Essay for lead for BA Students

-

 

Lead

    Lead is the first and most important paragraph of the news story. Readers will normally judge a story on newspaper by its lead. Busy readers read the lead and understands the news story. It is the gist of a story written in less than 35 words. A lead should induce the readers interest and curiosity.

“The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn’t induce the reader to proceed   to the second sentence, your article is dead.”

                                                                                 — William Zinsser, On Writing Well

The main function of the lead is not only to introduce the news story but to give the questions of the reader. The good lead answers all important information about the news story.

Types of Lead:

a)      Summary Lead: It is meant to give a quick summary in as few words as possible. It contains most of the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why) and the H (how).  For hard news a Summary Lead is used.

b)     Special Lead: For soft news Special Lead is used.

c)      Narrative Lead: It is written in two or three paragraphs which is called lead block, telling the main story. The lead block is followed by an explanatory paragraph, called Nut Graph.

The Nut Graph should be placed in the third, fourth or fifth paragraph.

d)     Contrast Lead: The contrast lead compares two opposites. For example, a contrast lead might compare poverty and wealth, stress and relaxation, or the new with the old. The Contrast Lead is effective on hard stories.

e)      Staccato Lead: It is a short burst of phrases that catch instant attention. Staccato is used in television and magazine reporting.

f)       Quotation Lead: This lead features a short, eye-catching quote or remark, usually set-in quotation marks.

g)      Expression Lead: Begins with well – known expression like “Barking dog seldom bite” “Honesty is the best policy”.

h)     Prediction Lead: As the name suggests, stories that are predicting something about the future are called prediction leads. For example: The world will come to an end in 2012 predicted the famous astrologer ….

i)       Direct Address Lead: This lead directly speaks to the reader. It addresses directly as “you”. It enhances the intertest of the reader as it directly talks with them.

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summary for At the Church Door

-
Image
At the Church Door -         Guy De Maupassant Guy De Maupassant is a prolific French Writer. He was influenced by a French writer Flaubert. His short story “At the Church Door” reflects real life and real people. This story is about a worried couple who have lost their son 20yrs before. The theme of this story is parent love for their children. The story centers around a Wheelwright and his wife. Both are looking for a peaceful and happy life. The only comfort is Jean, their son. Jean was born to them after a long period. Their life gets scattered when they discover their son missing at the age of five. Unable to bear the loss of their son both gathered all their wealth and went in search of him. They travelled to different places for around twenty years in search of Jean. Hearing to the advice of an innkeeper both travel to the crowded city, Paris.  They often stood in front of a church door. The Parish priest appoin...
Read more

Like an Old Proud King in a Parable A. J.M. Smith, Summary for BA Students.

-
Image
  Like an Old Proud King in a Parable A. J.M. Smith The Poem Like an Old Proud King in a Parable was written by the Canadian Poet, A.J.M Smith. This poem appeared in McGill Fortnightly Review in the year 1926. In this poem Smith narrates the story of an Old King who abandons his Kingdom to become a poet. This poem depicts the poetic career of Smith. Smith breaks some of the old poetic conventions and brings novelty into the society. A king is bored to forego the pleasure of the Kingdom. He renounces his kingdom, and leave his flattering courtiers and adoring wife. The king readily sacrifices the existing kingly life and moves to a lonely land, “a meadow in the Northern Stone”. Northern Stone is in the northern parts of Canada, a land of mountain, snow and forest filled with nature. The King rejoices to live his life along the meadow. In the meadow he feels like an uncontrollable swan, “the heart that controlled liked swan”. The King desires to give up his worldly life and a...
Read more

Summary for the Play Strife by John Galsworthy

-
Image
                                                                                        Strife -        John Galsworthy Strife is a three-act play written by John Galsworthy. It is his third play and the play highlights the social issues. It was produced in the year 1909 at the Duke of York Theatre. The title “strife” has a biblical meaning which means bitter conflict. The theme in this play is capital and labour. The action takes place on 7 th february at the Trenartha Tin Plate Work. The factory workers involve in a prolonged strike. There arises a conflict between the company chairman John Anthony and the workers leader Roberts. Both are very stern and adamant to compromise. Anthony was the chairman for 32 years and he is determine...
Read more