Ragsdale CCHS Journalism 1
TYPES OF LEADS Inverted Pyramid/AP Summary Lead
Who: What: When: Where:
Starting the season with a 2-0 record, the Birdmanville High School football team will meet the Weezyville High School Cats at 7 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the Cats’ home field.
How: Why:
Narrative Lead
Who: What: When: Where:
With a freshman year report card of mostly D’s and F’s, Jimmy Kerekes didn’t care about life. Expected to drop out at the age of 14, his life revolved only around gangs.
How: Why:
Personal Experience Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How:
La’Sarah often looked at magazines of beautiful, thin women. She also often viewed herself in the mirror, depressed by what she saw. La’Sarah, like many teenage girls, suffered from an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa.
Why:
Suspended Interest Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How: Why:
India 5000 years ago, China in the 13th century, Japan in the late 1800s, and New York City in the early 1900s. Although years and miles apart, each was the birthplace of several popular methods of fitness.
Ragsdale CCHS Journalism 2 Atmosphere Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How:
Walking in the room, the smells of freshly baked goods wafted through the air, while early morning coffee drinkers discussed the upcoming day. Behind the counter, Mary Morris served customers with a syrupy sweet smile on her face.
Why:
Allusion Lead
Who: What: When: Where:
Most everyone knows what John F. Kennedy, Jackie Robinson and Sandra Day O’Connor accomplished to be famous. Now, what does the name Steve DuFour bring to mind?
How: Why:
Parody Lead
Who: What: When:
Take me out of the ball game, take me out to the field. Slipping and sliding and sinking in mud at the old ball field.
Where: How: Why:
Compare/Contrast Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How: Why:
Despite the fact that most movies and shows portray the beginning of school as a return to a dull life, there is proof at Weezyville High School that many students return with a “it’s great to be back.”
Ragsdale CCHS Journalism 3 Descriptive Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How:
There was little talk, only the murmurs of players as they gathered around the coach’s window to view the taped list. Then there were whoops and yells, except from a few solemn boys in the back. They were unlisted. They were silent. They were cut.
Why:
Astonisher/Punch Lead
Who: What: When: Where:
You may be dead tomorrow. That is the consensus of the American Lung Association, who yesterday launched a new public awareness campaign to stop smoking.
How: Why:
Teaser Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How:
No one parks in Ryan Stewart’s space anymore. It stays empty as one tribute from McDoogal High School’s senior class. Stewart died in a car accident one year ago. Today is his birthday – he would have been 18 and the class hasn’t forgotten him.
Why:
Exclamatory Lead
Who: What: When: Where:
State champions! That toooften-heard, but never attainable phrase finally became a reality for Coach Lev Horrowitz and his team as they won the boys’ state basketball title for the first time in school history.
How: Why:
Quotation Lead
Who: What:
“My plane is taking off without me,” shouted a student pilot to his instructor as he dashed down the runway after his Cessna 140.
Ragsdale CCHS Journalism 4 When: Where: How: Why:
Question Lead
Who: What: When:
Are you feeling incurably lazy? Constantly fatigued? Plagued by chronic apathy? All of the above? You might be a victim of senioritis.
Where: How: Why:
First-person Lead
Who: What: When: Where: How: Why:
Putting on my gear, I climbed into the heavy door of the dark green, metal monster before me. As the tank started rolling, my guide, United States Army PFC Cory Marsh, said there was nothing to fear.
Ragsdale CCHS Journalism 1 Lede Exercises Directions: Write a feature lede for each of the following data sets without adding information other than what is provided. As a feature lede, you may exceed 30 words, but be sure to include engaging, essential information to pique the reader’s interest. 1.
A school production of the musical Among Wolves will be held; it will be a partnership between your school and your rival school; sponsored by both school’s drama programs. Tickets at the door are five dollars. Performance will be on March 3, 2015. Director is junior Engel Carlosimo from your school; codirectors are W. Chad Hargrave and Alex MacMillan from the rival school; extra credit will be offered by all English teachers at each school.
2.
Car crash occurred 11 a.m.; Junior LaVerne DeFazzio was injured; occurred on Rocksprings Drive; brakes locked while avoiding a furry mammal; totaled 2008 VW Passat; will be hospitalized at St. Mary’s for three weeks; fractured collar bone and shins; minor bruises and cuts sustained; student was selling ads for school newsmagazine.
3.
Kevin Cho is a rising sophomore; he was awarded a scholarship to attend a prestigious writing workshop at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The program lasts for six weeks during the last half of summer; he is undecided as to whether he’ll attend, as he hates deadline-inspired writing; he is a star runner for the cross country team and will be required to miss the first two meets of the year by attending the workshop. Teammates are miffed that Cho may miss two meets, but keep his starting position.
4.
Stewart Griffin and M.T. Braine are both Peer Helpers; Griffin is a junior; Braine is a senior; named chairpersons for Relay for Life fundraiser for cancer research; will oversee operations for event to be held in May; the class which donates the most money will get a day off from school; campaign begins January 14; ends April 19; funds raised equaled 600 dollars last year. Former principal Eason Maxom, a cancer survivor, will kick off the fundraising drive at a school assembly led by Griffin and Brain.
5.
The Red and Gold Review (beauty pageant) will take place January 25; participants were selected by secret ballot and nominated by student organizations, peers, teachers, and sports teams; overall winner receives a scholarship in the amount of 1,500 dollars; two runners up and one winner selected; our school’s legendary Coach Irv Finkleburg will emcee the event for the third-consecutive year; male escorts will be Enrique de Leon and Vineet Mayuhr. Judges from the community include Severus A. Weasley, Beatrix Cosgrove, Early Cornelius and Susan Polanski. Last year, Dobie Potter won the overall competition.
6.
The Classic City Wrestling Championship was held at our school on December 10, 20013; Cedar Shoals, Parkview Christian, Prince Avenue Christian, St. Joseph’s Catholic, and Oconee County High Schools were represented; winners from our school included 150-pounder Matt “Mad Dawg” Barkelew, Tullos “The General” Appomattox at 197, Anthony “Long Money” McGoo at 201, and Benji “Papa Bear” Linkingtonville at 189; more than 6,000 dollars raised; proceeds will benefit the wrestling program and the th restoration of the Old Gym. The win marks wrestling coach E.L. Jefe’s 300 win and makes him eligible for the state high school hall of fame for sports.