Captions

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Captions
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Answer 5Ws H
Complete accurate reporting Attend activity or
event Interview subjects in photo Interview
subjects involved not in photo Get
photographers notes Research history of photo
story
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Storytelling photos raise questions
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Ask the Questions
Quality questions get quality answers Who What
When Where Why How Tell readers about
the event Describe the best memories of the
event Tell us something we cant see from photo
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Get the Answers
Who senior Jason Chastain What dances hat
dance with mom When final pep rally Where
commons area Why tradition, honor How
selected by teammates I barely remember
shoving my way through the crowd to where my mom
was waiting for me at the W. I just remember
thinking that I couldnt look at her or I would
start crying. She danced the dance with methat
moment I will never ever forget.
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All the Write Words
Lead-in Attention-getting word or phrase
relating to the action/reaction of the
photo Primary sentence Reports the most
important 5Ws H, showcases the most
important aspect in first 5-7 words is in
present tense Secondary sentence(s) Provides
details not obvious in the photo
(when/why/how) written in past tense
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Idents Jason Chastain OR Senior Jason
Chastain senior football captain OR Senior
Jason Chastain senior football caption dancing
pep rally hat dance
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Summary DANCE MACHINES Amid a frenzied crowd of
fans, senior Jason Chastain joins his mother to
perform the traditional hat dance as the finale
to the state championship football playoff game
rally.
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Expanded DANCE MACHINES Amid a frenzied crowd
of fans, senior Jason Chastain joins his mother
to perform the traditional hat dance as the
finale to the state championship football playoff
game rally. The Chaps won the game 21-20 posting
its first state championship in the history of
the school.
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• Quote
• DANCE
• MACHINES
• I barely remember shoving my way through the
  crowd to where my mom was waiting for me at the
  W. I just remember thinking that I couldnt
  look at her or I would start crying. She danced
  the dance with methat moment I will never ever
  forget.
• Jason Chastain, senior caption
• of the week

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Collective PUT YOUR HANDSHIGH IN THE AIR LEADER
OF THE PACK. In the rain, senior Orlando
Cutsinger encourages fans in the slogan that led
the football team through state playoffs.
OUTREACH. With his eyes on the prize, junior
Marty Villanova concentrates on catching the
game-winning pass. BETWEEN BIRDS. Sandwiched
between the twin Chap mascots, senior Samantha
Evans finishes off a cheer with the sign of
victory.
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Group
FRESHMAN KEY CLUB RAISES 3,452 FOR
CHARITIES Front (Bottom) Row John Cutsinger,
Shannon Williams, Rick Klecka Row 2 Cody
Cleavelin, Mitch Lorenz, Mike Hill, Kurt Idler,
Bruce Nyman Row 3 Alex Brunner, Rinn Cleavelin,
Herb Stokes, Jimmy Browning Back (Top) Row
Mark Herron, Steve Wirrig, Jack Wilson, Kevin
Grandpre
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Editing Guidelines

• Refine captions for strong appeal
• Keep captions factual no editorializing
• Include honest facts, figures feelings
• Go beyond the obvious capture outcome or
  consequences of the action
• Write first sentence in present tense
  subsequent sentences in past tense
• Use visual nouns action verbs
• Avoid repetition of words too many ing
  starts
• Avoid beginning with names or group labels
• Avoid school name, initials, mascot
• Maintain style consistency
• Vary caption starting words on a spread

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Practice makes Perfect
Rewrite this caption Ident Summary Expanded Q
uote Freshman Molly Stanfield gets hit in the
face with a cream pie.
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Captions