English 1.1 lesson 4 in 2023-24

• English
• HBO
• Studiejaar 1

Continuing our ascent: lesson 4

English year 1 term 1

Homework for today

1. Read blog "How to Create a Riveting Press Release". See next slide or go to Moodle
2.  Think of the 5W questions  of your press release
3. Unit 23: Read the theory and complete ex. 1 and 2.

THIS BLOG JUST GIVES more INSIDER INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO WRITE A GOOD (RIVETING) PRESS RELEASE.

WE MUST STRESS THAT THEY WRITE THE PRESS RELEASE IN THE 3RD PERSON and MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT THEY WRITE IN A NEUTRAL WAY. 

Lesson goals

Students will 

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

2. 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).

Today

1. Grammar verb tense practice on Socrative.com
2. Self-evaluation Spiderweb 2
3. Insight into words (vocabulary) to use for your press release
4. Further instructions for writing your summative (final) press release

in SHL

1. Peer feedback review (led by students)

2. Expert feedback (done synchronously with the peer feedback/delivered separately)

3. Directions for press release/summative (final) assignment

b.socrative.com

Introduce Template Formats

Go to Moodle / English / Course documents and find:

1. Press Release BLANK template required to use
2. English Final Assignment template with TOC (Table of Content/Inhoudsopgave) required to use

Download them onto your device.

I want to stress students to follow this format for the so that teachers (hopefully) get a uniform, similar layout from each student.

Video: How to Write a Press Release

Find video link on Moodle.  

You can stop watching at 2.50.

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.

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

True or false: press releases should be written with an enthusiastic tone.

1. True
2. False

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

And written in the third person.

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

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?

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, for whom do you write your press release?

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 your Municipality 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

introduce, present, launch, unveil

are useful vocabulary!

Internal jargon

Generally understood usage

customer

end-user

client

pax

THIS IS THE FIRST DRAG AND DROP INTRODUCED TO STUDENTS.  EXPLAIN HOW IT WOKS.

jargon = jargon / vaktaal

pax = number of passengers

No jargon (vaktermen)

Your message must be understood by the reader you are writing for.

What goes in the lead (first) paragraph?

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION FIRST!

5 Ws

Who, what, where, when, why.

What is the symbol used to end your press release?

###

Which information should come at the end of the press release?

Boilerplate:  A short description of the company/organization.   One or 2 sentences maximum.

Best practices

1. Keep it short and to the point
2. Know your audience
3. Add a quote(s)
4. Include visual(s)
5. Always include a call to action (CTA)
6. Always include a boilerplate  (business card)

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.

A boilerplate is a short paragraph at the end of every press release that summarizes the core principles of your company. Many companies have a boilerplate as part of their branding guidelines, and you should include it in your event press release template.

Rate your confidence in writing a press release

😒🙁😐🙂😃

The final assignment

 Now that you have practiced writing in class you are ready to start writing the final press release. For your graded summative assignment, you will write a press release. You are writing the press release on behalf of the tourism board in Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Haarlem (depending on your own location). The participants will create their own Instagram page dedicated to promoting (sustainable) tourism to their chosen district in Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Haarlem. Just like you have been preparing in project 1.1, you will be focusing on the “Instagrammability” of a district in Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Haarlem, only this time your focus is on writing an effective press release.

 So, the final products which you will upload into Gradework are:

1. An Instagram page with the text (and images) for your Press Release

2. A Word document with the identical text as the Instagram page for your Press Release

Expert feedback

formative assignment summary article excursions

Homework

1. Work on your draft version of your press release.
2. Watch video How to Write a Press Release and stop watching at 2.50.  Go to next slide or to Moodle for link.

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

    4. Reflect on your writing process from before this course untill now.

Self-evaluation Spiderweb 2

Go to Moodle and fill in Self-evaluation Spiderweb 2.

Include your self-analysis in your written self-reflection for the final assignment on Gradework.

Include in your Self-Reflection.

Here's what a press release should include.

Here's what a press release should include