Hi, I'm Lucy, the editor of the
Gold Valley News.
There are usually two sides to every story. At the newspaper, we don't take sides. We try to present the facts from both points of view. We don't give our opinion directly, except in our editorial page.
There are usually two sides to every story. At the newspaper, we don't take sides. We try to present the facts from both points of view. We don't give our opinion directly, except in our editorial page.
As our new reporter, you need to write about the accident that just happened.
But before you start writing your newspaper article, have a look at one from yesterday's paper.
But before you start writing your newspaper article, have a look at one from yesterday's paper.
ACCIDENT IN MERRY RIVER PARK
The first paragraph clearly states what happened. It does not take anyone's side.
The cyclist said that as he went around a bend in the path, an old woman with her dog stopped right in front of him. As he swerved to avoid the dog he accidentally knocked the woman over. 'I know I was riding carefully,' he exclaimed. 'She just appeared out of nowhere.'
The second paragraph reports one point of view: the cyclist's.
Ambulance officers treated the woman for shock, cuts and bruises. She stated that the cyclist sped around a bend in the path and crashed into her, knocking her to the ground. 'I always walk my dog here and I've never had any problem before,' she declared.
The third paragraph reports the other point of view: the woman's.
It is clear that both the cyclist and the woman thought they could use the path in safety. It is possible that the cyclist was going too fast, but perhaps the woman was not looking where she was going.
The last paragraph draws on both points of view to sum up. It does not take anyone's side.
ACCIDENT IN MERRY RIVER PARK
You can see all these pronouns refer to the cyclist. The pronoun 'they' refers to both the cyclist and the woman.
You can see all these pronouns refer to the woman. The pronoun 'they' refers to both the cyclist and the woman.
her
dog
in the park.
The cyclist said that as he went around a bend in the path, an old woman with her dog stopped right in front of him. As he swerved to avoid the dog he accidentally knocked the woman over. 'I know I was riding carefully,' he exclaimed. 'She just appeared out of nowhere.'
Ambulance officers treated the woman for shock, cuts and bruises. She stated that the cyclist sped around a bend in the path and crashed into her, knocking her to the ground. 'I always walk my dog here and I've never had any problem before,' she declared.
It is clear that both the cyclist and the woman thought they could use the path in safety. It is possible that the cyclist was going too fast, but perhaps the woman was not looking where she was going.
An accident happened late yesterday in Merry River Park. A cyclist collided with a woman who was walking her dog in the park.
The first paragraph clearly states what happened. It does not take any side.
The cyclist said that as he went around a bend in the path, an old woman with her dog stopped right in front of him. As he swerved to avoid the dog he accidentally knocked the woman over. 'I know I was riding carefully,' he exclaimed. 'She just appeared out of nowhere.'
The second paragraph reports one point of view:
the cyclist's.
Ambulance officers treated the woman for shock, cuts and bruises. She stated that the cyclist sped around a bend in the path and crashed into her, knocking her to the ground. 'I always walk my dog here and I've never had any problem before,' she declared.
The third paragraph reports the other point of view:
the woman's.
It is clear that both the cyclist and the woman thought they could use the path in safety. It is possible that the cyclist was going too fast, but perhaps the woman was not looking where she was going.
The last paragraph draws on both points of view to sum up. It does not take anyone's side.
Close
Now look at how different words in the text work to tell us different things about the accident.
Select Action verbs, Saying verbs, Pronouns or Adverbial phrases to see how different types of language choices help you write a good newspaper article.
Select Action verbs, Saying verbs, Pronouns or Adverbial phrases to see how different types of language choices help you write a good newspaper article.
Now that you've had a look at a previous newspaper article, let's get started on your article about the skateboard accident.
Close
First, interview the two people involved in the accident to hear both points of view about what happened.
Danni-Skateboarder
Bert-Stallholder
I didn't mean to cause any damage ...
I thought I was being careful.
I thought I was being careful.
I was just cruising down the hill.
The cat came out of nowhere. I tried to brake to miss it, and that made me swerve onto the footpath.
That was when I collided with the fruit stall.
I told the stallholder that I was sorry.
The skateboard was travelling too fast and was out of control.
She could not steer.
Skateboarders should be more responsible on busy streets.
She came straight at me. I'm upset about all the damaged fruit.
The Skater was then rude to me for getting in the way.
Close
Now that you know both sides of the story, you can construct the article about the skateboard accident. You can do this one paragraph at a time.
Choose the correct text for each paragraph and move it into position.
Choose the correct text for each paragraph and move it into position.
The first paragraph clearly states what happened. It does not take any sides.
The third paragraph reports the other point of view: the skateboarder's or the stallholder's.
The second paragraph reports one point of view: the skateboarder's or the stallholder's.
The last paragraph draws on both points of view to sum up. It does not take anyone's side.
The skateboarder said that as she was coming down the street, a cat came out in front of her. As she swerved to avoid the cat she accidentally hit the fruit stall. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she said. 'The cat just came out of nowhere.'
It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath.
An accident happened yesterday morning outside the shopping centre. A skateboarder hit a fruit stall, which was located on the footpath.
The stallholder said that the skateboarder came down the hill and hit his fruit stall, knocking it over. 'She was coming too fast and was out of control,' he said. 'I'm upset about all the damaged fruit.'
Close
Now edit your article to choose the best past tense verbs.
Look at both action verbs and saying verbs. Select the best option from each drop-down list.
Look at both action verbs and saying verbs. Select the best option from each drop-down list.
An accident happened yesterday morning outside the shopping centre. A skateboarder
a fruit stall, which was located on the footpath.
The skateboarder
that as she
down the street, a cat
out in front of her. As she swerved to avoid the cat she accidentally
into the fruit stall. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she .
'The cat just
out of nowhere.'
The stallholder said that the skateboarder
down the hill and
his fruit stall, knocking it over. 'She
too fast and was out of control,' he
. 'I'm upset about all the damaged fruit.'
It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath.
Close
Now look at the adverbial phrases of place. Do they tell our readers exactly where this accident happened?
Select an adverbial phrase of place to see if there are any options to make it clearer. You can change the phrase or leave it.
Select an adverbial phrase of place to see if there are any options to make it clearer. You can change the phrase or leave it.
An accident happened yesterday morning .
.
A skateboarder collided with a fruit stall, which was located
The skateboarder reported that as she was cruising
, a cat ran out
. As she swerved to avoid the cat she accidentally crashed
. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she exclaimed. 'The cat just
appeared
.'
The stallholder said that the skateboarder sped
and crashed into
, knocking it over. 'She was travelling too fast and was out of control, ' he
declared. 'I'm upset about all the damaged fruit.'
It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath.
Close
Now think about the pronouns in your article. Remember, pronouns are used in place of a noun. They help you refer to the people in your article.
Select a pronoun and place it in the grid to show who it refers to.
Select a pronoun and place it in the grid to show who it refers to.
An accident happened yesterday morning outside Gold Valley Shopping Centre. A skateboarder
collided with a fruit stall, which was located on the footpath on Dean Street
The skateboarder reported that as she she was cruising down Walsh Street, a cat ran out in front of her her . As she she swerved to avoid the cat she she accidentally crashed into the fruit stall. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she she exclaimed. 'The cat just appeared out of nowhere.'
The stallholder said that the skateboarder sped down the Walsh Street hill and crashed into
his his fruit stall, knocking it over. 'She She was travelling too fast and was out of control, ' he he declared.' I I 'm upset about all the damaged fruit.'
It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath.
The skateboarder reported that as she she was cruising down Walsh Street, a cat ran out in front of her her . As she she swerved to avoid the cat she she accidentally crashed into the fruit stall. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she she exclaimed. 'The cat just appeared out of nowhere.'
The stallholder said that the skateboarder sped down the Walsh Street hill and crashed into
his his fruit stall, knocking it over. 'She She was travelling too fast and was out of control, ' he he declared.' I I 'm upset about all the damaged fruit.'
It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath.
Skateboarder
Stallholder
Both
Close
This is a great article. Now you need to choose a photo. Look at the photos we took at the scene and pick one for your article.
And in other news, a giant echidna was seen approaching Melbourne via the Hume Highway, after taking the Ring Road for several hours until it realised it was just going in circles. If you spot the animal (Tachyglossus aculeatus ginormus), do not approach it, and contact the appropriate authorities. It is believed to be armed (with giant spines) and dangerous. After ravaging Euroa and Beveridge, it is now headed towards Brunswick. If you are currently in this area, it would be prudent to remain indoors at this point.
An accident happened yesterday morning outside Gold Valley Shopping Centre. A skateboarder collided with a fruit stall, which was located on the footpath on Dean Street.
The skateboarder reported that as she was cruising down Walsh Street, a cat ran out in front of her. As she swerved to avoid the cat she accidentally crashed into the fruit stall. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she exclaimed.'The cat just appeared out of nowhere.'
The stallholder said that the skateboarder sped down the Walsh Street hill and crashed into his fruit stall, knocking it over. ' She was travelling too fast and was out of control, ' he declared. 'I'm upset about all the damaged fruit.' It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath. News 30 December 2008
30 December
And in other news, a giant echidna was seen approaching Melbourne via the Hume Highway, after taking the Ring Road for several hours until it realised it was just going in circles. If you spot the animal (Tachyglossus aculeatus ginormus), do not approach it, and contact the appropriate authorities. It is believed to be armed (with giant spines) and dangerous. After ravaging Euroa and Beveridge, it is now headed towards Brunswick. If you are currently in this area, it would be prudent to remain indoors at this point.
An accident happened yesterday morning outside Gold Valley Shopping Centre. A skateboarder collided with a fruit stall, which was located on the footpath on Dean Street
The skateboarder reported that as she was cruising down Walsh Street, a cat ran out in front of her. As she swerved to avoid the cat she accidentally crashed into the fruit stall. 'I didn't mean to cause any damage,' she exclaimed.'The cat just appeared out of nowhere.'
The stallholder said that the skateboarder sped down the Walsh Street hill and crashed into his fruit stall, knocking it over. ' She was travelling too fast and was out of control, ' he declared. 'I'm upset about all the damaged fruit.' It is clear that both the skateboarder and the stallholder thought they could use the footpath in safety. It is possible that the skateboarder was out of control, but perhaps the stallholder was blocking the footpath. News By