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Year 7

Writing the opening of an article on ‘The Speckled Band’ case

I can create an effective opening for a newspaper article about Julia Stoner’s death.

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New
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Year 7

Writing the opening of an article on ‘The Speckled Band’ case

I can create an effective opening for a newspaper article about Julia Stoner’s death.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An article opening begins a newspaper article
  2. The opening must contain main information about the event
  3. The main information about an event covers the who, what, where, when and why of the event
  4. You should be as precise as possible when reporting on the who, what, where, when and why of an event

Keywords

  • Opening - An opening is the beginning section of a text.

  • Interview - An interview is a conversation between two or more people where one party is asked questions about something.

  • Speculation - Speculation is a theory or idea formed about something without the full concrete evidence.

Common misconception

Details of a crime can be reported in any part of an article.

Explain to students that more and more information is revealed as an article develops.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: Writing the opening of an article on ‘The Speckled Band’ case, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students could be challenged to edit their opening depending on their target reader.
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Teacher tip
content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is purpose of a headline for a newspaper article?
To give all of the details of a news story.
Correct answer: To hook the reader.
To provide background information.
Q2.
What must a subheading be when used in a newspaper article?
Detailed.
Correct answer: Short and snappy.
Funny.
Q3.
Which headline uses a pun?
Correct answer: Dough-licious new pastry lands in shops
Yummy new pastry lands in shops
Tasty new pastry lands in shops
Q4.
'Tasty new pastry lands in shops!' Which technique does this headline use?
Alliteration.
A pun.
Correct answer: Rhyme.
Q5.
What comes after the headline and subheading in a newspaper article?
A picture.
Correct answer: The main body text including introduction.
A conclusion.
Q6.
Which headline is least effective at hooking the reader?
Correct answer: Local business announces expansion plans.
Seafood festival makes a splash.
Whimsical wonderland warms hearts.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of a newpaper article opening?
To give all the details of the story to the reader.
Correct answer: To summarise the main points of the article to the reader.
To give a visual depiction of the event.
Q2.
What does speculation mean?
A fact about something.
Correct answer: A theory formulated without firm evidence.
A wild guess about something.
Q3.
Where must you include the who, what, where, when, why of a newspaper article?
Tail.
Main body.
Correct answer: Opening.
Q4.
What is important to include in the main body of a newspaper article?
Background information.
Analysis.
5 Ws.
Correct answer: Interviews with witnesses.
Q5.
What does not fit into an opening of a newspaper article?
Where the event took place.
Correct answer: Background information about suspect.
When the event happened.
Q6.
Which order will you find these details when reading a newspaper article?
1 - Who, what, where, when, why of the event.
2 - Interviews with witnesses.
3 - Other background information.