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Using interview quotes in caption and body copy:
Two Line Quote: "When a quote has two sentences or parts, the rules
change," said Ghastin. "The 'said' goes on the left side."
See more examples below.
Example #1: by Michael Martinus (6)
History, check. English, check. Yearbook, check. Math… ugh. Junior Tyler Wilson does not enjoy homework but he finds math homework to be the hardest of all.
“My easiest homework would be yearbook and my hardest homework is my Math 3 homework,” Wilson said.
Wilson hates doing his math homework because he does not like the new common core standards.
“The new common core is very difficult to understand,” said Wilson, “it makes the math process more convoluted.”
Example #2: by Krystal Barrios (6)
Looking down, you see ant-like people shift and turn in your view, it gets harder to breath and you feel like you’re going to pass out, this is otherwise known as acrophobia an extreme or irrational fear of heights -- especially if the person is not high up… and for freshman Teresa Franco the monkey bars gave her a traumatic experience.
“[When falling] make sure you know where you land,” Franco said.
Franco had broken a bone in the fourth grade when she had fallen from her schools monkey bars, and had to wear a cast on her pinky for a number of months. Franco's dad would often joke with her about how her pinky would fall off.
“It was scary,” said Franco. “I thought I was going to lose it [pinky].”
Example #3: by Coralia Gisell Rodriguez (5)
You’re walking next to you friend and you notice how much she lowers her head while she’s looking at you. As you see people pass by you realize how much shorter you are compared to them. One thing Freshman Daniela Quintero wishes she could change about herself is her height.
“It’s horrible to almost always be looking up at people,” Quintero said.
When you are a toddler height does not really matter, because you are all roughly about the same height. When you get older everything changes and there are people with all kinds of heights.
“Everyone is growing and I just feel so short,” Quintero said.
Example #4: by Erin Cabatingan
Many people’s biggest challenge is public speaking, which calls for the confidence some people lack. However, for junior Carmen Ramirez presentations and speaking to others has always been hard, but last summer when she got her job, everything changed.
“My biggest challenge was being a social person, because I have never been a social person,” said Ramirez. “I learned better communication [skills] and body language.”
Starting the job Ramirez noticed many of the people were students from her elementary, which made speaking a little more easy. Another thing that helped put things at ease was having her twin brother with her.
“But honestly getting the research job [at UC Berkeley] gave me confidence to go out and interview people,” Ramirez said.
The unique job helped Ramirez get over her challenge of public speaking and being shy.
Example #5: by Nancy Hernandez (5)
You see yourself standing at a beach where the weather is really hot, but the beach waves create a cool breeze to freshen you off. You take everything in on how you will zip line through the forest later and watch a luau at night with your family to take some culture in. Suddenly you hear a buzzing sound and are confused until you open your eyes and realize it was just a dream. Freshmen Coralia Rodriguez dreams about going to Hawaii with her family and having her dream vacation spot go from a dream to a reality.
“I’ve always wanted to experience how living in an island felt like,” freshman Coralia Rodriguez said.
Example #6: by Alexia Magdaleno
Many high school students have dreams of going to college and getting a good job in their home country. Freshman Jenny Rivera has different plans; Rivera has dreams to move to South Korea and work in a cafe.
“I’d like to move to South Korea and work in a cafe, I’m learning Korean and I love the culture,” Rivera said.
Example #7: by Jerrald Arcega
Fingers pound the keys on the desk as a bead of sweat shimmers in flashing lights of the colorful monitor. True friends know everything about each other but little known facts about them may catch you by surprise. Junior Tyler Wilson shelters the fact that he obtains great skill at an online computer game: League Of Legends.
“[League of Legends is] very unique and it has its own artistic style,” Wilson said.
Feature Writing Tips
Example Feature Story Starts
Example #1 by Karla Reyes (6)
Now-a-days it's not uncommon for people to experience discrimination online. Imagine a loved one getting bullied. For junior Mario Lopez, observing this friends trying to get through that hatred would change his perspective forever.
"I wish more people were nicer to each other," said Lopez. "So everyone could get along and not feel so judged by society."
Example #2 by Juan Baltazar (5)
Nerves were taking over her body, but so was the joy of seeing her friends again -- until she saw those words on her schedule that would change her. For sophomore Daniela Quintero theater and yearbook were the worse classes she could get in her first year at Harden Middle School.
"I was really shy, but it helped me get out of my shell," Quintero said.
Example #3 by Isabel Cabrera (6)
The gym is packed; the crowd is cheering for the Boronda Meadow Hawks. The ball gets served right to freshman Jezebel Pahua when-- Bam! Her own teammate crashes into her, forcing her head to crash on the cold gym floor. Almost every sport has it's risks of dangerous accidents; Pahua experienced this risk first hand.
"I didn't tell anyone I was hurting," said Pahua. "I just got up and kept playing."
Example #4 by Elias Pimentel (5)
The measure of resiliency, passion, and competitiveness define the overall success of an athlete. True champions know that they will never attain perfection, but always strive to come as close to it as possible. Freshman Aaliyah Annis always strives to be better, faster, and stronger; for no sport can give her an adrenaline rush like basketball does.
"[Basketball] is the only sport that I can connect to," Annis said.
Creative Opening + Leads
Example #1 by Louis Beltran (6)
With a sigh, he closes the metallic door, starting the rumbling engine; the routine repeats itself as he backs away from the student parking lot. His eyes light up as he recalls what he needs. Turning on the radio, 90's beats burst out of the speakers as he jams out to his home. For sophomore Mario Lopes, music is his escape from reality; he enjoys listening to R & B in the car with his friends.
Example #2 by Aaliyah Roman (5)
Middle school, a place full of teens trying to figure out who they are, will be a change in someone's life. Many teens experience shyness, which can prevetn teehns from being who they really want to be. For junior Destiny Perez, this caused her to make one of her biggest regrets in middle school -- not joining wrestling.
Example #3 by Aly Gutierrez (5)
All eyes focused on the center of the stage. When the band begins the music, the crowd comes to a hush to listen. On March 2016, sophomore Mia Valdez joined the band Sam's School of Rock, where she got the role of lead singer.
Example #4 by Jade Uganiza (6)
Alarming sounds go off. You open your eyes, realizing it's time to get up for school. Luckily senior Aaron Macias wakes up refreshed to start his day. Macias doesn't have to wake up early because he doesn't have a first period class.
Example #5 by Coralia Rodriguez (5)
Mya looked into the mirror regretting what she had done. On the sides of her head two patches with no hair were visible. Shaving her hair will never again be something freshman Mya Urza does -- not even if Rihanna, her favorite singer, decides to shave her head.
- Use "said" -- and only "said."
- Properly indent paragraphs.
- Background info/transitions = info that is not quoted (explanation, fact, paraphrase of quote, any info that makes sense to put next-- but not a quote.)
- Put commas at the end of the quote before the attribution (name/ said).
- Indent your paragraphs five spaces.
- Use complete sentences (not fragments) in your creative openings.
- Properly attribute quotes:
Two Line Quote: "When a quote has two sentences or parts, the rules
change," said Ghastin. "The 'said' goes on the left side."
See more examples below.
Example #1: by Michael Martinus (6)
History, check. English, check. Yearbook, check. Math… ugh. Junior Tyler Wilson does not enjoy homework but he finds math homework to be the hardest of all.
“My easiest homework would be yearbook and my hardest homework is my Math 3 homework,” Wilson said.
Wilson hates doing his math homework because he does not like the new common core standards.
“The new common core is very difficult to understand,” said Wilson, “it makes the math process more convoluted.”
Example #2: by Krystal Barrios (6)
Looking down, you see ant-like people shift and turn in your view, it gets harder to breath and you feel like you’re going to pass out, this is otherwise known as acrophobia an extreme or irrational fear of heights -- especially if the person is not high up… and for freshman Teresa Franco the monkey bars gave her a traumatic experience.
“[When falling] make sure you know where you land,” Franco said.
Franco had broken a bone in the fourth grade when she had fallen from her schools monkey bars, and had to wear a cast on her pinky for a number of months. Franco's dad would often joke with her about how her pinky would fall off.
“It was scary,” said Franco. “I thought I was going to lose it [pinky].”
Example #3: by Coralia Gisell Rodriguez (5)
You’re walking next to you friend and you notice how much she lowers her head while she’s looking at you. As you see people pass by you realize how much shorter you are compared to them. One thing Freshman Daniela Quintero wishes she could change about herself is her height.
“It’s horrible to almost always be looking up at people,” Quintero said.
When you are a toddler height does not really matter, because you are all roughly about the same height. When you get older everything changes and there are people with all kinds of heights.
“Everyone is growing and I just feel so short,” Quintero said.
Example #4: by Erin Cabatingan
Many people’s biggest challenge is public speaking, which calls for the confidence some people lack. However, for junior Carmen Ramirez presentations and speaking to others has always been hard, but last summer when she got her job, everything changed.
“My biggest challenge was being a social person, because I have never been a social person,” said Ramirez. “I learned better communication [skills] and body language.”
Starting the job Ramirez noticed many of the people were students from her elementary, which made speaking a little more easy. Another thing that helped put things at ease was having her twin brother with her.
“But honestly getting the research job [at UC Berkeley] gave me confidence to go out and interview people,” Ramirez said.
The unique job helped Ramirez get over her challenge of public speaking and being shy.
Example #5: by Nancy Hernandez (5)
You see yourself standing at a beach where the weather is really hot, but the beach waves create a cool breeze to freshen you off. You take everything in on how you will zip line through the forest later and watch a luau at night with your family to take some culture in. Suddenly you hear a buzzing sound and are confused until you open your eyes and realize it was just a dream. Freshmen Coralia Rodriguez dreams about going to Hawaii with her family and having her dream vacation spot go from a dream to a reality.
“I’ve always wanted to experience how living in an island felt like,” freshman Coralia Rodriguez said.
Example #6: by Alexia Magdaleno
Many high school students have dreams of going to college and getting a good job in their home country. Freshman Jenny Rivera has different plans; Rivera has dreams to move to South Korea and work in a cafe.
“I’d like to move to South Korea and work in a cafe, I’m learning Korean and I love the culture,” Rivera said.
Example #7: by Jerrald Arcega
Fingers pound the keys on the desk as a bead of sweat shimmers in flashing lights of the colorful monitor. True friends know everything about each other but little known facts about them may catch you by surprise. Junior Tyler Wilson shelters the fact that he obtains great skill at an online computer game: League Of Legends.
“[League of Legends is] very unique and it has its own artistic style,” Wilson said.
Feature Writing Tips
- The quote is the second paragraph. Avoid putting quotes in your first paragraph.
- Mention the full name and grade the first time a person appears in your story. After that, just call the person their last name.
- Don't mention the interview or the questions you asked.
Example Feature Story Starts
Example #1 by Karla Reyes (6)
Now-a-days it's not uncommon for people to experience discrimination online. Imagine a loved one getting bullied. For junior Mario Lopez, observing this friends trying to get through that hatred would change his perspective forever.
"I wish more people were nicer to each other," said Lopez. "So everyone could get along and not feel so judged by society."
Example #2 by Juan Baltazar (5)
Nerves were taking over her body, but so was the joy of seeing her friends again -- until she saw those words on her schedule that would change her. For sophomore Daniela Quintero theater and yearbook were the worse classes she could get in her first year at Harden Middle School.
"I was really shy, but it helped me get out of my shell," Quintero said.
Example #3 by Isabel Cabrera (6)
The gym is packed; the crowd is cheering for the Boronda Meadow Hawks. The ball gets served right to freshman Jezebel Pahua when-- Bam! Her own teammate crashes into her, forcing her head to crash on the cold gym floor. Almost every sport has it's risks of dangerous accidents; Pahua experienced this risk first hand.
"I didn't tell anyone I was hurting," said Pahua. "I just got up and kept playing."
Example #4 by Elias Pimentel (5)
The measure of resiliency, passion, and competitiveness define the overall success of an athlete. True champions know that they will never attain perfection, but always strive to come as close to it as possible. Freshman Aaliyah Annis always strives to be better, faster, and stronger; for no sport can give her an adrenaline rush like basketball does.
"[Basketball] is the only sport that I can connect to," Annis said.
Creative Opening + Leads
Example #1 by Louis Beltran (6)
With a sigh, he closes the metallic door, starting the rumbling engine; the routine repeats itself as he backs away from the student parking lot. His eyes light up as he recalls what he needs. Turning on the radio, 90's beats burst out of the speakers as he jams out to his home. For sophomore Mario Lopes, music is his escape from reality; he enjoys listening to R & B in the car with his friends.
Example #2 by Aaliyah Roman (5)
Middle school, a place full of teens trying to figure out who they are, will be a change in someone's life. Many teens experience shyness, which can prevetn teehns from being who they really want to be. For junior Destiny Perez, this caused her to make one of her biggest regrets in middle school -- not joining wrestling.
Example #3 by Aly Gutierrez (5)
All eyes focused on the center of the stage. When the band begins the music, the crowd comes to a hush to listen. On March 2016, sophomore Mia Valdez joined the band Sam's School of Rock, where she got the role of lead singer.
Example #4 by Jade Uganiza (6)
Alarming sounds go off. You open your eyes, realizing it's time to get up for school. Luckily senior Aaron Macias wakes up refreshed to start his day. Macias doesn't have to wake up early because he doesn't have a first period class.
Example #5 by Coralia Rodriguez (5)
Mya looked into the mirror regretting what she had done. On the sides of her head two patches with no hair were visible. Shaving her hair will never again be something freshman Mya Urza does -- not even if Rihanna, her favorite singer, decides to shave her head.