We want only the facts, so your ideas belong in opinion pieces. This provides the readers the real information right away. Often, a paragraph can consist of only one sentence. Since articles are so different than essays and research papers, topic sentences, big words, and conclusions are not necessary. Use quotes to enhance the facts and to give meaning to what you are reporting.
Quotes give more credibility and life to the story.
The quotes from faculty, students, and staff do not always have to be positive, but they should supplement the facts. The program we use to layout the newspaper automatically puts tabs into the stories. Use a hard return to signify a new paragraph. Please leave headline writing to the editor and moderator. If you have a great idea for a headline, write it at the bottom of the page in pencil.