M A S T E R P A G E
Writing
1.1a
Name
Date
Just the facts:
Date and time of the hypothetical earthquake_____________________________________
Location (city, state, country)__________________________________________
Estimated strength and impact
Richter magnitude______________
Deaths____________
Injuries_______________________
Property damage $___________
Maximum Mercalli intensity if known (I-XII)______________
Date of last earthquake in this region____________________________
Use these same facts in each of the three variations that follow.
1.
Newspaper account: intended for the general public, who need practical information. May appear immediately
after the quake, while aftershocks are still occurring and emergency conditions are still in effect.
Dateline (place and time of filing story)____________________
Lead sentence—must be catchy, attention-grabbing. May be a particularly startling fact or a quotation (make it
up) from a person in authority, an expert, or an eyewitness.
Rest of lead paragraph—must answer what, where, when, who was affected, and how. (May use quotations.)
One or more body paragraphs—provide background. Add more details on effects, quotations from more people,
possible explanation, analysis. (Think of what people need to know—what to do, where to go, what to watch for.)
Final sentence—the clincher; ends story with a punch. (Possibly a warning about aftershocks?)
A G U
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F E M A
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