?"), Using Strong Sensory Words, The "Shorty" Excerpt for Online Media, Assignment: Review Piece (Op. Ed.)								
5. Review Sensory Words, Student Delivery of Homework ("What's News?"),  Parts of a Newspaper, Assignment: Design Your Own Newspaper or Submit an Article to a Publication								
								
Class Rules:								
Enrolled Students Only.								
Cameras On (unless the teacher approves a parent’s request).								
Microphones Muted (if there is background noise).								
No Foul, Hurtful or Offensive Language or Gestures Allowed.								
Due to the feedback portion of this class, the class will not "go," if there are less than 2 enrollments.								
								
What this class is NOT:								
This class is NOT a proofreading or writing mechanics course. We will focus on the organization of information, critical analysis of written examples, producing oral presentations, and engaging in active listening skills. 								
This class is NOT a speech class. Although it involves an element of public speaking, it is not a performance class and no acting skills are necessary, nor is memorization required. It is highly recommended that students write legibly (or type) and practice reading their material out loud before the second through fifth classes. 								
This class is NOT a soapbox or platform for political, religious or other highly controversial or debatable topics. The teacher accepts NO liability for the material created by students and by participating in this class, parents automatically assume full liability for the works produced by their child. If, in the teacher’s best judgment, the student’s subject matter is inappropriate for the class, the teacher will do their best to stop the student’s reading and offer an alternative submission option in the form of a private message, that can be evaluated strictly on the student’s writing technique as outlined in the homework assignment.