February Break Mini-Project: Outsiders Article

Over the four day weekend, you will be responsible for creating your own original news article based on an event from The Outsiders. Use the sample article I gave you in class as a model. Your article must be typed (in two columns). Be sure to include all of the elements we discussed in class. A rubric for this assignment will be given and/or posted on this site by tomorrow. The assignment is due when we return on Wednesday. If it needs revising or tweaking, I may extend the deadline, but you MUST bring in your completed article on Wednesday.

Here is a more detailed description of the assignment:

Assignment: Create a newspaper article based on an event from The Outsiders. Your article should contain all of the elements of a news article that we have discussed: headline, byline, lead, story details, quotes from relevant “people” (characters), etc.

Your article should consist of details from the book as well as those from your own creative imagination. For example, you may need to create names and characters such as police officers or eyewitnesses. Be sure, however, that the details you create have a logical connection to the story. Use the sample article on Bob’s death as a model for the structure and appearance of your article. Do NOT, however, write an article that closely resembles the content of the “Bob’s death” article.

Your article should be typed in a newspaper-like font (Times New Roman). Across the top of your page should be the name of the newspaper (Tulsa Times, Windrexville Post, etc.) This should be in a large and bold font. Include the date (in smaller font) underneath. Your date should not be today's date, but one logically connected to the story (according to the sample article, Bob's death occurred on October 4th, 1967) Your headline should be in a larger and bolder font than your article (but smaller than your newspaper’s name). If you include a picture, be sure to include an appropriate caption. Divide your article into two columns. Be sure to carefully proofread your work and check for errors.

Tips:

• ·      Create a headline that gives the main idea of the article without being overly specific.
• ·      Include the who, what, when, and where in your lead paragraph
• ·      Include specific details from the book in your article. Don’t include details that would be unknown at the time your article is written.
• ·      Create meaningful quotes from relevant people/characters
• ·      Use the rubric as a guide to assess your own work.

Suggested topics/headlines (in case you can’t think of one):

Police identify two suspects in Hinton Park murder case
Tension builds between rival groups following Hinton Park murder

Toxicology reports reveal Hinton Park murder victim was drunk

Teen hero dies in hospital

Church fire hero killed in showdown with police

Girlfriend of Hinton Park murder victim testifies for defense

Church fire hero cleared of all charges in Hinton Park murder case

Keep in mind when your story is being written. Although Bob’s name was not in the headline or the lead of the sample article, it would be much more likely to appear in either or both in future articles (since his name and case would now be more well known). Apply that same idea to your article; ask yourself: Is this the first article on this topic or has the story already been in the papers? That should help you to determine which information might be new to you and/or your readers