In UIL journalism, the lead of a story is crucial—it grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone for the entire piece. But for many students, developing strong, compelling leads can be challenging. This is where Class Companion becomes a valuable tool.
1. Analyzing Examples with Class Companion
Class Companion’s vast repository of writing examples can help students analyze what makes a strong lead. By comparing different types of leads—straightforward news leads, feature leads, and creative hooks—students can better understand how to tailor their leads based on the story’s purpose.
2. Guided Practice in Lead Writing
Class Companion allows students to practice writing leads based on different scenarios or prompts. For instance, students can be assigned breaking news events, human interest stories, or sports recaps and then use Class Companion to draft their leads. The platform’s feedback tools can provide immediate insights into clarity, engagement, and effectiveness, allowing students to revise their work in real-time.
3. Peer Collaboration and Feedback
Class Companion also enables students to share their work with peers for feedback. By reviewing each other’s leads, students learn to identify compelling opening sentences and work together to refine their techniques.
Tip: Encourage students to use Class Companion to generate multiple lead options for a single story and then evaluate which one best captures the essence of the event.
Try Class Companion to improve your students’ lead-writing skills using my referral code here and start crafting compelling journalism today!