Page 153 - Jostens Yearbook_Adviser Guide

TRY THIS

Middle school students can be masters
at stating the obvious. They can be
7.1 HEADLINES Headlines require teamwork and creative thought. Creative so literal as to state the name of the
club or sport shown on the spread,
headlines might require brainstorming from two or three
staff members. like “Baseball.”
Strategies for generating creative headlines include: Instead, a headline should summarize
Headlines introduce the subject of the spread, unify the angle of ■ Keep a headline inspiration board in the classroom the content in a clever way. Consider
the story and provide specific information. As the foremost part with clever headlines and a variety of headline making one classroom bulletin board
a headline inspiration board, and
designs.
of the dominant page package, the headline is an entry point into ■ Study all the photos, especially the dominant photo. ask students to bring in examples of
the spread and advertises the story. List words, phrases and ideas the photos spark and interesting or well-written headlines to
serve as inspiration.
write a verbal/visual connection.
Additionally, advisers may want to hold
A headline should command attention. Because of their size and ■ If your list of words and phrases doesn’t suggest a weekly contests for best headline to
creative design, headlines should be the first text noticed by the headline, look up keywords from your list in an idiom encourage creativity and collaboration.
reader and therefore deserve special attention from the yearbook dictionary for more ideas.
staff. Headlines should have impact visually and verbally. Today’s ■ Read the copy aloud to the headline team. Listen for
yearbook headlines are patterned after those found on the web and phrases or ideas that can be lifted from the text. Also MAKE IT SIMPLE
in magazines. note information to go into a secondary headline.

A primary headline is the main headline and contains a few well- ■ Sometimes a play on the title of a popular movie or HEADLINE WRITING
selected, creatively-designed words. It should not be a label like song provides a creative and timely headline. Popular
“Volleyball” or “Student Council.” Instead, strategies like rhyming, slang might also make a creative headline. The Yearbook Avenue Digital Classroom
alliteration and plays on words are often used. ■ Alliteration, play on words and rhyming often help has hundreds of resources ready for you

A secondary headline, sometimes referred to as a subheadline, with the construction of clever headlines. to use. We recommend the following
lesson plan as being especially helpful
accompanies a primary headline. It is short and catchy, and offers for headline writing.
specific information and details about the story subject.
Scroll to the bottom of the homepage
SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR HEADLINE WRITING: to find them, or search for 7-Minute
Starters or Start Right headlines.
■ To imply immediacy, headlines are generally in present tense.
■ Because it contains factual, background information, the A headline should command attention.
secondary headline is often written in the past tense. It should be the first text noticed by 7 WRITING 12.15
■ Articles (an, and, the) are generally omitted in primary MINUTE Headline Writing
STARTER
OBJECTIVES
headlines, sometimes in secondary headlines. a reader. STEP 1 | LEARN
Students will watch the 1, 2, 3 Headlines video in the Yearbook Avenue Digital Classroom>Videos.
STEP 2 | PRACTICE
■ To save space, a comma should be used instead of “and” Students will view the Headline Writing 7-Minute Starter PowerPoint to identify headline strategies that were
used in magazines and yearbooks.
STEP 3 | USE
in a series. Students will use the Headline Writing 7-Minute Starter Worksheet to craft headlines for their yearbook by
working individually or in pairs to brainstorm headlines based on the dominant photo and story on a page.
Students may look online for word combinations or use a thesaurus to look for alternate meanings.
21ST CENTURY SKILLS
■ Care should be taken in how the lines of a headline split. In this activity, students are required to think creatively about the English language and how words come
together to convey meaning. In clever headlines, words are often conveying multiple meanings at once.
Students learn to respect their peer’s ideas and how to communicate their own as they brainstorm.
Subjects and verbs generally shouldn’t be split. Neither should COMMON CORE ISTE ISTE STANDARDS
STATE STANDARDS
1A: Apply existing knowledge to generate
new ideas.
first and last names. Phrases or words that belong together ELA-Literacy.L.9-12.3, CCRA.L.3 1B: Create original works.
Make effective language choices for meaning
or style.
2A: Publish, employing a variety of digital
ELA-Literacy.L.9-12.4a environments and media.
should not be split between lines. Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word 2B: Communicate ideas effectively using a variety
or phrase.
of media.
ELA-Literacy.L.9-12.5, CCRA.L.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language 2D: Contribute to project teams to produce
original works.
and word relationships. 3A: Plan strategies to guide inquiry.
■ Avoid ending a headline with a preposition. 5A: Identify significant questions for investigation.
5B: Use technology that supports productivity.
5D: Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
6A: Understand and use technology systems.
■ Strong, active verbs add more punch to headlines than weak,
passive verbs.
Do you have an idea for a 7-Minute Starter? Email us at 7-Minutestarters@jostens.com
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152 SECTION 7.1 HEADLINES