English 1.1 lesson 5 in 2024-25

• Communicatie
• HBO
• Studiejaar 1

Descent:  lesson 5

Press Release

PRINT BOULDER COLORADO SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE TO ANALYZE?

Homework

1. Work on your draft version of your press release

   3.  Unit 24: Read the theory and complete exercise 1.

    

Today

• Grammar assignment via Quizizz.com
• Improve your press release writing skills 
• Press release headlines 
• Analyze a press release
• Work on your draft version press release

Show students portfolio format on TEAMS

in SHL

1. Knowledge check (all previous web lectures)

2. Practical exercises for writing a press release

3. English exercises

4. Press release Q&A

Deadlines Gradework

Deadlines

Deadline chance 1: 21 October 2024

Deadline chance 2: 25 November 2024

Deadline Kans1: 21 Oktober 2024

Deadline kans 2: 25 November 2024

Documents English to upload in Gradework

1. Word document with your press release text (follow the format template)

+

2. Infographic with the 5 Wh questions (who/what/where/why/when) + How  (use keywords 

+

and max 5 images/photo's)

TMN - Problems with Gradework?

If problems occur in Gradework when submitting the products, follow these steps.

 

- Make a screenshot of the technical problems that occur.

- Mail the screenshot as well as the documents you are trying to submit to [e-mail].

- Do this before or no later than 15 minutes after the deadline.

- If the files are too large, send the documents via We-Transfer.

If you have any other questions about Gradework, please contact [e-mail]. We will help you as soon as possible.

Students have already received an email about this.

This Gradework information is also covered in the Learning Coach sessions.

However, it bears repeating in our English lesson.

Grammar review module 5

Go to your book and do assignment 3  on p. 117 in class.

Teachers: create hardcopy as. 3 pp.117

Teachers: students do the assignment in class individually and fill in their answers via Quizizz (see next slide). In Quizizz: the numbers of the sentences correspond with the answers)

Grammar review (book) module 5: page 116-117

Scan pp. 116-117 of the book. 

PRINT COPIES AND DISTRIBUTE HARD COPIES IN THE LESSON.

ADD TO REFLECTION

You can manage this as you see fit.

1. Have them read the assignment.

2. Do the assignment.

3. fill in the answers in Quizizz.com (next slide) 

3. Give them 15 minutes (?)

4. Then they take the Kahoot where they will see the answers.

Quizizz 

Mixed verb tenses:  choose the right tense (12 questions)

The numbers in the quiz correspond with the answers of the hardcopy.

quizizz.com

This is what you need to include in your Press Release.

Just a reminder for the kiddies about the order or information required in the structure of a press release.

In journalism, the inverted pyramid refers to a story structure where the most important information (or what might even be considered the conclusion) is presented first. 

The who, what, when, where and why appear at the start of a story, followed by supporting details and background information. 

This writing style is different than, for example, academic writing, where an abstract may summarize the main findings, but the content typically focuses first on the details, leading to the conclusion which appears at the end of the article.

The name “inverted pyramid” comes from picturing the broad facts at the top of the story, followed by smaller and smaller details, like a triangle balanced on one corner.

Press Release format in a nutshell 1/2 

• Logo
• Add: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
• Press release headline – The press release headline should encapsulate your main message. It appears at the top, in bold.
• Intro lead starting with Place, Country,  Date of Release (see blank format on Moodle to follow) 
• An enticing first sentence of 1st paragraph
• Body copy containing the announcement details – the who, what, when, where, why and how

Press Release format in a nutshell 2/2

• Paragraphs to Add Information (Source/Essentials)
• Direct quotes from important people 
• Boilerplate:  Company Description
• Contact Information (contact person, website address, phone number, IG page, Twitter handle)
• Add "###" at the End

Analyze a press release

1. Go to Moodle / Engels / Lesmateriaal
2. Find and read:  Example press release to analyze (Boulder, Colorado)
3. Work in small groups of 2- you have 10 minutes to analyze this press release.
4. Determine what the 5Ws are in the press release.  
5. Write them down. (quiz follows)

Find a way that suits you to share this link and the document that has the press release - if you want to share the latter.

WHO (par. 1)
Who is issuing the news?

WHAT (par. 1)
What is the news they share?

WHERE
Where does the event
take place?

1. Boulder, Denver and Colorado
2. Boulder, Colorado
3. Eventbrite
4. Colorado

WHEN (par. 1)
When will the event take place
(day, date, time)?

Why are Boulder, Denver
and Colorado Springs mentioned in par. 2?

1. That is where startups that the students can join are located
2. That is where Startup Summer has their offices
3. That is where Nancy Phillips lives
4. That is where the kick-off party will take place.

Paragraph 1

Par. 2 & 3

What is the function of par. 4
(starting with "Founded in...)

1. It summarises the content of par. 1
2. It serves to stimulate people to join Startup Colorado (CTA)
3. It gives background information on Startup Colorado

par. 4

Contact details

Contact:

Janet Smith, Media Relations

[e-mail]

[phone]

# # #

The inverted pyramid is completed

About headlines 

Use the active tense: so for example 'opens', not opened, opening

The first letter of each key word should be capitalized.  

 Use capital letters for: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs

Man Bites Dog

What do you think 

of this one?

What is your opinion?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Good headline

The headline shows a clear news value.

The unusual use of  the words  Man Bites Dog helps to capture the attention of the audience.

It is unusual because it goes against the grain of what we normally expect.  Namely, Dog Bites Man.

What would be your press release headline?

Your Headline

LAST LESSON

1. Dedicated to consultancy, questions, peer feedback

2. A grammar quiz

3. Grammar Review test

Now: Work on your press release

Finished? Individually: Use the peer feedback form and check your own draft version. Peers: check press release. 

Homework

1. Work on your draft version of your press release