ALTERNATIVE COPY

ALTERNATIVE COPY

• Traditionally yearbook staffs have used sidebar copy to introduce quotes, info graphs and scores on spreads.

• Today there are multiple methods for creating “Secondary Coverage” packages.

• Exploring the possibilities and planning unique coverage options will take your yearbook to the next level.

• Using a variety of secondary packages allows the reader to enter the spread at different reader points.

From sidebars to Secondary Coverage in 50 ways

1. Top 10 Ideas2. Narrative-Quote/Transition Story3. First Person Anecdote4. Lists-Data from Polls and Surveys5. Questions and Answers6. Headline Story Caption- (usually the dominant)7. Quotes/Anecdotes8. Advice/How To Tips9. Fun Facts10.FYI Box

1-10IDEAS

Top Ten Lists

*Create Top Ten lists of things important to students. Remember popular music, videos, TV shows, accessories, cars and preferred jobs.

Narrative-Quote/Transition Story

*Students have incredible stories to tell. Dig for the student who overcame an illness. Don’t forget about the students who offer something extraordinary to the

community. They exist in EVERY school!

First Person Anecdote

*Use sidebars to allow students to tell first hand what happened. Let them go into detail. Go for those who are not so obvious: bench warmers, people in the last row of the class, trainers, etc.

Lists-Data from Polls and Surveys – Q & A

*Polls and surveys don’t always need graphs to illustrate. Be creative. Use people or favorite things to

illustrate your findings.

Advice/How To Tips –Fun Facts

11. Personality Sketches/Profiles12.Summary Lists/Checklists13. Infographics (pie, bar, line, table, map, diagram)14.Schedules/Calendars15.For More Info. Boxes16.Scoreboards17.Quizzes18.Glossaries19.Cartoons/Illustrations (only very good one)20.Logos (art/typography)

11-20IDEAS

FYI Box –Personality Profiles

*These sidebars are great places to really educate people to unusual jobs: theatre technician, trainers, ROTC drill sergeants, cheerleader “flyers.” It’s your call. Be creative!

Summary Lists – Check Lists

*Try these: Anatomy of a P.E. Locker, What about tools used to dissect in biology? Items needed for band camp? Who goes shopping for all the food in home economics? Hours spent on a drama production.

Infographics – pie, bar, line, table, maps and diagrams

*Try these: hours spent in the pool for swim team* calories in an average lunch (purchased or brought from home)* ways to get gas money

Schedules/Calendars

*Calendars are more fun than you think. Try to make individual calendars for band events, sporting events

all- school events, or even for the individual student.

Quizzes – Glossaries

*Create inter-active tests for your readers. Look at some of your favorite magazines for ideas. Tests and quizzes could help you tie the book together by developing your theme.

Cartoons/Illustrations(only high quality ones)

*Student created art could be used to illustrate school activities, maps, holidays etc. HOWEVER: Student created art needs to be as professionally created as possible. Avoid student art on your cover.

Logos (art/typography)

*Logos: Create a logo for your theme phrase and cover, then use the logo to introduce theme related topics. Type: Choose a type style for the book and keep to that style. Do not vary fonts.

21.Opposites Attract Idea (for sure/no way - calm/crazy - get real/for real - conservative/bizarre)

22.Highlights23.Definitions24.Factoids/Figures25.Timelines26.Laugh-lines/Bloopers27.Best/Worst28.He Said/She Said29.Thumbs Up/Down30.Five W’s & H

21-30IDEAS

Opposites Attract

*Try these: Artist vs. Athlete, Democrat vs. Republican (in an election year), Dog Person vs. Cat Person, Clean Freak vs. Slob, Small college vs. University, College vs. Military

Fun Facts/Timelines Bloopers

*Try these: Bloopers would draw in readers. Find out about forgotten notes in band, words in choir or lines in drama. Remember to not embarrass. Also, look at bad prom problems or mistakes that will make memories last.

Best & Worst –He Said/She Said

*Try these: When you use He Said/She Said columns go for the unusual. Try two athletes, two teachers teaching the same subject, two trumpet players, two co-workers…dating, break-ups and relationships have been done.

Thumbs UP Thumbs DOWN

*Try these: When you use Thumbs UP/Thumbs DOWN, try a flow chart representing degrees of differing opinions. This makes great coverage for current events and issues of the day.

31.Who’s Who32. Intro Paragraph with Quotes, Anecdotes or Lists33.Checklists34.Map35.Chronology36.Pro/Con37.Reaction38.Personal Accounts39.Round Tables40.A to Z

31-40IDEAS

Who’s Who ? – Intro Paragraph with Anecdotes

*Try these: Who’s Who: Work with the star of the school play, the drum major, the leaders of each organization and create secondary coverage as features on them…Stay away from the homecoming queen, football captain.

Check Lists – Maps – Chronological Events

*Try these: Maps: of the Homecoming parade route, ways to the lunch room, or even bus stop maps Chronological Events– Drama practice, timeline of prom preparation or best day/worst day?

Pro/Con & Action/Reaction

*Try these: Pro/Con: Create libraries for the pro/con features and drop them into pages where they are appropriate. College? Pro/Con, AP classes? Pro/Con. Do the same for Action/Reaction.

Personal Accounts and Round Tables

*Try these: Round tables : Work to get multiple responses to events, games, classes, etc. What about coverage of people who do the same job? Are left handed? Sleepwalk? Personal Accounts – of math quizzes, public speaking and all-night term papers

From A to Z

*Try these: From A to Z: Can cover all sorts of stories. Getting ready for a date, going to a football game, interviewing skills, doing a research paper… Get lots of people here.

41.Stats Box42.Multiple Choice43.Matching44.Excerpts45.Requests to Readers46.Step-by-Step Guides47.Fill in the Blanks48.Bio Box49.Photo Cluster w/Gang Caption50.Photos Depicting Sequence of Events

41-50IDEAS

Stats Boxes – Multiple Choice

*Try these: Stat Boxes: of a winning moment in either sports, or academics, reactions to national events, local events and school house events.

Matching Personal AccountsFill in the Blanks

*Try these: Matching: the dents in the car to the student who is famous for fender binders, or Match the new hair-do to the girl that is savvy on her fashion, Fill in the Blanks - try doing mad libs/cross word puzzles that go along with the spread

Excerpts Accounts – Step by Step Guides

*Try these: Excerpts: from essays, sports accounts, newspaper articles. Step-by-Step Guides, Could lead freshmen to their Sr. year, band members across the field, or how to try out for cheerleading.

Series of Events – Clusters with “Gang” Captions

*Remember: Clustered photos: When using photos in a cluster, they all need to have something in common. AND… The photography needs to either have various angles or happen at different times.

Using Multiple Levels of Secondary Coverage

• Will add to the coverage• Will create excitement for readers• Will tell more stories• Will allow for more entry points into the spread

• Will make your Book

ROCK!