English 1.1 lesson 4 in 2022-23

• English
• HBO
• Studiejaar 1

Continuing our journey: lesson 4 (week 5) 

English year 1 term 1

Lesson goals

Students will 

1. strengthen their feedback giving skills 

2. strengthen their feedback receiving skills 

3.  gain insight into vocabulary to apply to their written work.

4. have obtained all of the necessary information to

complete their press release accordingly.

in SHL

Students will strengthen their feedback giving skills (point 1), students will strengthen their feedback receiving skills (point 2), and students will have obtained all of the necessary information to complete their press release accordingly (points 1-3).

A little grammar is good for the soul... Go to Socrative.com.

b.socrative.com

Written Assignment 2 - PR Proposal

Make sure you have your PR Proposal uploaded in the correct folder on Teams for feedback. 

PEER REVIEW

Using the 7 questions from this peer feedback CHECKLIST  (available on Moodle), you will 

1. give your peer feedback to one classmate and then 

2. review your own work by answering these questions

Team up with someone who has done as much work as you

Compare how you filled in assignment 2 (press release proposal)

Are there any differences that you do not understand? Ask someone else! (or your teacher)

Can you pay your classmate a compliment?

Can you give your classmate a tip?

This is what you need to include in your 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.

Template press release 1/4

1. Headline: interesting to catch the reader's attention/short/newsworthy/interesting

2. Lead: answer the five Ws briefly, but hold to your readers’ attention (who/what/where/when/why)

Template press release 2/4

3. Source: prove your trustworthiness.

 If you’re basing your press release on external sources, make sure to cite them in the press release.

4.  Essentials: the beauty is in the details.

Give your readers the essential details. 

And by details, we mean the basic information that is necessary to figure out why this press release is newsworthy. 

Template press release 3/4

5.  Quotes: show the perspective of others.

 They bring another perspective to the text and make it more diverse.  A suitable quote adds colour  to your press release.

6.  Additional data: is there anything else you need to add? Visuals? Website link?

Template press release 4/4

7.  Contact details: introduce yourself

People might want to ask some additional questions about your story.

 

8.  Boilerplate (business card): the perfect way to end a press release

Journalists want to know more about you. The boilerplate is exactly the place where they will find any additional info about your company or you. Make it fun and interesting—it works as your business card.

What are the three things that ensure a press release is used by the media?

Timeliness, news-worthiness, relevance

What is the inverted pyramid?

True or false: press releases should be written in the third person voice

1. True
2. False

The tone should be objective/neutral and not informal/overly exaggerated.

And written in the third person.

First person singular and plural are: I/we me/us my/ours mine/ours.

Second-person singular or second-person plural: you

Third person singular and plural are: he/she/it they him/her/it them his/her/hers/its their/theirs

Where does the contact information go in the press release template/what is included?

Very bottom of the triangle, in the bottom tip of the triangle.

Contact info: company name, address, press contact name, phone number, Email, website, IG....

Where does the information go about WHEN to release the news?

On Moodle, Course Materials, read Sample Press Release - How to Organise Content 1

The words "For Immediate Release" should appear at the top of your press release, under the logo, in capital letters. Here is an example of how it would look:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

What makes a strong press release headline (title)?

• concise
• catchy (uses alliteration) 
• no buzzwords, jargon or filler language
• try to be interesting without losing integrity

How long should the press release be?

1. 1000 words
2. No limit
3. 350 words
4. 500 words

+/- 10%

End of the day, who do you write your press release for?

1. the journalists
2. your boss
3. yourself
4. the reader

The reader, your audience

Think about your audience and put yourself in their shoes. 

How does your news announcement make someone who might not be familiar with a municipality in a city think or feel?

Which verbs are synonyms for "introduce"?

1. present, launch, unveil
2. launch, berth, fasten
3. make, present, loosen
4. present, give, offer

Note

introduce, present, launch, unveil

are useful vocabulary!

Internal jargon

Generally understood usage

customer

end-user

client

pax

jargon = jargon / vaktaal

pax = number of passengers

No jargon (vaktermen)

Your message must be understood by the reader you target

What should you remember about using quotations in a press release?

Accurately quote experts, make their connection to the news clear (first + last name and title or relevance). 

If you cite data that require APA citation, use APA in-text referencing + a reference list.

Minimum 1 quote, max 2 quotes per press release.

What goes in the lead (first) paragraph?

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION FIRST!

5 Ws

Who, what, where, when, why.

What should come at the end of the press release?

A short description of the company/organization. 

What is the symbol used to end your press release?

###

Rate your confidence in writing a press release

😒🙁😐🙂😃

The final assignment

 For your graded summative assignment, you will write a press release on behalf of the Tourism Board in Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Haarlem (depending on your location). The press release is about students from Hogeschool Inholland being invited/encouraged to submit an Instagram page to the Tourism Board. The press release is dedicated to promoting tourism in their respective city. Student(s) will receive an Instagram Giveaway Prize for the most “Instagrammable” Instagram page. You decide yourself what the Giveaway Prize(s) are.

In effect, you have to put yourself in the professional role of working for the Tourism Board. Your job, as an employee of the Tourism Board, is to write the press release for your own Tourism Board. It is your job to write the press release and invite/encourage students from Hogeschool Inholland to submit an Instagrammable Instagram page to the Tourism Board.

Let's make a start at...

 

.... writing your press release.

Take about 25 minutes.

Ask questions throughout.

Preparations before next lesson

Submit draft version of the (final) press release on Teams before next lesson. (required)

Write your name in the title of the press release.

Highlight one (1)  paragraph for expert feedback.

Watch this video about How to Write a Press Release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlPCeSHMlYc. (required)

Watch video on next slide about How to Write A Press Release 2 (required)

Read the theory in your book for unit 22 on pages 102-103 followed by the practice exercises on pages 104-105. (Past perfect simple and continuous) (recommended) 

www.eventbrite.com

Useful blog post if you are struggling!

web.microsoftstream.com

PRESS RELEASE 2 - ANKE