Rubric for Design of (Online) Newspaper Articles

Rubric for Design of (Online) Newspaper Articles

Type of Article: Discussing an Issue in Society & Ways to Address It

Tone:

·         GENERALLY MELANCHOLY

1.      Melancholy b/c the topic of article is a conflict/ issue in society –so there is sadness about the issue existing –esp. b/c before it things used to be really good.

·         FORMAL

1.      People in article addressed by first & last name to begin – then addressed by last name or by Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss after introduced

2.      Some contractions are used, but still formal b/c of: the use of proper grammar, doesn’t use slang usually, and also mostly contains compound & complex sentences

·         WORD CHOICE/ DICTION

1.      Descriptive language used –including sensory descriptive words –to evoke empathy & sympathy toward addressing the issue in the mind of the reader.

2.      even though tone is formal, it uses language that is still on the avg reader’s level. (not using huge scholarly words)

Organization/ Format - from top to bottom:

·         HEADING:

1.      Name of Newspaper Co. & sometimes link to newspaper’s website listed w/ name of  Co.

2.      Usually above Title but occasionally below: Date article was published & Author’s name

3.      Title: -(if a national or world issue) article will focus on local story, but title will  

           be about the overarching national or world conflict/issue in society

          -direct to the point of article

                      -designed to grab reader’s attention

                                  -short= usually less than 10words

          -larger font than article font, also can be a different color or bolded to  

           visually grab readers’ attention.

·         INTRO. PARAGRAPH/ SENTENCE:

1.      Short- only a few sentences or less briefly summarizing the point of the article

2.      Designed to grab reader’s attention: briefly tells readers some if not all the following basic facts (w/out much detail) they need to know about article: who article is about, where story is occurring, when the story is occurring, what the conflict is, & why the conflict is occurring.

3.      Sometimes ended w/ a quote that shows the validity of the conflict occurring (if quote is not at end of this it is usually included in next paragraph)

·         BODY OF ARTICLE:

~if a national or world issue: a good article focuses on a local story that is related to the issue…in order to bring it “close to home” of the reader

~FORMAT OF BODY: consists of a bunch of short paragraphs – & space between each paragraph –breaking the article up visually for the reader.

1.      Starts usually with a background story to current issue

A.    Usually about how things were before issue

B.     Often the story about how things used to be is written in an attempt to take the reader back to that day or time. Told in a way that appeals to the reader –relatable & causes the reader to reminisce of “the good ol’ days”

C.     Only using details & facts that are necessary to the issue. Staying on topic – to keep length of article from being too long.

D.    Stays factual in nature as well as including quotes from people involved w/ issue. (non-biased from author)

2.      Continues on with discussing how the current issue came to be (events leading to issue)

A.    Only using details & facts that are necessary to the issue. Staying on topic – to keep length of article from being too long.

B.     Stays factual in nature as well as including quotes from people involved w/ issue. (non-biased from author). Numbers & percentages used if possible to show numerical evidence of issue existing.

C.     This aspect expands on the Why factor of the issue existing.

D.    Can also ask questions that are common FAQs in the public in regard to the issue –then proceed to answer those questions by facts of situation & by quotes of those involved directly or those professionally studying the issue.

·         CONCLUSION/ BUT IS STILL MIXED IN W/ END OF BODY SOMETIMES:

1.      (If applicable) Discusses educated conclusions about how issue can be ratified or begun to be turned in the opposite direction.= What changes must now take place or are already beginning to take place to fix issue.

A.    Uses specific names of people or companies to validate statements (indirect or direct quotes) made about fixing issues

B.     If plans are already put in motion to fix issue – this section discusses the steps taken & expected outcomes.

C.     This ends w/ a quote or a statement that summarizes issue and or future of issue. Usually a statement designed to make the reader really conceptualize the point of the article.

·         BELOW ACTUAL ARTICLE IS USUALLY A LINK TO:

~ MORE INFO. ON THE PEOPLE QUOTED OR INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE

OR

~LINKS OR PROGRAM TIMES: PROMOTING THE CAUSE OR WAY TO SUPPORT OR HELP FIX THE ISSUE.

Formatting of Citing Sources:

·         QUOTES (INDIRECT & DIRECT)

1.      Puts the name of the person who said it in the sentence after or right before the quote or summary of quote

2.      If used other sources (online, books, etc.…) then those sources or links are just listed right below the article