Last Chapter, You Built the Body. Now Write the First Thing Your Reader Sees.
Last chapter, you wrote the body — the supporting details, quotes, and facts that back up your lead.
Your story is taking shape.
But here's something that might surprise you.
Even though the headline sits at the very top of the page, most journalists write it last — after they've finished the whole article and know exactly what their story is really about.
Why? Because you can't write the best title for a story you haven't written yet.
So now that you know your story inside and out, it's time to give it a headline.
And you've got about two seconds to make it work.
A headline does three things at once: tells readers what the story is about, attracts their attention and makes them want to read more, and sets the tone — letting readers know if the story is urgent, inspiring, or surprising.
Six Rules for Writing a Good Headline
The SVO Formula: Your Headline Blueprint
The most reliable way to write a headline is the SVO pattern — Subject, Verb, Object. Three parts. One clear sentence.
Four Ways to Use It
Basic SVO
The most direct version. Subject does something to an object.
SVO With Extra Detail
Add a phrase that gives the headline more context — where, when, or how big.
Subject Omitted
When the subject is obvious or less important, drop it to make the headline shorter.
Quotation Headline
Use a short, powerful quote as the headline. Always follow it with who said it. The quote comes first, attribution after the comma.
Choose the Strongest Verb
Each headline below is missing its verb. Tap the strongest, most accurate verb from the choices. Then click Check My Answers.
✏️ Practice Time
Fix broken headlines and write your own using the SVO pattern.
Fix the Headline Each headline breaks one of the six rules. Tap the rule it breaks, then reveal the fix.
Writing Practice — Write Three Headlines Use the SVO planner for each event. Make sure every headline follows all six rules.
📎 Sample Answer (Event 1)
Your Turn — Three Events
🔍 Self-Check Guide
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| My headline follows the SVO pattern | ☐ | ☐ |
| I used present tense | ☐ | ☐ |
| I used active voice | ☐ | ☐ |
| I used a strong, specific verb | ☐ | ☐ |
| My headline is fair — no opinions or bias | ☐ | ☐ |
| My headline cannot be read two different ways | ☐ | ☐ |
📊 Simple Rubric
Answers will differ for each student. Use the rubric or ask your teacher for help.
🧠 Build a Sentence
Tap the words in the correct SVO order to build a proper news headline.