Newspaper Headlines 2

Newspaper Headlines

Headlines

News items and stories in newspapers have headlines above them.

   A headline is usually written in about 5 words.

  

The purpose of a headline is to attract the interest of the readers by telling them in an interesting and short way what the story is about.

To do this, the headline needs to be catchy.

Open Ended

How can a writer make their newspaper headlines catchy?

ALLITERATION

Alliteration:

Alliteration is the repetition of similar initial consonant sounds in a phrase or a sentence.

Example: Terror Targets Texas

                 Deadly Bandits Disappear

NOTE: The focus is on the sound and not the letter.

    Example:      Nice Chocolate Cake

    In the above phrase, even though the letter ‘c’ has been repeated, they do not make the same sound. The ‘c’ in chocolate makes the sound /ch/ and the ‘c’ in cake makes the sound ‘k’

Poll

Which of the following headlines contain alliteration?

• Dog Survives Close Shave

• Bangkok Market Booms.

RHYME

Rhyme:

 A rhyme is the repetition of similar sounds at the end of words.

Example: Not Too Cool for School

                Green Queen Triumphs

                Glass Trophy For Winning Class

Open Ended

Write a sentence or a phrase that has rhyming words.

RHETORICAL QUESTION

Rhetorical question:

This is a question intended to draw the reader's attention. It does not demand an answer but rather is intended to get the reader to read the report to find the answer.

Example: Want to Control Your Dreams?

                 What Dangers Does Covid-19 Pose?

                  Can United do the Treble?

Emotive words

Emotive words are meant to evoke a strong emotional reaction in the majority of readers or listeners. They hold a certain weight that is hard to ignore.

Examples:

Powerful Adjectives - Appalling, Wonderful, Heavenly, Magical and Tragic.

Abstract Nouns - Freedom, Pride, Justice, Love and Terror.

Verbs - Destroyed, Vindicated, Saved, Betrayed and Adored.

Emotive words in headlines examples:

Deadly Cat Calamity

Home Destroyed by Raging Fire!

Explosions Rock Paris

Open Ended

Write a headline of your choice that contains an emotive word.

Examples: agonised, alarmed, aggravated, agitated, adored, elated, dreadful

PUN

A pun is a play on words, making use of words that have more than one meaning.

Writers use puns to excite readers and make them wonder which meaning of the word is being used. This urges the reader to read the story to find out. Sometimes it is just funny reading the headlines with the pun.

Examples:

Shoe Company Boss Gets the Boot

Cars Stuck in Jam

Bacon Prices Slashed

United Divided Over Jadon Sancho

Open Ended

Write a sentence or a phrase that contains a pun.

Creating Headlines

Look at the extract below:

A giraffe escapes from a zoo and makes it down the road into the supermarket car park. There is chaos everywhere as people try to escape the damage being caused by the giraffe.

Possible headlines:

Rampaging Giraffe Causes Havoc

Chaos as Giraffe Visits Supermarket

Giraffe Causes Jam

Creating Headlines

An obese dog was found stuck in a fence, unable to pull its plump body through the gap as it tried to chase after a rabbit. Firemen came to the rescue and cut the fence to free it.

Possible headlines:

Firemen Rescue Trapped Dog

Firemen Cut Fence to Free Dog

Fence Saves Rabbit

Open Ended

Create a headline for the extract below. Remember to use one of the features (alliteration, rhyme, rhetorical question, pun or emotive words) to make it catchy.

Toodle, the most frightened dog in Britain, is scared of his own tail. The poodle runs yelping if he catches sight of it.

Open Ended

Write a headline for the extract below:

About ten thousand soldiers were seen marching up and down the hill near Pokuase in Greater Accra. It is feared that there is a possible invasion in the coming days.

Open Ended

Write a possible headline for the extract below:

A Scientist has been researching pyramids. He has discovered a pyramid with a magical entrance.