The Importance of Good CAPTIONS !

1. The Importance of Good CAPTIONS!

2. Captions answer 5 Ws & H Complete & accurate reporting Attend activity or event Interview subjects in photo Interview subjects involved not in photo Get photographer’s notes Research history of photo story

3. Great photos raise questions

4. Ask the Questions • Quality questions get quality answers • Who • What • When • Where • Why • How • Tell readers about the event • Describe the best memories of the event • Tell us something we can’t see from photo

5. Get the Answers • Who: Junior Jeremy Sinclair • What: Swims with turtles/sea creatures • When: SeaSplash field trip • Where: Wildlife Refuge Park • Why: Student biologists field trip • How: Won “SeaSplash” competition • “The whole trip was so much fun. It wasn’t just an in and out rushed tour; we stayed all day and asked tons of questions about what we had heard about at school,” said sophomore Julie Chan

6. All the write words • Lead-in can be used if desired, like a mini-headline • Attention-getting word or phrase relating to the action/reaction of the photo • Primary sentence • Reports the most important 5Ws & H, showcases the most important aspect in first 5-7 words & is in present tense • Secondary sentence(s) • Provides details not obvious in the photo (when/why/how) & written in past tense

7. Ident captions Idents Junior Jeremy Sinclair OR Junior Jeremy Sinclair | Biology field trip OR Junior Jeremy Sinclair | Biology field trip at Wildlife Refuge Park

8. Summary captions BUBBLICIOUS As the winner of “SeaSplash,” junior Jeremy Sinclair swims with the turtles as well as schools of underwater creatures.

9. Expanded captions BUBBLICIOUS As the winner of “SeaSplash,” junior Jeremy Sinclair swims with the turtles as well as schools of underwater creatures. For over 30 minutes, Jeremy experienced sea life as a part of the Wildlife Refuge Park field trip. In addition to the sea adventure, student biologists toured the jungle rainforest and exotic aviary sanctuary. “The whole trip was so much fun. It wasn’t just an in and out rushed tour; we stayed all day and asked tons of questions about what we had heard about at school,” said sophomore Julie Chan.

10. Quote captions BUBBLICIOUS “At first I was really, really scared even though I have snorkeled all of my life. I think what made me nervous was just knowing that all my friends were watching to see if I panicked as I swam with all the exotic fish. There was no way I was going in the shark tank.” –Junior Jeremy Sinclair

11. Collective captions FRAMED.Freshman Trey Whitman checks the wood cut on his latest woodworking project. SMOOTHMOVES. A special clinic at the Performing Arts Center refines dance technique for seniors LissetteColver and Meredith Moore. LOOK UP. Studying an outdoor sculpture, sophomore Beth Ann Terry classifies it as “modern.”

12. Group captions FRESHMAN KEY CLUB -- Front Row: John Cutsinger, Shannon Williams, Rick Brooks, David Klecka… Row 2: Cody Cleavelin, Mitch Lorenz, Mike Hill, Kurt Idler, Bruce Nyman… Row 3: Alex Brunner, RinnCleavelin, Herb Stokes, Jimmy Browning… Back Row: Mark Herron, Steve Wirrig, Jack Wilson, Kevin Grandpre, Adam Richards, Blake Harrop, Adviser Steve West. Not Pictured: Eric Howard, Angela Creech, Tim Ross.

13. Writing & Editing Guidelines • Refine captions for strong appeal • •Keep captions factual; no editorializing • •Include honest facts, figures & feelings • •Go beyond the obvious; capture outcome or • consequences of the action • •Write first sentence in present tense; subsequent • sentences in past tense • •Use visual nouns & action verbs • •Avoid repetition of words • •Avoid beginning with names • •Avoid school name, initials, mascot • •Maintain style consistency

14. Don’t begin all your captions in the same way. Vary grammatical patterns. For example, use subordinate clauses or infinitives to begin captions. Avoid beginning captions with participles, articles, prepositions or a student’s name.Avoid “be” verbs as main verbs. Tips for writing

15. Do not use the name of the school, the mascot name or the school year in your captions.Avoid the words “this year.”Don’t editorialize. (Example: Way to go!, Go, band!, The team had a great year., Everybody enjoyed the dance. Tips for writing

16. Don’t use gag captions or state the obvious.Identify everyone (not just students) in the photo with first and last names unless you have a large crowd shot.Everyone in the photos should also have an identifier like Coach Joe Smith, Superintendent Ron Cabrera. Tips for writing

17. Practice Makes Perfect!

18. Write a Caption Who: Sisters Jasmine and Tracey Powell What: Homecoming Queen coronation When: October 12, 2008 Where: John Henry Football Stadium Why: Tracey crowns Jasmine How: Jasmine wins 78% of student bodyvote “I’m not sure if I’ve ever experienced more of a surprise than when they announced my name. I truly had no idea I had a chance. The fact that my sister was there to relinquish her crown made the evening amazing.”

19. Practice Writing Write one each of the following: Ident Summary Expanded

20. Fix this Caption! Seniors Katrina Johnson and Molly West have some fun before an assembly.