CORNELL NOTES

JOURNALISM 1
 Topic: Leads
EQ: How do I write an effective lead?
LEADS
NOTES
A lead is the first sentence in a regular news, entertainment, or sports story.
Catches the attention of the reader by finding the MOST INTERESTING aspects of the
story.
Answers as many of the essential applicable journalism questions as possible.
Those questions are:
Who, what, when, where, why, and how
25 words or less.
Make your readers what to read more.
Past tense
Third person
VIDEO NOTES: (Make sure to copy down the Santa lead example and explain it in your
notes).

MY EXAMPLE: In your notes, write an example of a lead. The story is about one of your
accomplishments, either academically, sports, extra curricular activities, video games. Just
something you have achieved. Use all of the elements of a lead listed above.
 Topic: Angles
EQ: How do I find the most interesting angles for
ANGLES my stories?

NOTES
The angle is the point or theme of a news or feature story. The angle
is found in the lead of the story.
You find this by interviewing the person. Ask questions until you find
the strongest angle.
Be SPECIFIC.
Examples:
WEAK: Freshman Joe Smith went to Ohio to see his family this
summer.
STRONGER: Freshman Joe Smith rode the fastest rollercoaster at
a theme park in Ohio this summer.
STRONGEST: Freshman Joe Smith lost all his money, his wallet,
and his cell phone riding the fastest rollercoaster at a theme park
in Ohio this summer.
Inverted Topic: Inverted Pyramid
Pyramid EQ: What is the inverted pyramid style of
writing, and why do we use it?
NOTES
Theinverted pyramidis a metaphor used by journalists and other
writers to illustrate how information should be prioritized and
structured in a text. It is a common method for writing news stories
(and has adaptability to other kinds of texts, e.g., blogs and editorial
columns). You find this by interviewing the person. Ask questions until
you find the strongest angle.
VIDEO NOTES (10 min)
 Topic: Interview Skills
Interviewing Skills EQ: How do I conduct the most effective
interviews?
NOTES
During interviews, journalists gather information and get quotes from sources.
Tips:
Be Prepared.
Listen. Use eye contact.
Ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this interview?
Choose the best place and time.
Make your interviewee comfortable.
Maintain Control of the interview.
Ask open-ended questions.
Ask one question at a time.
Stay focused.
Be polite yet persistent. Keep asking until you get a response to your
question.
Movie Notes:
Stay unbiased in your questioning: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=95hRCbX4Dn0
 Topic: Quotes
Quotes EQ: How do I find strong quotes for the
NOTES newspaper/yearbook?
Use direct quotations to record the opinions, emotions, and unique
expressions of your sources.
A direct quotation that conveys a fact is usually boring.
Let the direct words of your sources do as much work as possible, keeping
yourself out of the story, and keeping transitions and explanations to a
minimum.
[Paste Quotes notes into the next six pages of your notebook.]
YEARBOOK EXCEPTION:
Its going to be an exciting year, Lauren Far (12) said. Yearbook format.
EXERCISE:
Look at your interviewing exercise notes from yesterday. Write out three quotes
from yesterdays interviewing exercise. Newspaper: Format them correctly with
correct AP Style attribution (name and class rank). Yearbook: Format the three
quotes with correct yearbook style.
1.
2.
 Topic: Quotes
Quotes EQ: How do I find strong quotes for the
NOTES newspaper/yearbook?
Use direct quotations to record the opinions, emotions, and unique
expressions of your sources.
A direct quotation that conveys a fact is usually boring.
Let the direct words of your sources do as much work as possible, keeping
yourself out of the story, and keeping transitions and explanations to a
minimum.
[Paste Quotes notes into the next six pages of your notebook.]
YEARBOOK EXCEPTION:
Its going to be an exciting year, Lauren Far (12) said. Yearbook format.
EXERCISE:
Look at your interviewing exercise notes from yesterday. Write out three quotes
from yesterdays interviewing exercise. Newspaper: Format them correctly with
correct AP Style attribution (name and class rank). Yearbook: Format the three
quotes with correct yearbook style.
1.
2.
 Topic: Ethics in Journalism
Ethics in Journalism EQ: What are ethics?

NOTES 3/20/17
Definition of ethics:
Moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of
an activity.
Principles include:
Family
Value of life
Self-preservation
Honesty
Value of an individuals life
EXAMPLE 1: Lifeboat
- Summary:
- My reaction:
My reasoning:
Guiding principles used:
 Topic: SPJ Code of Ethics
SPJ Code of Ethics EQ: What is the Society of Professional
Journalists, and what is the purpose of its code of
NOTES ethics?
3/21/17
EXAMPLE 2: Mad Bomber
Summary: Some Guiding Principals
- My reaction: - Family
My reasoning: - Value of life
- Self-preservation
Guiding principles used: - Honesty
- Value of an individuals
life
Principle 1: Seek Truth Topic: Principle 1: Seek Truth and Report It
and Report It EQ: What does it mean for a journalist to seek
and report truth?
NOTES 3/22/17
Seek Truth and Report It
Key Words: __________, ___________, _________, Some Guiding Principals
__________, __________. - Family
- Value of life
Three examples of this principle are that journalists - Self-preservation
should [three examples you think are most - Honesty / Truth
important]: - Minimize Harm
- Value of an individuals
[Example1]
life
[Example2] - Integrity
[Example3] - Act Independently
- Accountability
EXAMPLE 3: Drug Bust - Democracy
Summary: - Justice
- Accuracy
- My reaction: - Fairness
My reasoning: - Freedom
Guiding principles used: - Enlightenment
- Courageous
 Topic: Minimize Harm
Principle 2: Minimize Harm EQ: What does it mean for a journalist to
Minimize Harm?
NOTES 3/24/17
Some Guiding Principa
Minimize Harm means - Family
- Value of life
[Summarize bold sentence.]
- Self-preservation
Two examples of this principle are that journalists - Honesty / Truth
should [two examples you think are most - Minimize Harm
- Value of an individuals
important]:
life
[Example1] - Integrity
[Example2] - Act Independently
- Accountability
EXAMPLE 4: Hit and Run - Democracy
Summary: - Justice
- Accuracy
- My reaction: - Fairness
My reasoning: - Freedom
- Enlightenment
Guiding principles used: - Courageous
Principle 3: Act Independently Topic: Act Independently
EQ: What does it mean for a journalist to Act
Independently?
NOTES 3/28/17
Some Guiding Principa
Act Independently means - Family
- Value of life
[Summarize bold sentence.]
- Self-preservation
Two examples of this principle are that journalists - Honesty / Truth
should [two examples you think are most - Minimize Harm
- Value of an individuals
important]:
life
[Example1] - Integrity
[Example2] - Act Independently
- Accountability
EXAMPLE 6: The Pregnant Woman - Democracy
Summary: - Justice
- Accuracy
- My reaction: - Fairness
My reasoning: - Freedom
- Enlightenment
Guiding principles used: - Courageous
Principle 4: Be Accountable and Topic: Be Accountable and Transparent
Transparent EQ: What does it mean for a journalist to be
accountable and transparent?
NOTES 3/30/17
Some Guiding Principa
Be accountable and transparent means - Family
- Value of life
[Summarize bold sentence.]
- Self-preservation
Two examples of this principle are that journalists - Honesty / Truth
should [two examples you think are most - Minimize Harm
- Value of an individuals
important]:
life
[Example1] - Integrity
[Example2] - Act Independently
- Accountability
EXAMPLE 6: The Neighbor - Democracy
Summary: - Justice
- Accuracy
- My reaction: - Fairness
My reasoning: - Freedom
- Enlightenment
Guiding principles used: - Courageous
 Topic: Watergate Scandal:
Watergate Scandal: Background
Background
EQ: What happened during and as a
NOTES result of investigations into the
4/13/17
10 facts about Watergate: Watergate Scandal?
1.
2.
3
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
My prediction about the ethical situations that journalists writing about Watergate may
have encountered: (List four bullet points, using the SPJ Code of Ethics as a reference.)
.
.
.
 Topic: Watergate Scandal:
Watergate Scandal: Background
Background
EQ: What happened during and as a
NOTES result of investigations
4/13/17 into the
Watergate
Student Newspaper Uncovers Scandal?
Principals Secret:
Summary:
Reaction:
Guiding Principal: