Writing a News or Science Brief

A news brief is a short article (50-75 words) describing a recent event or new discovery.

1. News Brief Topic Brainstorming

  • Pick a recent social or political issue that more people should know about.

OR

  • Pick a science or environmental issue that more people should know about.

2. Body Paragraph

  • Lead Sentence: Write a sentence that grabs the reader.
  • Who/What?: Describe who or what is affected by the incident/event.
  • When? Describe the date or time the event happened/will happen
  • Impact? Why is this event/issue important? How will the event impact the reader?

3. Headline and Word Count

  • Write a headline that catches the reader’s attention.
  • Check to see if your article is 50-75 words.

4. Revise

  • Try different ways of wording your sentences to clarify the story.
  • Check your spelling.

5. Submit!