📖 Introduction
The Lead Got Them In. Now Tell the Whole Story.
Last chapter, you wrote the lead.
Winner. Score. Significance. Key detail. All in one sentence.
Now comes the body — where the real storytelling happens.
Here's the rule for this entire chapter:
One sentence per paragraph. Every time.
Short, sharp, and clear. That's how real sports articles are built.
The Golden Rule of the Body: One sentence. One paragraph. No exceptions. Every part of your article body is exactly one sentence long — from the support all the way to the tail.
📋 Full Structure
The Full Sports Article Structure
The lead is always first. The support is always second. The tail is always last. Everything in between — you decide the order.
| Part | Position |
|---|---|
| Lead | Always First |
| Support | Always Second |
| Quote | You Choose |
| Play-by-Play Q1 | You Choose |
| Play-by-Play Q2 | You Choose |
| Play-by-Play Q3 | You Choose |
| Play-by-Play Q4 | You Choose |
| Balance | You Choose |
| Historical Background | You Choose |
| Tail | Always Last |
✏️ How to Write Each Part
A Formula for Every Paragraph
Each part of the body has a formula. Learn the formula — write the sentence. It's that simple.
Support
Proves your lead with a stat
One sentence. Proves your lead with a stat and attribution. Always the second sentence of your article — right after the lead.
[Player] led [team] with [stat], according to [source].
✅ Example
James led Mabini Elementary with 28 points, according to the official scoresheet.
Quote
The player's exact words
One sentence. The speaker's exact words, properly attributed. Never change a quote — use the exact words, or don't use it at all.
"[Exact words]," said [name] after [result].
✅ Example
"We never stopped believing, even when we were down," said James after the win.
Play-by-Play Q1
How the game opened
One sentence. What the score was after the first quarter. Sets the scene for the game.
[Team] led [score] after the first quarter.
✅ Example
San Pedro Central led 18–12 after the first quarter.
Play-by-Play Q2
How it developed
One sentence. What happened by halftime. Who was ahead and by how much.
[Team] extended the lead to [score] at halftime.
✅ Example
San Pedro Central extended the lead to 34–28 at halftime.
Play-by-Play Q3
The turning point
One sentence. The most important moment — when the game shifted. Who did what, and what the score became.
[Player] scored [stat] in the third quarter to pull [team] level at [score].
✅ Example
James scored 11 straight points in the third quarter to pull Mabini level at 44–44.
Play-by-Play Q4
How it was sealed
One sentence. The decisive final moment — the play that clinched the win.
[Player] [decisive action] with [time] left to seal the win.
✅ Example
Oliver stole the ball with 40 seconds left to seal the win.
Balance
Fair coverage of the losing team
One sentence. Give the losing team fair coverage. A balanced article covers both sides — not just the winners.
[Losing player] finished with [stat] for [losing team], but [winning team]'s [strength] proved too strong.
✅ Example
Henry finished with 24 points for San Pedro Central, but Mabini's defense proved too strong in the end.
Historical Background
A past fact that makes the win bigger
One sentence. A fact from the past that makes the current result more meaningful. This is your significance sentence — in more detail.
[Team] had not [achievement] in [X] years before [today]'s victory.
✅ Example
Mabini Elementary had not won the basketball championship in 12 years before Saturday's victory.
🏁 The Tail
The Tail — Always Last
The tail is always the final paragraph of your article. It does NOT repeat the winner or the score — that's already in the lead. It adds one small, final detail: usually what's next for the winning team.
Tail
What's next for the team
[Team] will [next game or event].
✅ Example
Mabini Elementary advances to the regional finals next week.
⚠️ Two Rules for the Tail
- One sentence only — no more.
- No new stats or plays from the game — only what's next for the team.
📏 Three Rules
Three Rules for the Whole Body
1
Past tense throughout.
Except the tail, which can be future tense ("advances to…").
❌ Wrong tenseJames scores 11 points.
✅ Correct tense
James scored 11 points.
2
One sentence per paragraph. No exceptions.
Every paragraph in the body is exactly one sentence. Short. Sharp. Clear. Never combine two ideas into one paragraph.
3
Rotate — don't repeat names.
After using a player's name, rotate to their position or pronoun in the next mention. Never use the same name three times in a row.
The Complete Article Order
Lead
→
Support
→
Flexible Middle
→
Tail
One sentence each. Past tense throughout. Rotate names. The tail adds what's next — never the score again.
✏️ Practice Time
Apply what you learned. Work through both activities below step by step.
1
Build the Right Order! Number the six paragraphs in the best order for a sports article body.
Read the six one-sentence paragraphs below. Drag and drop them into the order that makes the best story — then click Check My Order. Or click Reveal Answer to see the best order and why.
📋 Six Paragraphs to Arrange
A
"We knew they were going to fight back," said coach Dela Cruz.
B
San Isidro Elementary had not won the volleyball title in three years before Friday's victory.
C
Alberta finished with 14 attack points for Rizal Central, but San Isidro's defense proved too disciplined in the end.
D
Ziah's four straight aces in the third set put San Isidro ahead for good.
E
Ziah led San Isidro with 12 attack points, according to the official scoresheet.
F
San Isidro Elementary advances to the regional finals next month.
2
Write the Complete Article Body Fill in the frames — then write your own version of every paragraph.
Use the game information below. Fill in the frame for each paragraph (Step 1), then write your own complete sentence in the input box. Sample answers are shown for each one.
🏀 The Game
Game Facts
Teams
Mabini Elementary vs San Pedro Central
Winner / Score
Mabini Elementary, 67–63
Key Player / Stat
James — 28 pts (official scoresheet)
Quote
"We never stopped believing, even when we were down." — James
Q1 Score
San Pedro Central led, 18–12
Halftime Score
San Pedro Central led, 34–28
Q3 Turning Point
James — 11 straight points → Mabini level, 44–44
Q4 Clincher
Oliver stole the ball, 40 seconds left
Balance
Henry — 24 pts for San Pedro Central
Background
Mabini — no championship in 12 years
What's Next
Mabini advances to regional finals next week
Lead
James drained ____ points to power Mabini Elementary to their first basketball title in ____ years, defeating ____, ____–____, on Saturday.
✅ Sample
James drained 28 points to power Mabini Elementary to their first basketball title in 12 years, defeating San Pedro Central, 67–63, on Saturday.
Support
____ led Mabini with ____ points, according to ____.
✅ Sample
James led Mabini with 28 points, according to the official scoresheet.
Quote
"____," said ____ after the win.
✅ Sample
"We never stopped believing, even when we were down," said James after the win.
Play-by-Play Q1
____ led ____–____ after the first quarter.
✅ Sample
San Pedro Central led 18–12 after the first quarter.
Play-by-Play Q2
____ extended the lead to ____–____ at halftime.
✅ Sample
San Pedro Central extended the lead to 34–28 at halftime.
Play-by-Play Q3
____ scored ____ straight points in the third quarter to pull Mabini level at ____–____.
✅ Sample
James scored 11 straight points in the third quarter to pull Mabini level at 44–44.
Play-by-Play Q4
____ stole the ball with ____ seconds left to seal the win.
✅ Sample
Oliver stole the ball with 40 seconds left to seal the win.
Balance
____ finished with ____ points for ____, but Mabini's defense proved too strong in the end.
✅ Sample
Henry finished with 24 points for San Pedro Central, but Mabini's defense proved too strong in the end.
Historical Background
____ had not won the basketball championship in ____ years before ____'s victory.
✅ Sample
Mabini Elementary had not won the basketball championship in 12 years before Saturday's victory.
Tail
____ advances to ____ next week.
✅ Sample
Mabini Elementary advances to the regional finals next week.
🔍 Self-Check Guide
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| Every paragraph is one sentence only | ☐ | ☐ |
| Lead has winner + significance + score + key detail | ☐ | ☐ |
| Support has a stat with attribution | ☐ | ☐ |
| Quote uses exact words with attribution | ☐ | ☐ |
| Each play-by-play paragraph covers one quarter | ☐ | ☐ |
| Balance covers the losing team fairly | ☐ | ☐ |
| Historical background has a specific past fact | ☐ | ☐ |
| Tail tells readers what's next — not the score | ☐ | ☐ |
📊 Simple Rubric
8/8
Your complete article body is ready. 🗞️
5–7
Almost. Find what's missing and fix it.
1–4
Go back to the formulas and try again.
Answers for writing activities will be different for each student. Use the rubric to check your work or ask your teacher for help.
🧠 Fill in the Blank!
Tap the correct word from the word bank to complete each statement.
0/5
Score
Question 1 of 5
QUESTION 1 OF 5
Word Bank:
out of 5