200 Points Possible
Step 1 - What are you going to write about? This may be the single most important decision you'll make for this project. I will not assign you a topic to write on - it's entirely your choice. Your article may be about any school appropriate subject you wish. I will give you time in class to browse past editions of The Diamond to help you brainstorm creative topic ideas. The best advice I can give you is to write about something you want to write about, and something other people your age want to read about.
Step 2 - Do some research. It is important to know what you are talking about when you write an article that 1,200 people will read. Be careful to gather your facts accurately. For example, if you are doing an opinion poll, be sure you ask polling questions to a large number of students - this way your results will be more representative of how most students feel. If you are writing an editorial, make sure you include the facts of the issue, and not simply your emotional response to it. Whatever article you write, give it your very best effort by knowing what you're talking about.
Step 3 - Get it down on paper. The first draft of your article should be hand written. This rough draft copy will not be the final version of your article. It simply represents your first attempt at creating something other people will want to read. Just get your ideas down on paper and don't be overly worried about spelling, punctuation, and how neat it looks. Just get in the "flow" of writing, and let your ideas come out. Be mentally prepared to accept the fact that your rough draft will not be perfect, and will need improvement.
Step 4 - Peer review. We will set a date in class when the rough draft copy of every student's article is due. On this day we will exchange articles with each group and share our rough drafts with one another. Every student will evaluate another student's article, and will complete a "Peer Review" sheet for that article.
Step 5 - Now that your article has been peer reviewed, it's time to revise. Revising is looking at your first draft with your peer review sheet, and starting the process of:
-Adding what you do need
-Re-organizing what's confusing
-Re-wording what could be said better
-Strengthening your verbs
-Ensuring your writing "shows and doesn't tell"
Step 6 - Now it's time to go to the computer lab and type up the final version of your article. One person from your group will do this. Please remember the following guidelines:
First- Type your paper in Times New Roman font 12 ONLY (this will happen automatically when you sign-on to Microsoft Word). Do not insert any graphics or change any colors in your article.
Second- Be careful as you type. Make sure every word is spelled correctly (you can spot incorrect words by the red line below them on the screen). Please also make sure your punctuation and grammar is correct. Each person in your group will have 5 points deducted from their newspaper grade for every "typo" of any kind in their final article. Be meticulous!
Third- As you type, if you need to indent remember to use the "tab" button and NOT the space bar.
Fourth- When you are finished typing your article let me know, and I will save it to my newspaper disk. You should also save a copy of your article on the computer. I do not need a paper copy of your article.
