This scope and sequence breaks down the process of teaching UIL News Writing into manageable steps, incorporating elements from the provided sources and our conversation history.
Week 1: Foundations
- Introduce UIL Journalism and the News Writing Contest: Begin by introducing students to the UIL Journalism program and the specific challenges and opportunities of the News Writing contest. Explain the purpose of the contest and how it differs from traditional journalistic writing.
- Explore the Concept of Newsworthiness: Discuss what makes a story newsworthy, emphasizing the importance of timeliness, relevance, and impact. Use examples from current events and student life to illustrate these concepts.
- Analyze Sample UIL News Writing Prompts: Provide students with a variety of sample prompts from past UIL contests. Have them read and analyze the prompts, identifying key information, the news peg, and potential angles for coverage.
Week 2: The Inverted Pyramid and Lead Writing
- Explain the Inverted Pyramid Format: Explain the inverted pyramid format and why it’s the standard for UIL news writing. Discuss the benefits of presenting information in descending order of importance, emphasizing clarity and conciseness.
- Practice Writing Strong Leads: Introduce different types of leads, such as summary leads, temporal clause leads, and gerund phrase leads. Provide examples of effective leads from the sources and have students practice writing leads for various scenarios.
- Critique and Refine Leads: Have students share their leads with the class and provide constructive feedback. Focus on clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and how effectively the lead captures the essence of the story.
Week 3: The Transition/Quote Formula
- Introduce the Transition/Quote Formula: Explain the importance of using transitions to introduce and contextualize direct quotes. Emphasize that transitions should not simply repeat information from the quote but should instead provide further context and drive the story forward.
- Practice Writing Effective Transitions: Use examples from the sources to demonstrate how to write strong, informative transitions. Have students practice crafting transitions for a variety of quotes and scenarios.
- Focus on Smooth Integration: Highlight the importance of seamlessly integrating quotes and transitions to create a coherent and compelling narrative. Have students read aloud their work, focusing on the flow and rhythm of the writing.
Week 4: Attribution and Objectivity
- Discuss the Importance of Attribution: Emphasize the importance of attributing all information, opinions, and judgments to specific sources. Explain how proper attribution enhances credibility and ensures objectivity.
- Practice Correct Attribution Techniques: Use examples from the sources to demonstrate proper attribution methods for direct and indirect quotes, paraphrases, and factual information. Have students practice writing sentences and paragraphs that demonstrate accurate attribution.
- Emphasize Objectivity: Discuss the importance of maintaining objectivity in news writing, avoiding personal opinions, bias, and editorializing. Explain how to present information in a fair and balanced manner, even when dealing with controversial topics.
Week 5: Style, Language, and Common Errors
- Review AP Style Guidelines: Provide students with resources on AP style and have them practice applying these guidelines to their writing.
- Emphasize Concise and Precise Language: Discuss the importance of using strong verbs and avoiding unnecessary words or phrases. Have students practice revising sentences and paragraphs to achieve greater clarity and impact.
- Identify Common Errors: Discuss common errors that students make in UIL news writing, such as using “Leaguetown,” stacking quotes, starting with “The School Board…”, using feature leads, adding facts not in the prompt, and forgetting to use student quotes. Provide examples of these errors and have students practice identifying and correcting them in sample writing.
Week 6: Putting it All Together – Practice and Feedback
- Mock UIL News Writing Competitions: Conduct mock competitions using past UIL prompts, simulating the time constraints and pressure of the actual contest. Provide feedback based on the UIL judging criteria.
- Peer Review and Editing: Encourage students to review each other’s work, providing constructive feedback on clarity, accuracy, conciseness, flow, and adherence to UIL style guidelines.
- Individual Conferences: Meet with students individually to discuss their writing, provide personalized feedback, and address any areas where they need further support.
Week 7: Advanced Techniques and Refinement
- Exploring Different Lead Types: Introduce more advanced lead types, such as anecdotal leads, descriptive leads, and narrative leads. Discuss when it might be appropriate to use these leads and the potential risks involved.
- Crafting Compelling Kicker Quotes: Explain the concept of kicker quotes and how they can create a sense of closure and emphasize the significance of the story. Provide examples of effective kicker quotes and have students practice writing their own.
- Incorporating Literary Devices: Discuss how to effectively incorporate literary devices such as imagery, metaphors, and similes to create more engaging and memorable writing.
Week 8: Polishing and Final Preparations
- Review, Edit, and Refine: Encourage students to revisit their past work, editing and refining their stories based on feedback received and their own evolving understanding of UIL style.
- Time Management Strategies: Discuss strategies for effective time management during the contest, emphasizing the importance of planning, outlining, and budgeting time for each stage of the writing process.
- Stress Management Techniques: Discuss stress management techniques to help students stay calm and focused during the competition.
- Final Mock Competition: Conduct a final mock competition to assess student progress and provide them with an opportunity to practice under pressure.
Beyond the Basics: Extension Activities
- Analyze Professional News Writing: Have students analyze news stories from reputable publications, identifying how professional journalists apply the principles of UIL news writing.
- Guest Speakers: Invite local journalists or UIL journalism coaches to speak to the class, sharing their insights and experiences.
- Field Trips: Arrange field trips to local news organizations, allowing students to observe journalists at work and learn more about the news-gathering process.