Vocabulary Builder, Jennifer Carbert

Headline writing requires precise and careful wording. Space limiations and time limitations on ther reader require the headlines to be short and easy. Shorter words are generally easier for readers to understand as well. Here is a list of words that can be shortened.

1) allocate: give, allot, issue, award
2) answer: reply
3) arrange: set, plan, shape, slate
4) beginning: start, opening, initial
5) command: lead, rule, direct, reign, sway
6) confess: admit
7) decision: rule, order, writ, decreed
8) inform: tell
9) murder: kill, slay
10) schedule: slate, set, plan, arrange
11) confirm: verify, affirm, approve
12) essentually: actually, in essence, vitally, significantly

Note: image from Yvette's Inner Geek Blog

Vocabulary Builder Kris Hoyt

Promise: Assure, Swear

Criticize: Assess, appraise

Examine: Look, analyze

celebrate: Cheer, Party

Overcome: Defeat, pass

pursuit: follow, stalk

Silent: Quiet, peaceful

Ridicule: Joke, Laugh

Murder: Butcher, assassinate

question: interrogate, query

Vibrate: Shake, move

Post: Hang, present

Picture from:

http://theharperstudio.com/wp-content/themes/harperStudio/images/2009/07/Thesaurus-ad.jpg

Headline Wordle, Katrine Sorensen

Vocabulary Builder, Terra Poole

Shorter synonyms are really important for ensuring clear and precise headlines. Because headlines are the most important part of getting people to read the story, it is important to appeal to a broad audience. Some people's vocabularies aren't as defined as other people's therefore short and clear words ensure more people will understand what the headlines are referring to.

Chapter 9 Words:

Former: of yore, whilom

Wreck: crash, crate

Silent: hush, mousy

Steal: pirate, cozen

Thwart: balk, crimp

Pledge: toast, promise

Nullify: cancel, revoke

Inform: brief, clue

Convene: rally, unite

Climax: payoff, top

My words:

vigilante: bird dog, warden

plethora: glut, plenty

Note: Picture from: Modern Mechanix Blog

Headline Wordle, Kris Hoyt

Vocabulary Builder, Jayme Hagen

Short language is needed to make small headlines and tidy up really lengthy headlines. An important thing to keep in mind though, just because a word is smaller does not necessarily make it a better choice, if it is a word that most people do not understand, it is better to go with a more common word. The goal is always to have the largest possible audience, not all people want to read with a thesaurus handy...

The Book's Ten:

• allocate: give out, hand out
• answer: retort, rejoin
• choose: want, select
• destroy: wreck, break
• quarrel: fight, battle
• examine: review, check out
• former: prior, old
• inform: notify, advise
• nullify: annul, cancel
• resign: leave, pack in
• thwart: block, beat
  

My Two:

• devestated: destroyed, wrecked
• engulf: flood, bury
  

Photo available from Innergeek.

Headline Wordle, Terra Poole

Headline Wordle, Jayme Hagen

Headline Wordle, Megan Perras

Headline Wordle, Shannon Findlay

Vocabulary Builder, Steven Wagers

The use of short words in headlines is very important as it helps to keep the headlines themselves shorter. By using synonyms of words one can make the headline longer or shorter in order to fit their unique needs. That is why it is so important to have a good grasp of the English language.

10 Words from page 181:

1. Allocate- give, allot, issue, award (assign, apportion)

2. Answer- reply (respond, retort)

3. Choose- name, elect, pick (select, prefer)

4. Destroy- raze (level, ravage)

5. Examine- scan, study (search, probe)

6. Former- ex (prior, previous)

7. Inform- tell (notify, advise)

8. Pledge- vow, agree, oath (guarantee, assure/surety)

9. Reveal- tell (unveil, impart, inform)

10. Thwart- foil, stop, limit (prevent, baffle)

My 2 words

1. Shatter- (split, crack, break)

2. Maniacal- (insane, crazy)

Image from http://liebchen11.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/vocabulary.jpg

Headline Wordle, Steven Wagers

Vocabulary Builder, Pamela Di Pinto

Short words are essential for headline writers when limited by space. Here are ten words from the vocabulary list from pg. 181 of the text, plus two extra short synonyms for each word. At the bottom are two of my own words to add to the list, along with their shorter synonyms:

*Note: My additions are in italics

1. Acquire: get, gain, earn
   
2. Answer: reply, retort, rejoin
   
3. Confess: admit, grant, allow
   
4. Decline, Decrease: dip, fall, drop, crash
   
5. Destroy: raze, beat, crush
6. Murder: kill, slay, snuff, whack
   
7. Resign: quit, leave, cede
   
8. Reveal: tell, show, blurt
   
9. Steal: rob, loot, take, rob, nab
   
10. Suspend: stop, end, delay, defer

My additions to the list:

1. Assault: hit, beat
   
2. Deliver: give, deal
   

Headline Wordle, Pamela Di Pinto

Headline Wordle, Jennifer Carbert

Writing headlines is an art. Here are some words to describe how a headline should be viewed.

Vocabulary Builder, Aden Cruz

Using short and concise words in headlines is imperative in order to convey the message quickly and accessibly.

Additional Synonyms:

acquire: gain, attain

argument: dispute, quarrel, spat

attempt: effort, challenge

climax: highlight, height, pinnacle

compete: contend, fight, race

confess: declare, profess, affirm

criticize: condemn, carp,

former: past, earlier

inform: notify, report

pursuit: search, tracking

Additional Words:

Tragic: sad, terrible, awful

Explode: burst, blast

Endeavor: try, effort, attempt

Note: Image Source - http://fysop.files.wordpress.com/

Headline Wordle, Aden Cruz

Lecture 7: Headlines and Huffington Post

Guiding Ideas:

• What is the purpose of a headline?
• What are the different types and styles of headlines in modern newspapers?
• How have computers changed the methodology employed in headline writing?
• What makes an effective headline?

Critical questions:

• What makes a headline "good" or "bad?"
• What is the difference between news headlines and feature headlines?
• How do you know if a headline will fit in the allotted space?
• What kinds of questions can I ask myself in determining whether my headline is effective?

Activity 1:
Read the following headlines collected in the 2007 edition of The Lower Case (Columbia Review of Journalism). Note, as a comment, what is incorrect or humorous in these headlines:

Guest-worker plan proposed

Texas police want bullet lodged in teenager's head

The (London) Independent 12.23.06

Fifth Avenue clogged with police shooting protestors

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 12.17.06

U.S. pilots in Brazil crash back at home

The Press of Atlantic City 12.10.06

Will hanging help Bush?…

Activity 2: 


What are the elements of headline writing? What are some purposes of headlines?  Add your answers in the form of a WORDLE (word cloud). Then, post your Wordle as a blog post. You'll need to create your Wordle, then save it to the public gallery and finally, copy the HTML code that appears at the bottom of the page. You'll then paste the HTML code into your blog (when in "Edit HTML" mode, NOT in the "compose" mode). 


Your blog title should be: Headline Wordle, Student Name. The labels for your post should be: lecture 7, review, headlines.  


Here is an example of a Wordle that I did using information from Chapter 9:

Activity 3:

Go to the Huffington Post and read a few articles and then identify elements of strength and/or weaknesses you find in the headlines. Then read a short feature article, and similarly think about its headline. Examine differences in style, sensitivity, when humor is appropriate, inappropriate. Note the use of verbs, need for extensive "shorter word" vocabulary, etc. Then evaluate the headlines according to the "Characteristics of Good Headlines" in Chapter 9. Add your thoughts as a comment to this lecture post.


Activity 4:

Compare headlines from the Huffington Post with column width, typographical specs and spacing (how the headline must also fit within predetermined space) as explained in Chapter 9. Did you find any headlines that were too long or too short? How might you change them to fit with rules noted in Chapter 9? Add a comment here.

Activity 5:
Review the vocabulary list on page 181. Note the importance of shorter synonyms to ensure clear and precise headlines. Choose ten words from the vocabulary list and add at least two other synonyms not noted in Chapter 9. Also, include two or three words that don't appear in this list along with your own shorter synonyms. Add your vocabulary information to a blog post. Title: Vocabulary Builder. Labels: lecture 7, headlines, stylistics. Remember to include an image in your post.

Activity 6:
If time permits, we can finish the class by adding to your E-Portfolios. You may choose to edit posts you have already written, or begin a new one.


Homework:
Practise spelling and review vocabulary
Come to class with a topic to add to your E-Portfolio



Note: Question mark sign image from Illinois Wesleyan University and newspapers image from 24/7 Wall St.