We’ve talked in class about how mastering the basic format of a speech story can act as a kind of template for other types of stories. Think about how the general structure helped you instantly structure your Occupy Chapel Hill stories even though it was the first reported news story you did. Think also about how it can help guide you as you write your first profile story.
There are no hard-and-fast rules for any of these story forms. Think instead about how the format below can act as a sort of skeleton on which the flesh of the story hangs:
P1: One sentence summary lead, ending with attribution (should include at least some news elements).
P2: A “punchy quote,” he said (adding any news elements not accounted for in first sentence).
P3: Nut graph with context or background, two or three sentences (adding the “why” of the speech).
P4: Go back to speech, paraphrasing in your own words.
P5: “Another meaty quote,” he said (using quotes as free-standing sentences to break up story).
P6, Etc.: Alternate paragraphs in your voice and paragraphs in the speaker’s voice.
Last P: End with a quote.
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