The Elements of YEARBOOK WRITING headlines HEADLINES the

The Elements of YEARBOOK: WRITING: headlines

HEADLINES the verbal-visual connection VERBAL • captures & keeps readers with clever diction & clear details • reflects the dominant photo’s content VISUAL (an entry point) • uses type creatively •

HEADLINES the verbal-visual connection

HEADLINES the verbal-visual connection • Identify content • Tell something specific about the season, event, etc. • Capture the readers’ attention

Headline Anatomy Primary headline – The Teaser • Intrigues the reader visually and/or verbally (larger than anything else on the spread. ) Secondary headline – The Teller • Provides information specific to the year & identifies the spread’s focus (subject and verb are needed. ) This is smaller then the primary head.

Headline Anatomy Label (avoid using these) primary headline Teaser secondary headline Teller Homecoming Reign Delay Game, field coronation come to a thundering halt • Identify content? • Tells something specific about the event? • Captures the readers’ attention?

Quote for a secondary “At first, I enjoyed the light show, but when I realized that the storm would probably cancel the game & the half-time ceremony, I was depressed. ” Reign. Delay ~junior Jonah Martin When the first notes of the fight song were punctuated by a crash of thunder, the marching band retreated for cover under the stands. A record 1. 9 inches of rain fell in less than an hour. “ We use the 30 -30 Rule to insure the safety of the students and fans, ” athletic director Kevin Brewster said. “When the flash to thunder count approaches 30 seconds, everyone is undercover. ”

Literary Devices Clever word play enhances content Alliteration Antonym, synonym, homonym Onomatopoeia Rhyme Pun

Literary Devices Alliteration Homecoming fans experience Wet, Wild Washout Thunder, lightning Rhyme & Onomatopeia cause Homecoming BASHto. CRASH Homonym Get a Reign Check Homecoming ceremony washes out Pun storm Real. Reign. Wreck Lightning destroys Homecoming

Editing Guidelines Refine headlines for strong appeal • Keep headlines factual; no editorializing • Use fresh, active verbs • Eliminate unnecessary words • Use a comma instead of “and” • Don’t break “grammatical go-togethers” • Use single quote marks in headlines • Write headlines in present tense • Avoid school name, initials, mascot • Maintain style consistency

ASSIGNMENT: Write a headline for a spread about the dance team. Dominant pic: The team dressed as zombies for the Halloween football game.

This Power. Point presentation was created by Balfour/Taylor Yearbooks, Dallas, Texas, for educational purposes only. It is unlawful to remove or alter the Balfour logo without the permission of Balfour/Taylor Yearbooks’ Marketing Department. For more information, contact Judi Coolidge, Education Specialist at jcoolidge@taylorpub. com.