COMPLETING YOUR COPY WITH

CAPTIONS AND HEADLINES

(Lesson 2)

Renee Burke, MJE, Yearbook

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Adviser, Boone High School

Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines
Objectives In this lesson, you will learn:
How to write factual headlines that do not editorialize
How to write creative headlines that will make people want to
look at the spread and read the story

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Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines
that story you slaved over to make
sure it was just perfect?
You know

Remember how many edits you made?

Want someone to just skip right past it?
Probably not.
You need a headline that grabs the readers
attention.
It should be creative, catchy, visual,
understandable and powerful. You want the wow
factor on each one.

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Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines
To get started, remember:
Headlines help draw the
reader into your spread.
They will grab a readers
attention and make him want
to stop and read your story.
These days, headlines work
with the dominant photo
Be
creative
but not
unique
to
and
the story,
the entire
the
yearfocus.
you are writing
spreads
about.
The headline shouldnt be so
general you could use it any
time.

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Legend, William R. Boone High

School
Orlando, Fla.

Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines

Make sure the headline tells the story

Be positive; focus on what happened, not what didnt (avoid
opinion)
Be descriptive, but brief
Use strong, visual-specific nouns
Use visual action verbs
Write in present tense, active voice
Try to have a subject, verb and direct object, but not
prepositional phrases, which often make headlines too long

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Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines

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Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines
Spend time brainstorming, just like you do for the actual
copy:
Is there a clever play on words you can use?
OLE MIStake Story about the Gators loss to Ole Miss in
an errorfilled game
EYE have amoeba Story about a student who got
amoeba in her
eye from swimming in a lake and had to have it treated
Alliteration?
Students spent Saturday saving school Story about
club members
who spend a Saturday cleaning up campus after a storm

Quote?
Pray for rain Story about players who practice in 100alsworthyearbooks.com/yearbooksuite
degree
August heat and want afternoon relief from the rain

Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines
Avoid:
Articles: a, an, the
And replace it with a comma (example: Staff, students
choose longer school day)
Names unless theyre really well known
Label leads (example: Girls soccer earns title its the girls
soccer page, obviously you arent writing about the football
team on this spread.)
Present tense, since headlines are what the story IS about
Repetition of words, especially key words
Beginning with a verb it usually sounds like a command
Asking questions headlines provide information about the
storys content
Periods they stop a reader. A headline is meant to pull
people into the story quickly.
Omit forms of the verb be write in active voice

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Lesson 2: Writing
Intriguing Headlines

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Lesson 2, Activity 1:
Find Headline
Examples

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Lesson 2, Activity 2:
Critiquing Headlines
Wait, what did that just say? Yep, these really happened.
These are real headlines found in a variety of newspapers or
ads. Whats wrong with them?
1. WE GIVE OUR PATIENTS H1N1
2. POLICE BEGIN CAMPAIGN TO RUN DOWN
JAYWALKERS
3. TWO SISTERS REUNITED AFTER 18 YEARS IN
CHECKOUT LINE
4. KIDS MAKE NUTRITIOUS SNACKS
5. NEVER WITHHOLD INFECTION FROM LOVED ONE
6. RED TAPE HOLDS UP NEW BRIDGE
7. BAN ON SOLICITING DEAD IN TROTWOOD
8. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS CUT IN HALF
9. DEAF COLLEGE OPENS DOORS TO HEARING
10. PROSECUTOR RELEASES PROBE INTO
UNDERSHERIFF

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Lesson 2, Activity 3:
I Can Write It Better
Critique each of the following headlines. What error did the writer
make that should be avoided for a better headline?
1. CALENDAR ANNOUNCED BY SGA FOR HOMECOMING
ACTIVITIES
2. ENGLISH TEACHERS INCORPORATE CHANGED IN
LANGUAGE
ARTS CURRICULUM
3. WIN STATE TITLE
4. BRAVES DEFEATED CONFERENCE RIVAL
5. THE SGA COLLECTED 2500 POUNDS OF CANNED GOOD
6. THOMPSON LEADS TEAM TO VICTORY
7. BOYS BASKETBALL BEATS OPPONENTS
8. GRIDMEN DEFEAT OPPONENTS EASILY
9. CO-CAPTAINS GUIDE THE TEAM TO WINS
10. CAN YOU USE ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

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