PEE for writing news reports - any Yr 5 (ish) teachers around?

[bandito]

Aargh. I am NQT and need to plan a series of lesson Yr5 writing news reports. It's just this one I have a problem with - I am advised that PEE is the way to go when structuring paragraphs. I made sense yesterday (but that was last thing on a Friday). This morning I have sat down to plan and thought, hang on, that's not how news reports are constructed.

We wouldn't write that 'There has been a local earthquake which affected our city. We know this because Mrs Blogs said "The ground shook!" This tells us that residents felt the tremors as they were walking in the streets.

Or is that what is expected in Yr 5 and this is refined later? It is not a strong group.

Can anyone give me advice? I am beginning to hate Saturdays!

Thank you

We wouldn't write that 'There has been a local earthquake which affected our city. We know this because Mrs Blogs said "The ground shook!" This tells us that residents felt the tremors as they were walking in the streets.

Not familar with myself but don't think you need to signal EE with the this tells us we know this because. Just needs playing with a bit so that evidence and explain aren't as split up. Not 100% sure though

'There has been a local earthquake which affected our city. The residents felt the tremors as they were walking the streets and Mrs Blogs said "The ground shook!"

The advice that you've been given is just about padding the paragraph out with relevant details in order to avoid one sentence paragraphs or sentences that aren't really connected - so make your point and then write a couple of sentence to give more information about that point.

You've written your PEE paragraph like you're answering a comprehension question rather than writing it in a newspaper report. A useful phrase is always 'show the reader, don't tell them' - ie don't tell the reader explicitly what's happening but show them it in your description.

I would write something like the PP's example if I were writing a model text: Unfortunately, a devastating earthquake shook the city whilst the vast majority of residents were going about their daily business. The violent tremors could be felt as local people walked the streets. Shaking with fear, Mrs Blogs said, 'The ground shook so hard I had to hang on to a lamp post!'

News reports are structured differently - use the 5Ws (who what when where why) in the headline and first paragraph. Then additional information and extra details in the next couple of parags, followed by quotes from witnesses etc towards the end.

OK thank you - that makes more sense. I think I am overthinking this.

I've sent you a PM.

PEE is for reading tasks. A newspaper report is a writing task. Topic sentences are probably more relevant to what you need. There will be lots of models on TES.