New
New
Year 7

Writing your own newspaper article about Sherlock Holmes

I can create a non-fiction text that is engaging and accurate.

New
New
Year 7

Writing your own newspaper article about Sherlock Holmes

I can create a non-fiction text that is engaging and accurate.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A newspaper article has five main sections with their own unique success criteria.
  2. You can use emotive language in a newspaper article to intrigue the reader.
  3. You need to punctuate quotes correctly using speech marks in a newspaper article.
  4. You can use a noun appositive in an article to give more information about a person.
  5. The conclusion of an article should include all other background information.

Keywords

  • Autopsy - An autopsy is an examination to reveal the cause of someone’s death.

  • Intrigue - To intrigue someone is to evoke their curiosity or interest.

  • Coaxed - Coaxed means to persuade someone to do something.

  • Venomous - A venomous substance is poisonous and typically secreted from snakes or spiders by biting or stinging.

Common misconception

A newspaper article can be written in the same style as a story retelling.

Newspaper articles must have different elements to show they are an article - interview quotes and a concise way of writing things are key.

You can allow students to type their articles up once the first draft is done, to make the article seem real and publishable.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You may want to have access to 'The Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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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6 Questions

Q1.
What does culminate mean?
to start developing
Correct answer: to reach the end of development
to get to the middle of development
Q2.
Who would be able to provide the most informative interview quote about the case in 'The Speckled Band' once solved?
Julia's fiancee
Correct answer: Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Roylott's friend
Q3.
Match the who, what, how where, when of Julia Stoner's death (from 'The Speckled Band') to how it might be written in an article opening.
Correct Answer:Who, what,Dr. Roylott orchestrated Julia Stoner's death

Dr. Roylott orchestrated Julia Stoner's death

Correct Answer:How,he coaxed a poisonous snake to bite her

he coaxed a poisonous snake to bite her

Correct Answer:Where,Stoke Moran property, in her bedroom

Stoke Moran property, in her bedroom

Correct Answer:When,roughly two years before Helen comes to Holmes

roughly two years before Helen comes to Holmes

Q4.
What is the most hooking headline for an article on the solved mystery of 'The Speckled Band'?
Woman dies of snake bite!
Venomous snake attack!
Correct answer: Sinister Stoke Moran Stepfather!
Q5.
What tone must you create in the tail of a newspaper article?
upbeat
solemn
Correct answer: conclusive
Q6.
Which are true of interview quotes when used in a newspaper article?
you can only include one per article
Correct answer: the tone of the quote will vary with each person you interview
Correct answer: interview quotes add seriousness to the article

6 Questions

Q1.
What does a headline do in a newspaper article?
summarise the main events of the article
Correct answer: hook the reader
give background information
Q2.
What must a subheading be when used in a newspaper article?
detailed and lengthy
Correct answer: clear and concise
funny and witty
Q3.
Which technique is used here to give extra information about a noun: Dr. Roylott, son of a wealthy aristocrat, had lost his fortune.
simile
metaphor
Correct answer: noun appositive
Q4.
Which sentence uses noun appositive correctly?
Correct answer: Helen, a 30 year old teacher from Surrey, lost her sister last year.
Roylott was Julia and Helen's stepfather, who kept exotic pets.
Julia, sadly, was bitten by a snake.
Q5.
How should you write out an interview quote in a newspaper article?
in capital letters
as you would any other sentence in the article
Correct answer: with speech marks
Q6.
Which sentence creates the best conclusive tone for the end of an article?
Julia died at Stoke Moran in her bedroom.
Roylott unleashed a venomous snake.
Correct answer: Helen hopes to move on from this tragedy.