Set Your Focus
- What’s the story about?
- How would you tell it to a friend?
Organize
- Lead hook the reader?
- Lead fewer that 30 words, preferable 20.
- Lead backed up high in story?
- Focus or “nut” graph high in story?
- “So What?” angle. Is it lively and strong?
- Lead quotation lively and strong?
Background
- History included to explain how or why action occurred?
- Statistics all there, and clearly explained? Do your numbers add up? Double check.
- The money—Where’s it coming from or going to?
- What happens now?
Writing
- Unnecessary words edited out?
- Writing precise?
- Writing sensitive to all groups?
- Sentences and paragraphs short?
- Verbs lively? Adjectives and adverbs rare?
- Active not passive voice used most of the time?
Double Check
- Is impact on reader’s life explained?
- Correct sources quoted, leading with students or teachers affected?
- Story fair and balanced?
- Story free of your opinions and biases?