EyewitnessReport.ppt

* Describing what you have seen . . . From Reading to Writing Upon arriving in North America for the first time, William Bradford described the land as “a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts.” Bradford’s eyewitness report is a firsthand account of the events he observed and experienced as an English colonist in North America. Eyewitness Report Describing what you have seen . . . Writers of eyewitness reports use compelling details and sensory language to describe events. Today, eyewitness accounts written by professional journalists are published daily in newspapers and magazines. Eyewitness Report B a s i c s i n a B o x Eyewitness Report at a Glance RUBRIC Standards for Writing A successful eyewitness report should focus on an event that has personal or historical significance answer the five W’s and H: who, what, when, where, why, and how What? the event Who? people involved Where? the place When? date, time, year Why? cause How? the details create a sense of immediacy using precise language and sensory images present events in a clear, logical order capture the mood of the event = Re-creation of Event Writing Your Eyewitness Report I can only report on what I know. Max Frisch, Swiss writer 1 Prewriting Writing Your Eyewitness Report 1 Prewriting Eyewitness reporting is about being there and being aware. Jot down school, community and family events that are coming up in the near future. Ask yourself whether any of these events are newsworthy. Plan to attend those events that seem interesting. details sensory images snippets of conversations anything else that will help you recreate this experience for your readers Be a keen observer. In your notebook, record 1 Prewriting Writing Your Eyewitness Report Planning Your Eyewitness Report 1. Get the facts. Use a chart to record the basic facts about the event. 2. Capture the mood. Sensory details and vivid images will help you capture the mood of the event. Think about the sights, sounds,