Writing the opening of a journalistic report
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write the opening of a journalistic report on 'Little Red Riding Hood'.
Key learning points
- The opening paragraph of a journalistic report provides an overview of the news event.
- The opening answers the questions what, where, when and who.
- Formal and subject-specific vocabulary is used to write the opening of a journalistic report.
- The use of formal language creates a serious, factual and objective tone.
- A relative complex sentence allows the writer to provide extra detail about the people involved.
Keywords
Opening - the first paragraph of a journalistic report that provides an overview of the event
Formal language - language used in certain non-fiction texts involving sophisticated and objective vocabulary without the use of contractions
Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause
Common misconception
Pupils may want to include facts that are too specific for the opening.
Make explicit and repeated reference to only including general information. Use the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why) to help embed this.
Teacher tip
Provide children with a word bank of formal and subject-specific vocabulary to support in their writing of the opening paragraph.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Order these sections of a journalistic report.
Q2.Match the keyword to the correct definition.
the reason it has been written and the desired impact
how the information is organised and ordered
the language that a writer chooses to achieve the purpose
Q3.What type of language should be used in journalistic reports?
Q4.Match the vocabulary to their formal synonyms for a journalistic report about a crime.
assailant, perpetrator, suspect, accused, offender
victim, target, injured party, innocent citizen
witness, bystander, passer-by, onlooker, observer
property, residence, scene of the crime
Q5.What does it mean to write with an objective tone?
Q6.Which of these are examples of formal and objective language commonly used when reporting on a crime in a journalistic report?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the purpose of the opening in a journalistic report?
Q2.Which of the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why) has this sentence answered? An unsettling series of events has left the local residents of Cherry Pot Lane feeling shaken.
Q3.Which of the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why) has this sentence answered? Yesterday afternoon, police were called to a property there after a violent incident had taken place.
Q4.Which of the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why) has this sentence answered? A suspect, who is known as Mr Wolf, has been arrested for breaking and entering the property of Mrs Puckett.
Q5.Select the appropriate relative clause to add detail to this sentence: The suspect, __________, has been arrested for breaking and entering the residence of Mrs Puckett.
Q6.Select the appropriate relative clause to add detail to this sentence: Mrs Puckett, __________, is currently undergoing medical treatment.
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing the opening of a journalistic report, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing the opening of a journalistic report, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'Little Red Riding Hood': journalistic report unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.