Information Gathering

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(No Transcript)
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Information Gathering Get personal gt Interview
every individual in school about themselves gt
Interview substantial numbers
of individuals for each story idea
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• Information Gathering
• Background research polls/surveys
• gt For shaping insightful interview questions
• gt For facts figures story information
• Focus groups
• gt Specialty sessions with those directly involved

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• Information Gathering
• One-on-one interviews
• gt Face-to-face
• gt Telephone
• gt Instant message chats
• gt Last resort written responses

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• Information Gathering
• Questioning insights
• gt Use research findings to shape storytelling
  questions
• gt Plan objective questions to get facts figures
• The senior class donated the most money to
  charity.
• Exactly what was your grand total how did it
  compare to last year?
• gt Plan subjective questions to capture feelings
• Tell me about how you motivated the class for
  this particular success?
• Personalize questions for sources
• As the organizer of the event, describe your
  greatest challenge.

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Information Gathering Questioning insights gt
Conduct interview at an appropriate time
place gt Start with easier questions ask
follow-up questions gt Listen carefully take
complete notes gt Thank your source ask for
subsequent interview
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Story Writing Compiling Pre-write
suggestions gt Analyze interview notes as
soon as possible after interview gt Highlight
informational facts figures in yellow gt
Highlight insightful feeling quotable quotes in
blue
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gt take note/compile
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Story Writing Compiling News feature gt
Lead/quote/transition/conclusion formula gt
Combination of facts, figures feelings
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Story Writing Compiling Quick read gt
Facts Factoids, summary checklists, qa,
quizzes/tests, maps/diagram, definition/glossary,
scoreboard/stat boxes, index
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gt facts
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gt facts
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Story Writing Compiling Quick read gt
Figures Pie charts, bar/line graphs,
table/charts, schedules/calendars/timelines
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gt figures
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gt figures
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Story Writing Compiling Quick read gt
Feelings Quickie, story featured quotes,
anecdotes, personality sketches, advice/how-tos
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gt feelings
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gt feelings
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• Story Writing Compiling
• Lead writing
• gt Dos donts
• Do keep it simple
• Do focus on facts reader doesnt already know
• Do incorporate visual nouns strong action verbs
• Do feature most exciting aspect of the story in
  the first 5-7 words
• Dont begin with a, an or the.
• Dont use this year, the name, initials
  mascot
• Dont incorporate editorialized adjectives
  adverbs
• Dont use label leads
• Dont begin with names

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• Story Writing Compiling
• Lead writing
• gt Content-focused
• One word
• Contrast
• Astonisher
• Punch
• Quotation
• Question
• Sequential
• Sights sounds

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• Story Writing Compiling
• Lead writing
• gt Grammatically-focused
• Prepositional phrase
• Participial phrase
• Infinitive phrase
• Gerund phrase
• Causal clause
• Conditional clause
• Concessive clause
• Noun clause
• Temporal clause

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Editing Rewriting Revision opportunities gt For
content gt For accuracy gt For style gt For design
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Editing Rewriting Quality expectations gt
Refreshing angles gt Informational insightful
details Little known facts figures One-of-a-ki
nd quotes Awareness of the five senses gt
Unquestionable accuracy gt Refined style
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Editing Rewriting Common concerns gt Boring
nouns students, members, players gt Weak
verbs/passive voice is, are, was, were, being,
been
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Editing Rewriting Common concerns gt Long
paragraphs gt Word overuse School name, initials,
mascot, this year gt Editorializing Busy,
successful, diligent, hard-working gt Second
person usage