Objective:

Students will conduct basic interviewing techniques. Students will identify pertinent information, gained through inquiry/research, and utilize that information to write interesting, insightful, appropriate, and correctly formatted copy for the yearbook features. Additionally, students will take candid digital photos of an individual, using appropriate framing, lighting, and perspective. Finally, students will identify pertinent information, gained through inquiry/research, and utilize that information to write interesting, concise and correctly formatted captions for yearbook photos.

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Introduction:

Congratulations for being selected as a yearbook staff member. Before you will be allowed to write anything for the actual yearbook, you must first demonstrate that you are capable of journalistic writing. This WebQuest will allow you to practice and refine your photography skills and your caption and copy writing skills, ultimately preparing you to create a feature spotlight about a classmate.

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Task:

You and your partner will spend time interviewing each other, gaining pertinent information you will use later to write a feature spotlight. You will also take a candid portrait of your partner, using the photography skills which you will be studying. Finally, you will work individually on honing your writing skills, after which you will write a feature spotlight on your partner and a caption to the candid portrait.

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Process:

1. You must first pick a partner. Look around the class and try to find someone you don’t know very well or who you don’t know at all (preferably). No returning staff members should be partnered together.
2. Print or pick up the “Partner Interview” sheet. Introduce yourself to your partner and take turns interviewing each other, using these questions and any others you may find interesting and appropriate. Make sure you write down direct quotations from your partner and double-check them for accuracy. You will be turning your notes in at the end of this project.
3. You will go to the following website: http://faculty.weber.edu/sbthompson/Yearbook101.yearbook101.htm and complete the “Yearbook 101 Writing Tutorial.” Print out the assignment from the tutorial and submit your completed assignment to the “In Box” in the classroom.
4. You will go to the following website: http://faculty.weber.edu/sbthompson/Yearbook101.yearbook101.htm and complete the “Yearbook 101 Photography Tutorial.” Print out the assignment from the tutorial and submit your completed assignment to the “In Box” in the classroom.
5. Review the notes you took during your partner interview and find the angle you will take. Write a 100 word spotlight feature about your partner. Use the “Copy & Caption Checklist” to proof your writing. Make corrections as necessary. 
6. Arrange to take several digital candid portraits of your partner, reflecting some aspect of your spotlight copy. You may have to take “planned candid shots,” but be sure only you and your partner can tell. Download your photos to a computer. Use the “Photo Checklist” to proof your photographs and to help you select the best photo.
7. Write an interesting, three-sentence caption for the candid portrait. Use the “Copy & Caption Checklist” to proof your writing. Make corrections as necessary.
8. Print the final draft of your copy, caption, and photo, and attach all three with your interview notes to a clean copy of the Yearbook 101 Rubric. Turn them in to the “In Box” in the classroom.

Resources:

Conclusion:

You should now be confident in conducting a personal interview. You should know the elements of copy writing, photography, and caption writing. You should be able to write interesting, concise and correctly formatted captions for yearbook photos. Additionally, you should be able to take candid digital photos of an individual, using appropriate framing, lighting, and perspective. Finally, you should be able to identify pertinent information, gained through inquiry/research, and utilize that information to write interesting, insightful, appropriate, and correctly formatted copy for the yearbook features. You are now READY to get your first real Yearbook assignment! Good luck!

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Evaluation:

The total points (125 points) for the Yearbook 101 project will be broken down in the following way and will be graded according to the elements listed on the Yearbook 101 Grading Rubric: