Writing Skills: News, Summaries & Notices – Structure, Style & NEB Exam Tips

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### **What You’ll Learn**
This unit covers **three types of writing** that appear in NEB exams:
1. **News Stories** (Reporting events with facts)
2. **Summaries** (Shortening long texts while keeping key ideas)
3. **Notices** (Announcements for events, jobs, or rules)

We’ll learn:
✔ How to structure each type
✔ Key words and phrases to use
✔ Common mistakes to avoid
✔ NEB-style questions with model answers

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## **1. News Stories: The 5Ws + H**
**Definition**: A news story reports **facts** about an event using **who, what, when, where, why, and how** (the **5Ws + H**).

### **How to Write a News Story**
Use this **inverted pyramid** structure (most important info first):

```mermaid
graph TD
    A["HEADLINE (Bold, short, catchy)"] --> B["BYLINE (Who wrote it?)"]
    B --> C["LEAD (Answer 5Ws + H in 1-2 sentences)"]
    C --> D["BODY (Details: quotes, background, impact)"]
    D --> E["ENDING (Conclusion or call to action)"]

Example Headline Styles:

• Direct: "Fire at School Kills 5 Students"
• Indirect: "Tragedy Strikes: Fire Claims Lives of Young Students"

Worked Example: NEB-Style News Story

Event: A flood in Pokhara damages homes and roads. Your Task: Write a 100-word news story.

**POKHARA FLOOD DEVASTATES HOMES, DISRUPTS TRAFFIC**
*By Ramesh Adhikari*
**Pokhara, 2024** – Heavy rains triggered a flash flood in Pokhara yesterday, submerging 50 homes and damaging roads. Local authorities reported no casualties but warned of waterborne diseases. "The floodwaters rose suddenly," said resident Sita KC. The district administration has deployed relief teams. Residents urge people to avoid flooded areas.

Key Features: ✅ Headline: Clear and direct. ✅ Lead: Answers who (residents), what (flood), when (yesterday), where (Pokhara), why (rains), how (sudden rise). ✅ Body: Adds quotes and official response. ✅ Word count: Exactly 100 (NEB often tests this).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Opinions: "The government is useless!" → Stick to facts. ❌ Too long: NEB wants short, precise stories. ❌ Missing 5Ws: Always answer who, what, when, where, why, how.

2. Summaries: Shortening Texts

Definition: A summary condenses a long text into 1/3rd of its original words, keeping only the main ideas.

How to Summarize

1. Read carefully → Identify key points (topic, main arguments, conclusion).
2. Use your own words (no copying!).
3. Keep the order of ideas.
4. Omit examples, repetitions, and minor details.

Worked Example: Summarizing a Paragraph

Original Text (150 words): "Climate change is causing glaciers in the Himalayas to melt faster. Scientists warn that this will lead to floods in the short term but droughts in the long term. Nepal’s agriculture, which depends on glacier-fed rivers, is at risk. The government has started awareness campaigns, but more action is needed."

Your Summary (50 words): "Glaciers in the Himalayas are melting rapidly due to climate change. This may cause floods now but droughts later, threatening Nepal’s agriculture. While the government has launched awareness programs, stronger measures are required."

Key Features: ✅ 1/3rd words (150 → 50). ✅ Main ideas only (no examples like "awareness campaigns" unless critical). ✅ Original order preserved.

Summary vs. Paraphrase

3. Notices: Clear Announcements

Definition: A notice is a short, formal announcement for events, jobs, or rules. It must be:

• Clear (no vague words)
• Concise (short and to the point)
• Formal (polite language)

Structure of a Notice

graph TD
    A["HEADING (Bold, e.g., 'NOTICE')"] --> B["DATE (When was it written?)"]
    B --> C["BODY (What? Who? When? Where?)"]
    C --> D["SIGNATURE (Who issued it?)"]

Worked Example: NEB-Style Notice

Task: Write a notice for a school sports day.

**NOTICE**
**Date**: 2024-05-10
**Subject**: Annual Sports Day

All students are invited to participate in the **Annual Sports Day** on **May 25, 2024**, at **Kantipur School Ground**. Events include **100m race, long jump, and relay**. Registration closes on **May 20**. For details, contact the sports coordinator.

**Principal**
Kantipur School

Key Features: ✅ Bold heading ("NOTICE"). ✅ Clear details: what (Sports Day), when (May 25), where (Kantipur Ground). ✅ Call to action ("Register by May 20"). ✅ Formal tone (no slang).

Notice vs. Advertisement

4. NEB Exam Tips

What NEB Tests

Marking Scheme (Example)

For a 5-mark news story, NEB checks:

1. Headline (1 mark)
2. 5Ws + H (2 marks)
3. Grammar & clarity (1 mark)
4. Word limit (1 mark)

5. Practice Questions (NEB Style)

A. News Story (5 marks)

Event: A power outage affects Kathmandu for 6 hours. Write a 100-word news story.

B. Summary (6 marks)

Summarize the following paragraph in 50 words: "The rise of social media has changed how people communicate. While it connects families globally, it also spreads fake news and reduces face-to-face interactions. Experts suggest using it wisely to balance benefits and risks."

C. Notice (5 marks)

Write a notice for a blood donation camp in your school.

Model Answers

A. News Story

KATHMANDU POWER CUT DISRUPTS DAILY LIFE By Hari Prasad Kathmandu, 2024 – A sudden power outage plunged Kathmandu into darkness for six hours yesterday. Authorities blamed a transformer failure at the central substation. Schools and offices were affected, and traffic signals failed. "This is the third outage this month," said resident Anil KC. The utility company has promised repairs by tomorrow.

B. Summary

"Social media has transformed global communication, offering both benefits like global connectivity and risks like misinformation. Experts advise balanced usage to maximize advantages while minimizing harm."

C. Notice

NOTICE Date: 2024-06-01 Subject: Blood Donation Camp

A blood donation camp will be held on June 10, 2024, at St. Xavier’s School Auditorium from 10 AM to 4 PM. All healthy individuals aged 18-60 are welcome. Registration required. Contact the school office for details.

Principal St. Xavier’s School

Final Checklist Before Submitting

✔ News Story: Did I answer 5Ws + H? ✔ Summary: Is it 1/3rd the original length? ✔ Notice: Is it clear, concise, and formal? ✔ Grammar: No spelling or punctuation errors.

Examples of direct and indirect headlines (Image: Prototyperspective, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Structure of a news story (Image: Jaremchyk KS-11, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)