Writing

: Baby Giraffe

Approach: Independent

924k

Resources: Video of a television news report on the birth of a baby giraffe.
Download the videoclip 1.1meg (requires QuickTime plug-in)

The newest addition to Wellington Zoo has just made his first wobbly public appearance.
Giraffes are normally born at night, but this long legged fellow arrived prematurely in the afternoon. At a shade over 2 metres, he's tall for his age. Newborn giraffes usually step in at about 1.8m. The first son of parents Riki and Tiza, he doesn't yet have a name but the zoo says its likely to have an African flavour. He will be moved to Hamilton Zoo before he's a year old.

Questions / instructions:
Imagine the picture of baby giraffe is going to be in the newspaper. After watching the video, write a short news story to go with the photograph.

Use the information in the video for your story.
You will see the video two times.
Start the video now

% responses

Ability to catch attention, interest:

very good
good
moderate
poor

3
13
35
49

6
21
48
25

Appropriate style/format features:
follows newspaper conventions

highly appropriate
quite appropriate
some appropriate
not appropriate

1
14
52
33

6
38
40
16

Factual content:

all correct & relevant
mostly correct & relevant
some partially correct
very little or no correct information

9
23
41
27

21
40
30
9

Coherence:

good
partial
not at all coherent

27
52
21

39
49
12

Total score:

9–11
6–8
3–5
0–2

3
22
42
33

11
39
37
13

Commentary:
Many students did not adopt a style or format appropriate to a newspaper article, or come up with an 'attention — capturing' opening. About 25 percent more year 8 than year 4 students performed at a quite high to high level.

Exemplars

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