Yearbook/Journalism- Journalism Student Project ONE

BACKGROUND: You will be reading a newspaper article regarding the kidnapping of a young girl named
Elizabeth Smart. Once you have read the article, you will answer a series of questions, define vocabulary
terms and complete a human interest journalism article regarding the information in the story.

JOURNALISM LEARNING IN THIS LESSON: In this lesson, students learn how to collect and convey information about a current event. By focusing on who, what, when, where, why, and how questions, students will learn to thoroughly analyze and report on important world events.

READING: The link for the Elizabeth Smart article is here: “Salt Lake City Girl found 9 Months after her
kidnapping.” Please read the article carefully.

QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions regarding the article. Please use proper grammar and
complete sentences in your answers (10 points per question):

1. Journalism is famous for asking a number of questions to relate information to the reader.
   Those questions are Who? What? Where? Why? When? How? Answer each of those
   questions regarding the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart in this article. Be specific in your
   answers.
2. How would you feel now if you were Elizabeth’s parents? How do you think Elizabeth feels after
   coming home?
3. Do you think that the police department handled the situation well? Describe your answer.
4. What do you think was the relationship of the prayers to Elizabeth’s return? Do you think that if
   Elizabeth were not found, or were found dead, people might think that they didn’t pray enough?

VOCABULARY: Look up and record the definitions of the following words from the article (2 points
each):

1. Abducted
2. Vigils
3. Ordeal
4. Articulate
5. Ample
6. Unwavering
7. Panhandling
8. Drifter
9. Vested
10. Impromptu

ARTICLE: Pretend that you are a journalist and have been asked to write a 750 word article (roughly 3 double spaced, 12 point font pages) regarding “Ribbon Campaigns”, such as Pink Breast Cancer Ribbons, Red Aids Ribbons or the Baby Blue Ribbons used in the Ribbon Campaign of the Elizabeth Smart Story. Outline the history of such campaigns and their effectiveness. CONCENTRATE ON THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY AND HOW of the campaigns in your story. You will need to research your topic and use additional resources to supplement your understanding of Ribbon Campaigns. Please make sure that your story has an initial paragraph that outlines the background of the topic, a number of paragraphs in the story that describe the campaigns in history and a concluding paragraph the wraps up the story for the reader. (40 Points)

GRADING AND PROGRESS: Late projects will be marked down 10 percent per day late. Students that receive a 90 percent or better on this assignment will be given a remedial yearbook page design to complete for possible admittance into the yearbook staff. Students who do not receive 90 percent or better will be given another journalism assignment next week regarding factual reporting.