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Writing for Impact

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Weekly Reading

This week, we’ll focus on two of the most critical elements in journalistic writing: ledes and nut graphs. Whether you’re crafting a breaking news story or an anecdotal feature, your lede sets the stage, and the nut graph drives home the core message. These are the building blocks that immediately capture the reader’s attention, deliver crucial information, and provide context on why the story matters.

While ledes and nut graphs play an essential role in structuring your article, punctuation is what controls its flow and clarity. The correct use of punctuation helps ensure that your message is understood as intended. A misplaced comma or an overused dash can confuse your audience or change the emphasis of your writing. For example, consider the difference between “Let’s eat, grandma!” and “Let’s eat grandma!” In news writing, punctuation can make or break the impact of a carefully crafted lede or nut graph. 

Week 3 Reading

Additionally, this week’s reading and video will show you how to effectively write ledes and nut graphs, giving you insight into what information goes where. In addition, this week's AP Style Quiz will help you practice the correct punctuation techniques to enhance the readability and precision of your writing.

Good luck, and remember: clear, concise, and correctly punctuated writing is key to successful media communication.

(If you do not see the quiz below, click the menu at left and browse to the Week 3 quiz. Remember, you are expected to use your AP Style Book to complete this assessment!)

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1. Which of the following sentences uses a comma correctly?
The new hospital offers both, emergency care and outpatient services. The new hospital offers both emergency care, and outpatient services. The new hospital offers both emergency care and outpatient services. The new hospital, offers both emergency care, and outpatient services.
2. Choose the correct placement of apostrophes in the following sentence:
The doctor's recommendation was to increase the patient's blood pressure monitoring. The doctors' recommendation was to increase the patient's blood pressure monitoring. The doctor's recommendation was to increase the patients' blood pressure monitoring. The doctors' recommendation was to increase the patients' blood pressure monitoring.
3. Select the correctly punctuated sentence:
The clinic's services include general check-ups; surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests. The clinic's services include general check-ups; surgical procedures; and diagnostic tests. The clinic's services include: general check-ups, surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests. The clinics services include general check-ups, surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests.
4. Which sentence correctly uses hyphens?
The newly-opened health care center specializes in long-term care. The newly opened healthcare center specializes in long-term care. The newly-opened healthcare center specializes in long-term-care. The newly opened health-care center specializes in long-term care.
5. Which sentence uses parentheses correctly according to AP Style?
The clinic offers several services (including cardiology, pediatrics, and orthopedics.) The clinic offers several services (including cardiology, pediatrics, and orthopedics). The clinic offers several services (including: cardiology, pediatrics, and orthopedics). The clinic offers several services (including cardiology pediatrics, and orthopedics).
6. Select the correctly punctuated sentence when dealing with a title:
"The Future of Healthcare," is the title of the keynote presentation. "The Future of Healthcare," is the title of the keynote presentation. "The Future of Healthcare" is the title of the keynote presentation. The title of the keynote presentation is, "The Future of Healthcare."
7. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a colon?
The research focuses on: diabetes, heart disease and mental health. The research focuses on diabetes, heart disease: and mental health. The research focuses on the following: diabetes, heart disease and mental health. The research focuses: on diabetes, heart disease and mental health.
8. Which sentence uses ellipses correctly?
"The patient's condition has improved… but we are still monitoring closely," said Dr. Patel. "The patient's condition has improved ... but we are still monitoring closely," said Dr. Patel. "The patient's condition has improved ...but we are still monitoring closely," said Dr. Patel. "The patient's condition has improved ... but we are still monitoring closely," said Dr. Patel.
9. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence using dashes:
The patient's recovery—though slow—has been steady and promising. The patient's recovery —though slow —has been steady and promising. The patient's recovery, though slow—has been steady—and promising. The patient's recovery—though slow, has been steady—and promising.
10. Which sentence demonstrates correct use of quotation marks for a direct quote?
Dr. Andrews said, "The new healthcare policy is designed to improve patient outcomes". Dr. Andrews said "The new healthcare policy is designed to improve patient outcomes." Dr. Andrews said, "the new healthcare policy is designed to improve patient outcomes." Dr. Andrews said, "The new healthcare policy is designed to improve patient outcomes."