NEWSPAPER PROJECT
– AVID 9th GRADE Judy
Jones
Topic
of Newspaper: Genetics, DNA technology, and Genetic Disorders
Brief
Description: This project involves:
- researching
information about genetics
- writing
various types of articles
- presenting
these articles in a newspaper format.
Focus of
Research:
- genetic
disorders such as Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle-Cell
Anemia, Tay Sachs, PKU, hemophilia, Huntington Disease, and any
others that you find interesting
- types of
DNA technology such as Bacterial Transformation, Electrophoresis
of DNA to identify people, PCR, and any others that you find interesting
Types of
Articles and Items for your newspaper (without descriptions):
Requirements:
•
Lead Story – Scientific News Story
• Personal Interest News Story
• Feature Story
• Review
• Editorial
• Letter to Editor
• Editorial Cartoon
• Advice Column
• Obituary
• Cartoon Strip
|
one
of the following:
Want Ad
Advertisement
Puzzle
Sports
optional:
Horoscope
Wedding or Birth Announcement
Police Log
Weather
|
Types of Articles and Items for your newspaper (with descriptions):
- Lead
story - scientific news story about a specific genetic
disorder. This type of article usually is about a “breaking
story.” You may be writing about something that is NOT “breaking,”
but the article should be written as if it were. Your story should
answer the “5 W’s” – who, what, where,
when, and why. There should be a great deal of factual information.
For this item you are writing as a reporter. There should be no
bias or point of view in this article.
- Personal
interest news story about a family that is dealing
with a specific genetic disorder. A story such as this is a “human
interest” story. It will also answer the 5 W’s but
also evokes sympathy in the reader.
- Feature
story that includes an interview with someone who
has a genetic disorder, works with someone with a genetic disorder,
researches a genetic disorder, or someone who is willing to be
interviewed regarding what they know about genetics. For this
story, you really need to interview someone. You should prepare
your questions in advance.
- Review
of a magazine article, movie, or chapter in a book about genetics
or DNA technology. You need to read a magazine article, watch
a movie, or read a chapter in a book about genetics. Then you
need to review the item. You should state the title, author, date,
and any other relevant information. Then you need to summarize
the information. Finally, you will state whether you liked the
item or not and why.
- Editorial,
where you argue some ethical issue involved in genetics. Editorials
are written in essay form and express the opinion of the editorial
board. An editorial usually has four parts (opinion about something,
examples, conclusion, and suggestions for actions that the reader
might take).
- Letter
to the editor from someone who argues the other
side of the ethical issue discussed in the editorial. This letter
should also use examples. This will be written from the point
of view of some character that you invent.
- Editorial
cartoon related to genetics. Editorial cartoons
express opinions using humor – often ironic or sarcastic.
- Advice
column, where you write a question from the point
of view of someone else and then answer that question from your
point of view. The question should involve a genetic disorder
or some other aspect of genetics.
- Obituary
about someone who was important in DNA science (Gregor Mendel,
James Watson, Francis Crick, Roslyn Franklin, and Charles Drew
are obvious examples, but there are many others). An obituary
of this type will tell about the famous person and describe their
career, discoveries, and awards, as well as a little about their
personal life.
- Comic
strip that you create yourself. You can use characters
from the comic pages of a real newspaper – but you should
credit your source. The topic and frames need to be original.
Other Items
– you need to include at least ONE of these:
- Want
ads (this could be something that you are selling
or someone else is selling – that is related to genetics)
- Advertisements
(this would be for some product or company related to genetics)
- Puzzles
(this could include genetic terms)
- Sports
(this could be a article about a Special Olympics Event –
you can make up the details)
Totally
extra items – you can include or not (is there any way to link
these to genetics??)
- Wedding
announcements or birth announcements
- Police
log
- Horoscope
- Weather
Other details
you should include in your newspaper:
- Masthead
and banner - runs across the entire width of the
top of the first page – gives the time of the paper (for
example: The Gene Journal), the day of the week, the date, the
cost.
- Index
– table of contents should be in a box somewhere
on the first page.
- Headline
for each story - a title over a story that summarizes
the story and entices the reader to read the entire article.
- Box
(at least one) – this is a very small article
or a headline that is enclosed in a box to give it emphasis.
- Byline
– each story should have the name of the writer,
placed above the article and under the headline.
- Pictures
– you should have at least 3 pictures in your
newspaper.
- Caption
– each picture should have an explanatory
note above it.
- Credit
line – you should give the source of each
picture.
- Cutline
– below each picture should be a more detailed description
of what is in the picture.
Writing
Tips:
- In the first
one or two sentences of your articles you should give the who,
what, when, where and why of the subject. You should also try
to “hook” your audience. Find something unique or
clever or surprising to start with.
- Be sure to
include details and examples. Quotes are useful.
- Have a concluding
paragraph that ties everything together. A memorable last sentence
can conclude a news article nicely. Avoid words such as “In
conclusion… or “To finish…..”
- Use active
words – verbs that are exciting! “The man dashed headlong
into the crowd” is better that “The man ran fast.”
- Generally,
for your main feature articles, you should write in the 3rd person.
- Keep your
articles focused on the topic – don’t include unrelated
information.
- In your interviews
use some verbs other that “said.” You could use words
such as “commented,” “uttered,” “declared,”
“voiced,” etc. (Use a thesaurus!)
- Do not use
flowery descriptions in news articles. Those types of descriptions
are for fiction!
- Create your
headline AFTER you have written the report – you will be
better able to create a catchy headline, then.
- You should
use graphics and pictures – very important in newspapers!
You can even use your own artwork.
- BE SURE YOU
DO CAREFUL research so that you know what you are talking about.
- DO NOT copy
work from the Internet – this writing must be original.
Evaluation
Rubric
Criterion |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Scientific lead story |
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Personal interest |
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Feature story |
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Review of item |
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Editorial opinion |
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Letter to editor |
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Editorial cartoon |
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Advice column |
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Obituary |
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Comic strip |
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Choice - required |
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Choice – extra |
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Choice – extra |
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Choice – extra |
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Choice - extra |
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Meanings of
1, 2, 3, and 4:
Rating of 1
Written expression and form are weak.
Language is not appropriate to newspaper writing.
Article is lacking depth – too short, no examples.
Organization of article is poor.
A number of grammar, paragraphing, spelling errors.
Graphics and/or pictures are missing.
Rating of 2
Written expression and form are average.
Language is usually appropriate to article.
Article needs more depth – length and examples.
Organization could be improved.
A few grammar, paragraphing, spelling errors.
Graphics and/or pictures are limited.
Rating of 3
Written expression and form are good.
Language is generally appropriate to article.
Article is about the right length and has examples.
Article is fairly well organized.
Only 1-2 grammar, paragraphing, spelling errors.
Graphics and/or pictures are good.
Rating of 4
Written expression and form are excellent.
Language is very appropriate to article.
Article is a perfect length and has good examples.
Article is extremely well organized.
No grammar, paragraphing, spelling errors.
Graphics and/or pictures are excellent.
Please share your ideas with me via e-mail.
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