Novel News: Broadcast Coverage of Character, Conflict, Resolution, and Setting

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Internet access
  
  
• Television News shows appropriate for your class
  
  
• General classroom supplies (chart paper, markers, and so forth)
  
  
• Resources related to the events and characters in the novel to serve as a collection of props for the segments. Students can contribute to this collection of resources, bringing in appropriate items.
  Videotaping equipment (optional)

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   6 – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Inquiry & Analysis

Literary Elements Map

Students can map out the key literary elements of character, setting, conflict, and resolution as prewriting for their own fiction or as analysis of a text by another author in this secondary-level interactive.

 

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PRINTOUTS

Novel News Broadcast Segments Rubric (copies or an overhead)

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WEBSITES

• Picking Up the Pieces and Putting Them Back Together
• Ten Techniques for Energizing Your Classroom Discussion
• Broadcast writing style tips
• Television Newscasts

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PREPARATION

• Before this lesson, students will read a book independently, in literature circles, or as a whole class.
  
  
• Check your school's guidelines for materials that students are allowed to bring to school. Be sure to remind students of any resources that cannot be brought to school to serve as props (e.g., knives, toy weapons) and to offer suggestions for alternatives to use for any props that are controlled but integral to the news segments.
  
  
• Choose appropriate videos of television news programs to share with your class as examples. Be sure to preview the complete program to ensure that the content is appropriate for your classroom and community.
  
  
  • Video archives of news stories are available from the PBS NewsHour, MSNBC, ABC News, CBS News, ESPN, and Weather Channel Websites. Note that all but the NewsHour site have advertisements associated with them, typically for other shows on the network. Be sure to check the advertisements in addition to the news stories.
    
    
  • Your local television stations may also have online archives.
    
    
  • Videotaped segments of television shows will also work for this assignment if you have a television and VCR in your classroom.
    
    
  • Your library may have videotaped segments of news broadcasts and documentaries of historical importance that can be used for this assignment as well.
    
    
• Familiarize yourself with these additional resources on writing television news scripts so that you can provide hints and minilessons as students need more information: Picking Up the Pieces and Putting Them Back Together, Ten Techniques for Energizing Your Classroom Discussion, Broadcast writing style tips, and Television Newscasts.
  

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