Newswriting from "The Journalism QuickGuide"

Five W’s and an H

Answer these questions in this order: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?

List them with Roman numerals as an outline to organize first the lead and then the story or feature.

I. Who? The student council
II. What? may censure the school paper
III. When? Tomorrow
IV .Where? special council meeting
V. Why? for criticizing the student president
VI. How? by voting

S-V-O (or S-V-PN)

For the Subject, use a person or collective-person.
For the Verb, say what the S(s) did, does or may do.
For the Object (or predicate nominative), finish the idea.
The mayor pleased the citizens. The City Council members were annoyed.

Complex S-V-O: Introductory phrase, Subject, appositive, Verb, Object, adverb, explanation
Surprising the City Council, Joseph Vero, the public works director, requested 50 new snowplows yesterday to replace the entire fleet.

Summary Sentence

Place most, but not necessarily all, of the Five W’s outline in order in one S-V-O summary sentence.

Who? What? When? Why?
The student council may censure the school newspaper tomorrow for criticizing the student body president.

The Five W’s Outline

Use the summary sentence's internal order to outline the rest of the story.

Expand the Five W's summary lead in the same order.
Continuing the example, using the same summary sentence.
¶2 answers Who?: Discuss the council's possible vote count

¶3-4-5 answers What?: Explain the effect of the censure and provide a quote from the newspaper editor.

no ¶ for When?: You have said it all already.
¶6 continues with Where?: Discuss the special meeting.

¶7 answers Why?: Describe the complaint. Explain any history.
Identify the president, if not yet identified.
Skip How?: Explain only if the voting is unusual or abnormal.
More: Use quotes from council members about the censure. ©azb
 

More on "The Journalism QuickBook."

Grammar excerpt.   Abbreviations.   Chapter list.   Ordering information.

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