NEWS SPOT WRITING ASSIGNMENT

For the past several weeks, our class has been working on Expository non-fiction writing. We have primarily been focusing upon summarizing informational articles. In the upcoming weeks, we will be shifting our focus. The class will be creating daily News Spots, and your child will be responsible for being a news reporter. Attached is a schedule of responsibilities. When it is your child’s day to report, he/she will share a written summary and an editorial comment about the story.
Attached are several documents that will help you understand the process we have developed to write the summaries. Besides writing a clear summary introduction and body, a strong lead is important to grab the listeners’ attention. We are practicing writing catchy leads to begin our news show summaries, along with insightful editorial comments to share in closing.
Your child will need your support in finding a readable article. Please read the chosen article together and discuss it before beginning the summary. An important question to ask is “How is the article organized?” The newspapers, Time for Kids and National Geographic Kids have articles available online.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
It would be highly recommended for students to complete his/her News Spot summary two days prior to the presentation date in order for your child to have time to practice delivering it to your family. This practice, along with a loud, clear voice, eye contact, expression and a visual aid makes the weekly News Spot presentation very professional. We will be filming our News Spots, and making them available for parent viewing. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Amy Okimoto


Schedule:

12/6/10
National News: Nick
International News: Carlene
Space, Science or Health: Jack
Sports or Travel: Ethan
Plot Summary/Book Review:Maya
12/7/10
National News:Dorian
International News:Jake
Space, Science or Health:Samuel
Sports or Travel: Maxwell G.
Plot Summary/Book Review: Cole G.
12/8/10
National News: Danny
International News:Derek
Space, Science or Health:Tia
Sports or Travel: Leia
Plot Summary/Book Review: Jared
12/9/10
National News:Simon
International News: Melina
Space, Science or Health: Hunter
Sports or Travel: Alex
Plot Summary/Book Review:Lukas
12/10/10
National News:Marina
International News:
J Senia
Space, Science or Health: Gaby
Sports or Travel:Max O.
Plot Summary/Book Review: Paloma

12/13/10
National News: Omar
International News:Lincoln
Space, Science or Health: Nick
Sports or Travel: Carlene
Plot Summary/Book Review: Jack
12/14/10
National News:Ethan
International News:Maya
Space, Science or Health:Dorian
Sports or Travel:Jake
Plot Summary/Book Review: Samuel
12/15/10
National News: Maxwell G.
International News: Cole G.
Space, Science or Health: Danny
Sports or Travel: Derek
Plot Summary/Book Review: Tia
12/16/10
National News:Leia
International News: Jared
Space, Science or Health: Simon
Sports or Travel:Melina
Plot Summary/Book Review: Hunter
12/17/10
National News:Alex
International News: Lukas
Space, Science or Health: Marina
Sports or Travel:J Senia
Plot Summary/Book Review: Gaby

1/5/11
National News: Max O.
International News: Paloma
Space, Science or Health:Omar
Sports or Travel: Lincoln
Plot Summary/Book Review: Nick
1/6/11
National News: Carlene
International News: Jack
Space, Science or Health: Ethan
Sports or Travel: Maya
Plot Summary/Book Review: Dorian
1/7/11
National News: Jake
International News: Samuel
Space, Science or Health:Maxwell G.
Sports or Travel: Cole G.
Plot Summary/Book Review: Danny

1/10/11
National News:Derek
International News: Tia
Space, Science or Health: Leia
Sports or Travel: Jared
Plot Summary/Book Review: Simon
1/11/11
National News:Melina
International News:Hunter
Space, Science or Health: Lukas
Sports or Travel: Marina
Plot Summary/Book Review:J Senia
1/12/11
National News: Gaby
International News: Max O.
Space, Science or Health:Paloma
Sports or Travel: Omar
Plot Summary/Book Review: Lincoln
Finish of News Spot Unit