Question 1
'School Announces Major New Sports Facility'
💡 This is concise and immediately tells the reader the core news, exactly what a headline should do.
Year 7 — Writing
Articles
Write an effective headline and strapline, structure paragraphs for an article, adopt an appropriate register, and use evidence or quotations to support a point.
Understand
Article writing (for a newspaper, magazine, or website) has its own conventions: a HEADLINE that grabs attention concisely, often followed by a STRAPLINE (a short subtitle adding detail), then paragraphs that typically front-load the most important information first (rather than building up to it gradually, as a narrative might). Articles usually adopt a register (level of formality) appropriate to their publication and audience, and strengthen their points with evidence or quotations.
“Headline: 'Local Bakery Wins National Award'. Strapline: 'Family-run business recognised for its award-winning sourdough after 30 years of trading.'”
The headline is short and immediately informative, while the strapline adds a specific supporting detail (30 years of trading) that expands on the headline without repeating it — together, they give a reader the core story before they've read a single paragraph.
Spot it
Identify the article-writing feature or technique shown in each example.
Question 2
'£2 million investment set to benefit over 1,000 students from next September'
💡 This expands on a headline with specific figures and detail, typical of a strapline's function.
Question 3
"This facility will change what's possible for our students," said the head teacher.
💡 Including a direct quotation from a relevant person adds credibility and a human voice to support the article's point.
Think about it
Why do news articles typically put the most important information in the very first paragraph, rather than building up to it gradually like a story might?
Try it
Identify the most effective headline for the given story.
A story about a local charity that raised an unexpectedly large amount of money for flood victims.
Question 1
Which headline is most effective for this story?
💡 Look for the option that is specific, informative, and immediately conveys the newsworthy achievement.
Practise
Identify the correct article-writing feature or best choice for each scenario.
Question 1
Which is the strongest headline for a story about a new library opening?
Question 2
Which register would be most appropriate for a serious news article about a local council decision?
Question 3
Why include a quotation from a relevant person in a news article?
Question 4
In one word, what is the short subtitle beneath a headline, adding supporting detail, usually called?
💡 See the Understand section.
Question 5
Why should the most important information usually appear in the first paragraph of a news article?
Question 6
Which headline uses the most effective, concise style?
Apply
Read the passage, then answer the questions below.
Headline: 'Teenager's Invention Wins National Science Prize' Strapline: 'Sixteen-year-old's water-filtration design could help communities without clean water access.' A sixteen-year-old student has won the National Young Scientist Prize for an invention designed to provide clean drinking water to communities that currently lack reliable access. 'I wanted to build something that actually helps people, not just something clever for its own sake,' the student said. Judges praised the design's simplicity and low production cost as key strengths.
Question 1
What information does the strapline add that the headline doesn't include?
💡 Compare the headline's general claim to the strapline's added detail.
Question 2
Why does the article include a direct quotation from the student?
Question 3
What two strengths did the judges praise about the invention, according to the article?
💡 It's mentioned in the final sentence.
Challenge
Explain in two or three sentences why placing the student's quotation ('I wanted to build something that actually helps people...') in the article is more persuasive than the writer simply summarising the student's motivation in their own words.
Review
A quick mastery check — 3 questions.
Question 1
A headline should typically be...
Question 2
Why do articles often front-load their most important information?
Question 3
Why include quotations in an article?