Literacy Test Preparation

News Report

LITERACY TEST PREPARATION

Parts of a News Report Headline: the title of the article.  made up of 10 words or less  introduces the article's topic  captures the readers' interest Summary Lead: the opening paragraph.  consists of 1-2 sentences  is usually less than 30 words in length  contains the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How (5Ws and H) of the article.

Fact-based Paragraphs: the rest of the article.  short paragraphs that expand on the 5Ws and H  is organized from most to least important information  include quotations from key people involved in or related to the information in the article

Students Achieve 100% Brampton, Ontario - The staff and students of Brampton Centennial Secondary School celebrated yesterday after learning that 100% of their Grade 10 students, as well as all previously eligible students, who wrote the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) on March 31st, 2011 passed both sections. The 400 students who wrote the test were informed of their successful results last week by mail, but the official whole-school results were released yesterday by EQAO, the Ministry organization that facilitates the administration of the provincial test. "The students did an outstanding job," stated Ms. Wilson, the principal of Brampton Centennial S.S. today in a brief phone interview, "I couldn't be more proud!" When asked about the unprecedented successful results of her school's students, Galen revealed that the students had been prepared throughout the year for the March 29th test. "The students were invited to workshops, were offered resources, and were taught literacy skills cross-curricularly throughout the year." Upon hearing the news of their high pass rate, the principal declared the last hour of yesterday's school day to be a time for celebration. Music was broadcast throughout the school's classroom LCD projectors.

"The preparation and excellent results shows the goal of our students: Honour and Excellence," Ms. Wilson said with a smile.

Literacy Test Task: 1. Write a news report based on a headline and picture 2. Make up the facts and information (Who? What?

Where? When? Why? How?) 3. Relate your newspaper report to both the headline and

the picture 4. Focus on the purpose and audience: to report on an

event for the readers of a newspaper 5. Write only on the lined space provided

Literacy Test Task:  Write a news report based on a headline and

picture

Class Discussion: Brainstorm all of the things you can deduce from the picture and title.

Headline: “Student volunteers improve school grounds” For example:     

Where are they? Who are they? What are they doing? Why? Time of year?

Independently, answer the 5 Ws and How...when you are done, share your answers as a class and record them on the board.

Headline: “Student volunteers improve school grounds” Create the facts  Who?  What?  Where?  Why?  When?  How?

Now consider the following: Discuss as a class:  Who is the article being written for?  How will the audience you are writing for influence

how you write the article?

What to do BEFORE you write: 1. Read all instructions carefully 2. Read all questions before reading the text 3. Read the title, headings and look at the picture

for clues about the topic

4. Make notes or highlight important information

in the instructions as you read

Writing the news report 

Analyse the picture and Headline to determine the topic of the article



Identify the 5Ws and H (who, what, where, when, why, and how) of your article



Create an interesting Summary Lead that includes the 5Ws and H of your article



Write short paragraphs (2-3 sentences in length) based on the 5Ws and H in your Summary Lead. Organize your paragraphs from the most to least important information



Add quotes to your paragraphs (by people involved in or related to your article’s topic). Use words like “said” or “says” before each quote

Adapted from:  Mary Nanavati – Principal Fletcher’s Meadow  Created by: Candice Lande, Fletcher’s

Meadow  Susan Bell Louise Arbour SS