Page 147 - Jostens Yearbook_Adviser Guide

CAPTION PRACTICE Finally, in pairs have them complete an interview. Student 1 should assume the identity of one of the
characters in the painting, while student 2 conducts the interview by asking questions and looking for a
Yearbook students often know how to begin a story, but yearbook captions can be a little trickier. There is meaningful quote. Use the Information Gathering and Build a Standard Caption handouts.
a specific formula and there are loads of little rules. Writers, young writers in particular, often fall back on
generalizations and clichés when working with a new style of writing. That’s why taking students out of the Once all the components of the caption are
yearbook realm can sometimes help them refocus. INFORMATION GATHERING determined, have them draft a caption, aiming

*Begin with a painting that THE INTRODUCTION. Get the basic facts: Who, what, where, when, why and how (if easily apparent) to incorporate specified caption rules and
tells a story. Something that Say and spell your name. guidelines.

even if unfamiliar, has recognizable Tell me about… When complete, students should share
(the event, the game, this photo, etc.)

subjects, setting and action. and discuss.

Consider Nightlife by Archibald THE WARM-UP. To establish trust, ask an unprepared question in response to what you’ve heard.

Motley or Nighthawks by In discussion, students may note that it’s
Edward Hopper. easier to write a caption when they can
THE PITCH. The questions you came to ask. Listen for a response that makes you feel something. make up a quote. While this may be true,
Working independently, in small

remind students that some interviewers write
groups or as a class, ask students
questions with the answer or sound bite they
to identify the elements of the story are looking for, already in mind.
being told in the painting. Who is INFORMATION GATHERING
in the painting? Where are they?
When? What are they doing? THE INTRODUCTION. Get the basic facts: Who, what, where, when, why and how (if easily apparent) *Activity based on a lesson created by the Art Institute of
BUILD A STANDARD CAPTION

Say and spell your name.
Tell me about… Chicago that compares these two works. http://www.artic.edu/
As they continue to brainstorm, (the event, the game, this photo, etc.) aic/resources/resource/1254
Name
ask them questions that help them BUILD A STANDARD CAPTION Using the Upside-down Cake Recipe.
Use this simple three-step procedure for creating standard captions for photographs.
make up the why and the how. THE WARM-UP. To establish trust, ask an unprepared question in response to what you’ve heard.

Have them develop the story. Nightlife, Archibald Motley STEP 1. Sentence 1: Who, what, where, when? Written in present tense.

THE PITCH. The questions you came to ask. Listen for a response that makes you feel something. Avoid re-stating what
can be easily seen in
the photo.

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STEP 2. Sentence 2: More in-depth information. Include why and how. Written in past tense.
Text should include
information unseen
in the photo. Could
include: motivation
for activity, lessons
learned, outcome of the
play (in sports), impact
on others, people who
benefited, etc.
STEP 3. Sentence 3: Quote from someone pictured. Attributed with the word, “said.”
A good quote will
emotionally connect
your reader with the
subject(s) of your photo.
A good quote adds
depth. A great quote
should be something
that no one else could
have said.
In Group Captions: modify recipe to combine Steps 1 and 2. If you don’t have space to include a quote for each photo, aim to have a quote for
every two photos. Do not omit entirely, as it is your quotes that add the most flavor to your upside-down cake.
© 2018 by Jostens, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Nighthawks, Edward Hooper

146 SECTION 6.4 CAPTION STYLE INTERVIEWING AND CAPTIONS 147