Loading…
Teaching or studying this?
All lesson plans
Lesson planC260 minsNew. New: checked automatically for level, grammar, facts and originality; a teacher's review is still to come. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Same Story, Two Papers: Journalistic style
Students compare broadsheet and tabloid styles in news reports about library closures, then write one story in both styles.
Register · Journalism · News · Media
Or download everything as a ZIP (2 PDFs)This lesson plan and its PDFs are free.
Plan at a glance
Aims
- Practise journalistic style
- Learn and use 21 words and phrases in 3 sets: Headline words, Reporting verbs that show stance, Tabloid expressions
- Read for detail: one story, two papers
- Writing task: two versions of one story
Stages · 60 min
- 5 minLead-in: Pairs talk about register and share ideas with the class.
- 5 minVocabulary: Ex. 1
- 5 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes together and check understanding.
- 10 minControlled practice: Ex. 2–3
- 10 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4–5
- 10 minReading: Ex. 6
- 15 minWriting: Ex. 7
Printables
Click a page to preview it, download it or open it in a new tab.
Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)Grammar notes
Headline language (headlinese)
- Headlines use short, dramatic words: probe (investigation), slam (criticise), axe (cut), bid (attempt), row (dispute), vow (promise), quit (resign).
- They drop articles and auxiliaries and use the present simple for past events: Council axes libraries. The infinitive refers to the future: Mayor to quit.
- Many headline words are also used in the article itself: launched a probe into…, provoked a backlash from…, the embattled leader…
Broadsheet and tabloid style
- Broadsheets favour neutral reporting verbs and attribution: conceded, insisted, warned, declined to comment, a spokesperson confirmed…
- Tabloids favour emotional language, puns, exclamation marks, named ordinary people with their ages, and labels such as 'fat-cat bosses'.
- The opening (lead) paragraph of a news story answers who, what, where and when in one or two sentences.
Study tips
- Read the same story in two different newspapers and list the words each one uses for the same people and events.
- Headline words often have a calmer everyday meaning too (a bid at an auction, a row of seats): note both.
Glossary
- Headline words8 items
- Reporting verbs that show stance7 items
- Tabloid expressions6 items
Complete the exercises, then check your answers.
1
Decode the headlines
Match each headline word with its meaning in news reports. There is one extra meaning.
Tap an item…
…then its match
2
Broadsheet or tabloid?
Read the sentences from news reports. Put each one in the right group.
- a
It's curtains for our much-loved library.
- b
Critics argue that the cuts will disproportionately affect older residents.
- c
Furious mum Jo, 34, blasted the 'heartless' plan.
- d
A spokesperson confirmed that a consultation would begin in May.
- e
The authority faces a projected shortfall of £2 million.
- f
Council chiefs in cash shambles!
- g
Council officials declined to comment on the proposed closures.
- h
The decision follows months of negotiation with local unions.
- i
Bookworms see red as fat-cat bosses wield the axe!
- j
Shame on them! Kids left with nowhere to go after school.
3
Reporting verbs and stance
Complete the sentences from a news report with the verbs in the box. There is one extra verb.
Word box
Tap a gap, then a word, or type the answer.
- a
The council leader that mistakes had been made, but said the decision was final.
- b
Campaigners have that funds were misused – allegations the council strongly denies.
- c
The leader the protest as 'a political stunt'.
- d
Union officials that further closures could follow next year.
- e
Despite repeated questions, the mayor that the figures were accurate.
- f
A spokesperson to comment on the leaked report.
4
Write it like a reporter
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the word given and between two and five words. Do not change the word given.
- a
Residents are angry about the decision to close the library.
BACKLASH
The decision to close the library has residents.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- b
The mayor promised firmly that the library would stay open.
VOWED
The mayor the library open.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- c
An investigation into the council's spending has been launched.
PROBE
A the council's spending has been launched.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- d
The council is trying to save £2 million.
BID
The council is making save £2 million.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- e
Councillors have been arguing bitterly about the cuts.
ROW
There has been a bitter the cuts among councillors.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- f
The council will cut the service completely next year.
AXED
The service next year.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
5
Sub-edit the copy
Each sentence from a news report has one mistake. Write the correction: the corrected word(s) or the whole sentence.
- a
Police have launched a probe in the missing funds.
- b
The minister was slammed from opposition MPs for the delay.
- c
The club has made a bid for avoid relegation.
- d
Residents have vowed fighting the closure in the courts.
- e
The embattled chair resigned after weeks of pressure, a spokesperson has said yesterday.
- f
Two hundred jobs are being axe at the factory.
6
Read: one story, two papers
Read the two reports and choose the correct answer.
TEXT A – The Wellmouth Courier Council confirms plan to close two branch libraries Wellmouth Borough Council has confirmed that the Harbour Street and Elm Park branch libraries will close in April as part of efforts to meet a projected £2 million budget shortfall. The proposals, approved by eight votes to five at Tuesday's cabinet meeting, have provoked a backlash from residents, more than 3,000 of whom signed a petition opposing the closures. Council leader Diane Roper, who has faced mounting criticism over the borough's finances, conceded that the decision was 'deeply regrettable' but insisted there was 'no realistic alternative'. Opposition councillors said they would seek a review of the decision, and the local branch of the librarians' union warned that further cuts could follow. A council spokesperson declined to comment on reports that the mobile library service is also under review. TEXT B – The Daily Clarion BOOKED OUT! Fury as council axes much-loved libraries Bookworms in Wellmouth saw red last night after penny-pinching council chiefs voted to axe TWO libraries. Embattled leader Diane Roper was slammed by furious parents, who branded the move 'a disgrace'. Mum-of-three Karen Fisk, 38, said: 'Where are our kids supposed to go now? It's heartbreaking.' Campaigners have vowed to fight on – and calls are growing for a probe into the council's spending.
- a
The main difference between the two headlines is that Text A's
- b
According to Text A, the petition against the closures
- c
In Text A, Diane Roper's attitude is best described as
- d
Text A mentions the mobile library service in order to
- e
A feature of Text B that is typical of tabloid style is
- f
Calling Diane Roper 'embattled' suggests that she
7
Write: two versions of one story
Write the same news story in two styles.
A town council has decided to close its only public swimming pool to save money. Write (a) a broadsheet report: a headline and the first two or three paragraphs, with a clear lead paragraph and neutral reporting verbs; and (b) a tabloid version of the headline and opening paragraph. Write 200–250 words in total, using at least five words from the box. Invent the town, people and figures. Word box: probe · slam · axe · bid · row · vow · backlash · embattled Example: (a) Council confirms closure of Millbrook pool. Millbrook Town Council has voted to close the town's only public swimming pool in a bid to save £400,000 a year.
Suggested minimum: 200 words
0 words · aim for at least 200
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
Revise with a game
This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.
- Step UpAnswer the lesson's questions to climb to the top.
- Pair UpMatch the lesson's words to their meanings against the clock.
- SnapA word and a meaning: do they go together? Answer fast.
- Fix ItFind the mistake in each sentence, then correct it.
- Quiz BoardTeams choose questions worth 100 to 500 points.
- Retro arcadeWord Invaders, Word Snake, Word Maze and Word Crossing: classic arcade games with the lesson's words.
Glossary
The 21 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 3 sets.
Headline words
- probe
- (noun, headline style) an official investigation: a probe into council spending
- slam
- (verb, headline style) to criticise very strongly and publicly
- axe
- (verb, headline style) to cut or end jobs, a service or a project
- bid
- (noun) an attempt to achieve something: a bid to save money
- row
- (noun, rhymes with 'cow') a serious public disagreement: a row over the cuts
- vow
- (verb) to promise firmly and publicly
- backlash
- a strong negative reaction from the public to a decision or event
- embattled
- facing many difficulties and much criticism, usually used of a person in charge
Reporting verbs that show stance
- concede
- to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true
- allege
- to claim that someone has done something wrong, without proof yet
- dismiss
- to treat an idea or criticism as not worth considering
- warn
- to say that something bad may happen
- insist
- to say firmly that something is true, especially when others doubt it
- decline
- to refuse politely; journalists write 'declined to comment'
- applaud
- to praise or approve of a decision or action publicly
Tabloid expressions
- see red
- (informal) to become very angry
- fat-cat
- (informal, disapproving) describing rich, powerful people, often managers, who are thought to be paid too much
- wield the axe
- (informal) to make severe cuts to jobs or services
- blast
- (informal) to criticise someone very strongly
- it's curtains for
- (informal) it is the end of something
- shambles
- (informal) a situation that is very badly organised or managed
How was this lesson plan?
One tap helps other teachers find the best lessons, and helps us improve them.